Dan Saultman on wed 5 nov 97
Hi Group,
My partner and I have decided to build a small hi-fire kiln. We have
decided to design it's interior area to measure roughly 20" x 20" by 30"
high. We want to build it on a roll-about stand so it can be rolled out
of the way when not in use.
I would like to use wool for the sides and a pyrobloc for the top.
Thinking maybe up-draft. Could someone suggest how thick the sides need
to be (how thick the insulating blanket should be). I would like to make
the sides be contained by expanded metal framed in angle iron. Do I need
to run a course of insulating brick on the sides first? I plan on making
Alfred type burners coming in from the bottom one on each side. But I am
mostly perplexed about how much insulating blanket to use. Any advice
would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Dan Saultman
Steve Mills on sat 8 nov 97
Hi Dan,
It would seem you have a capacity of just over 4 cu.ft., I usually go for
about 3.1/2"-4" thickness, no more, for that sort of size, Use fiberfrax 8lb
density, anything less than that won't be big enough for the job. If you go
too thick the wall soaks up too much energy and ultimately becomes more
inefficient the thicker it gets. Make them plain fibre walls with an outside
skin of heavy duty cooking foil (looks neater, and shiny side in helps as
well). Brick expands and contracts, fibre doesn't move after the initial
shrinkage, mix the two and ultimately the fibre suffers. Have your burners
come in from the sides, and if firing updraught, have the fire moving
clockwise (assuming you live in the northern hemisphere, otherwise reverse it
= coliaris effect).
Hope this helps.
Steve Mills
Bath
UK
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