William & Susan Schran User on sat 15 dec 07
I remember back in the 1970's a small kiln manufacturer was building an
electric reduction kiln. One would introduce wood or charcoal in a pan at
the bottom of the kiln.
Does anyone remember the name of the kiln or the manufacturer and any
information of how it worked?
Thanks, Bill
--
William "Bill" Schran
wschran@cox.net
wschran@nvcc.edu
http://www.creativecreekartisans.com
David Turner on sat 15 dec 07
Hi Bill
I went through "The Energy Efficient Potter" by Regis C. Brodie and
found his input about the kiln. A company by the name of Reduction
Production Kilns Inc. produced the Stoker and an improved Super Stoker. He
reportedly fired the kiln a few times and said he was able to achieve rich
color and celadon glazes,but was unable to get a consistent reduction
firing for copper reds. That was in 1982. Skidmore College had a version
in their ceramics studio also.
The Super Stoker was heavily insulated and from the looks of it in the
picture , it didn't have a blow hole in the lid commonly used in updraft
type kilns. I guess they were trying to trap the reducing agents in the
kiln. Could a stagnant, smoke filled chamber be harder on elements? duh.
In the electric reduction kiln I use, the even reduction is ,I believe,
because it breathes in and out.(it lets you know when it's hungry, and
when it's had too much).Too much fuel, it back fires. Too little fuel, no
back pressure and uneven reduction. Hope that helps.
David Turner
duncan13 on sun 16 dec 07
Greetings Bill...I believe our own Bonnie Staffel use to fire a
Reduction Production Kiln.
Several years ago Bonnie told me that design of the Stoker had a drawer
under the kiln
that you would fill with charcoal to achieve a reduction atmosphere.
Perhaps she has more info on the element life and actual firing procedures.
Best Wishes....
Dale Duncan
www.daleduncanpottery.com
ENOliver on sun 16 dec 07
Many years ago AMACO sold what they called gold kilns (JS series). A =
Special
"Reduction Base" was available to convert the standard base for =
reduction.
It provided a removable brick entry port at the floor of the firing =
chamber
and was fueled by briquettes.
Elaine Oliver
Vienna, VA.
-----Original Message-----
From: William & Susan Schran User [mailto:wschran@COX.NET]=20
Sent: Saturday, December 15, 2007 1:19 PM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Old electric reduction kiln?
I remember back in the 1970's a small kiln manufacturer was building an
electric reduction kiln. One would introduce wood or charcoal in a pan =
at
the bottom of the kiln.
Does anyone remember the name of the kiln or the manufacturer and any
information of how it worked?
Thanks, Bill
--
William "Bill" Schran
wschran@cox.net
wschran@nvcc.edu
http://www.creativecreekartisans.com
_________________________________________________________________________=
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normana on wed 19 dec 07
i had a reduction production kiln which i used for a few years back in
the late 70's.
wound up firing it in oxidation as the reduction just didn't have the
quality of a gas kiln.
with what i know now i think i could get it to work better with a slower
cool down.
it was a great kiln though easy to reach cone 10. had much thicker
elements and the kiln was made from castable and was made in three sections.
i still have it but have striped off the electric and taken out the
elements have been thinking of converting it to a gas kiln.
if anyone is interested in it and could pick it up in taos nm would let
it go for a reasonable price.
norman
duncan13 wrote:
> Greetings Bill...I believe our own Bonnie Staffel use to fire a
> Reduction Production Kiln.
> Several years ago Bonnie told me that design of the Stoker had a drawer
> under the kiln
> that you would fill with charcoal to achieve a reduction atmosphere.
> Perhaps she has more info on the element life and actual firing
> procedures.
>
> Best Wishes....
> Dale Duncan
> www.daleduncanpottery.com
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
>
> Clayart members may send postings to: clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list, post messages, or change your
> subscription settings here: http://www.acers.org/cic/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
> melpots2@visi.com
>
>
>
Earth Nouveau on thu 20 dec 07
hi norman i was wondering if the reduction production kiln had a flu or
a blow hole (as i like to call it ) in the lid? .if it didn't ...maybe that
is why it didn't reduce well. the reduction wouldn't be able to circulate
through the chamber thereby not equalizing the atmosphere. the process i
use requires a continual reduction from 1600 degrees to shut off at cone
seven. a steady back pressure has become my way of knowing it's doing it
right.i don't know if you read my original entry...but i was wondering if
you could get copper reds to develop fully?...that was the target i was
shooting for through many firings .
taos?.....how
reasonable?
david turner
On Dec 20, 2007 12:47 AM, normana wrote:
> i had a reduction production kiln which i used for a few years back in
> the late 70's.
> wound up firing it in oxidation as the reduction just didn't have the
> quality of a gas kiln.
> with what i know now i think i could get it to work better with a slower
> cool down.
> it was a great kiln though easy to reach cone 10. had much thicker
> elements and the kiln was made from castable and was made in three
> sections.
> i still have it but have striped off the electric and taken out the
> elements have been thinking of converting it to a gas kiln.
> if anyone is interested in it and could pick it up in taos nm would let
> it go for a reasonable price.
> norman
>
>
> duncan13 wrote:
> > Greetings Bill...I believe our own Bonnie Staffel use to fire a
> > Reduction Production Kiln.
> > Several years ago Bonnie told me that design of the Stoker had a drawer
> > under the kiln
> > that you would fill with charcoal to achieve a reduction atmosphere.
> > Perhaps she has more info on the element life and actual firing
> > procedures.
> >
> > Best Wishes....
> > Dale Duncan
> > www.daleduncanpottery.com
> >
> >
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> >
> > Clayart members may send postings to: clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
> >
> > You may look at the archives for the list, post messages, or change your
> > subscription settings here: http://www.acers.org/cic/clayart/
> >
> > Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
> > melpots2@visi.com
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> Clayart members may send postings to: clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list, post messages, or change your
> subscription settings here: http://www.acers.org/cic/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
> melpots2@visi.com
>
Bonnie Staffel on fri 21 dec 07
Chiming in here. Glad someone remembered my post. Yes, I was extremely =
happy
with mine to the extent that I got a lot of great copper reds. However, =
I
was not happy with the iron or other reduction glazes. It lasted quite =
a
while but I stopped using it because the mechanics that ran the kiln =
went
bad and the company was out of business by then. I think everyone knows
about its demise. Then when I moved to NC I sold it to a friend who is
still using it as a bisque kiln. The lid is all cracked apart but for =
his
use this didn't seem to be a problem. I fired it to Cone 10 as my =
maturing
temperature.=20
I guess if I knew then what I know now, I would have been able to work =
with
it with greater success. It was a great kiln, but the designer just =
couldn't
handle his orders and had to get out of the business. I wonder why =
another
kiln company couldn't make such a kiln. They have them in Europe. The =
coils
are wound around about an inch diameter and were very thick, maybe an =
eighth
inch so it could withstand the reduction process. One was to fire =
oxidation
and then reduction to maintain the coil's effectiveness.
The drawer in the bottom was very handy in which to put the charcoal for
producing a smoky atmosphere, but I remember it didn't get real smoky. I =
had
a nice exhaust fan in the room which took care of the fumes. There was =
also
a ceramic fiber cord that sealed the lid to the base. The potter to whom =
I
sold it, has offered to let me fire a reduction system in it, but now at =
my
age and limited transportation facilities, have to pass that one up.=20
Bonnie Staffel
http://webpages.charter.net/bstaffel/
http://vasefinder.com/bstaffelgallery1.html
DVD Throwing with Coils and Slabs
DVD Introduction to Wheel Work
Charter Member Potters Council
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