Alisha Clarke on wed 26 sep 07
I've posted a couple of questions recently about the Olympic 9 cu ft
downdraft (DD9) propane-fired kiln that I've picked up. It needs some work
before I can use it. I've posted some pictures of it on my photo album at
http://www.flickr.com/gp/65564173@N00/Pf0etw , and I'm hoping some of you
gas kiln experts can offer some advice. It has been moved to my home/studio
and the propane service will be hooked up next week. I have requested the
Olsen kiln book through inter-library loan and have ordered the Nils Lou
book, so I hope to learn more, but I need to get going on this right away.
Here are my issues/questions:
My impression is that the most important issue is the door, and I could
probably fire it for some time if that is fixed. The sheet metal around the
peep holes is badly corroded where flames have lapped out. I'm thinking of
getting a welder to weld a new piece on the door (and possibly to other
corroded sheet metal surfaces on the sides and top of the kiln), either
replacing or over the existing sheet-metal. Is there a particular type of
metal that is recommended?
The brick in the door is badly crumbling and causing the fiber to push away.
I haven't yet pulled it all apart, but it appears to be about 1.5" of brick
with fiber over it. What type of brick should I use for this? What type of
fiber? I'm not sure how the buttons were attached in the past holding the
fiber (perhaps just behind the brick). I understand about using buttons on
the fiber, but how should the wire be attached to the door?
Some of the other fiber around the kiln is pulling away from the walls, with
wire and buttons that are corroding. I'm wondering if I should replace the
fiber in the sides at the same time. I don't know if there is any brick
behind that fiber. Any recommendations on the type and thickness of fiber
for that?
Would it be a good idea to consider just reconstructing the sides with brick
instead of the fiber? What type? The new DD9 that the studio where I got
this kiln replaced this with, has brick walls, but the ceiling is still
fiber and the door still has a fiber lining. I was thinking about perhaps
making this one similar. Would brick walls improve the performance of this
kiln?
The hinge of the original damper corroded off, and the damper was just
removed and replaced with a couple of courses of brick and a piece of kiln
shelf as a damper. Would it be best to go back to the original damper (which
opened like a door on top of the short chimney) getting a welder to fix it,
or does anyone know if this kiln would perform better with a taller chimney.
One of the studio members who had used this kiln thought that a taller
chimney would work better.
Thanks! I really appreciate any advice. Other than in workshops, most of my
work has been electric fired or raku, so I'm new to high-fire reduction
kilns.
Sincerely,
Alisha
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Alisha Clarke
www.alishaclarke.com
judy motzkin on thu 27 sep 07
Dear Leesh,
I adopted a larger version of your kiln, brick walls, fiber ceiling,
fiber/brick door.
I looked at your pictures and it looks like your door is a stage ahead of
mine. On mine there are metal rods in the door that have been exposed by the
cutting of the peeps and so have caused weakness, warping of the metal and
breaking of the brick behind the fiber.
Also the sheet metal in the door doesn't quite fit behind the frame,
allowing more warpage. It still closes tight, so I have not fixed anything
but the mouse nests carved into the door fiber (remember to put bricks in
the burner ports). I have thought of redoing the door by taking it apart,
using the welded frame and hinges and replacing the metal and refractory
innards. I would consider all fiber to keep the weight down.
Fiber board behind blanket might work well.
About the damper. I use a kiln shelf on top of the chimney. The kiln fires
well so I have not added any height. The DD14 kiln has 6 burners, so
probably more power than yours.
Maybe we can get together for a dooring bee.
best,
Jude
Date: Wed, 26 Sep 2007 09:36:00 -0400
From: Alisha Clarke
Subject: Advice on refurbishing Olympic downdraft
I've posted a couple of questions recently about the Olympic 9 cu ft
downdraft (DD9) propane-fired kiln that I've picked up. It needs some work
before I can use it. I've posted some pictures of it on my photo album at
http://www.flickr.com/gp/65564173@N00/Pf0etw , and I'm hoping some of you
gas kiln experts can offer some advice. It has been moved to my home/studio
and the propane service will be hooked up next week. I have requested the
Olsen kiln book through inter-library loan and have ordered the Nils Lou
book, so I hope to learn more, but I need to get going on this right away.
Here are my issues/questions:
My impression is that the most important issue is the door, and I could
probably fire it for some time if that is fixed. The sheet metal around the
peep holes is badly corroded where flames have lapped out. I'm thinking of
getting a welder to weld a new piece on the door (and possibly to other
corroded sheet metal surfaces on the sides and top of the kiln), either
replacing or over the existing sheet-metal. Is there a particular type of
metal that is recommended?
The brick in the door is badly crumbling and causing the fiber to push away.
I haven't yet pulled it all apart, but it appears to be about 1.5" of brick
with fiber over it. What type of brick should I use for this? What type of
fiber? I'm not sure how the buttons were attached in the past holding the
fiber (perhaps just behind the brick). I understand about using buttons on
the fiber, but how should the wire be attached to the door?
Some of the other fiber around the kiln is pulling away from the walls, with
wire and buttons that are corroding. I'm wondering if I should replace the
fiber in the sides at the same time. I don't know if there is any brick
behind that fiber. Any recommendations on the type and thickness of fiber
for that?
Would it be a good idea to consider just reconstructing the sides with brick
instead of the fiber? What type? The new DD9 that the studio where I got
this kiln replaced this with, has brick walls, but the ceiling is still
fiber and the door still has a fiber lining. I was thinking about perhaps
making this one similar. Would brick walls improve the performance of this
kiln?
The hinge of the original damper corroded off, and the damper was just
removed and replaced with a couple of courses of brick and a piece of kiln
shelf as a damper. Would it be best to go back to the original damper (which
opened like a door on top of the short chimney) getting a welder to fix it,
or does anyone know if this kiln would perform better with a taller chimney.
One of the studio members who had used this kiln thought that a taller
chimney would work better.
Thanks! I really appreciate any advice. Other than in workshops, most of my
work has been electric fired or raku, so I'm new to high-fire reduction
kilns.
Sincerely,
Alisha
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Alisha Clarke
www.alishaclarke.com
---------------------------
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