Richard Aerni on sun 6 jul 08
Re: A Final Word/With Tongue Firmly in Cheeck
One more point on this and related threads. How
does firing a
computer controlled kiln differ from having
someone else fire
the pot for you?
I understand that you are saying this in jest, but let's stop for a moment
and consider your statement, since I believe there are actually people on
clayart who may not see there is a difference...
Have you fired a computer controlled kiln before? I haven't, so I don't
know the fine points, but there is much else to consider. For instance,
maintaining the kiln, maintaining the shelves, buying and maintaining kiln
furniture, loading the kiln, actually spending the hours in the studio
firing the kiln, and then unloading the kiln, and going through it all
again.
I'm sure you really realize this, but let me say it a bit more
clearly...it's not all about knowledge, although that is a part of it. It's
about putting in the time and doing what needs to be done. When you do
that, then you own your pots, wholly and entirely.
Richard, just back from an overnight kiln firing...
Richard Aerni
http://www.richardaerni.com
http://richardaernipottery.etsy.com
146 Eastland Avenue
Rochester, NY 14618
585-473-5579
Studio
1115 East Main St. Suite 106
Rochester, NY 14609
585-429-0211
Lee Love on mon 7 jul 08
On Sun, Jul 6, 2008 at 2:26 PM, Richard Aerni wrote:
> Have you fired a computer controlled kiln before? I haven't, so I >don't know the fine points, but there is much else to consider.
I bisqued in them for the first time at NCC. They are great! You
can even program to fire large and/or damp things. I am guessing
they would be very handy for firing large sculpture.
I wonder how much it would cost to retrofit my AIM kiln?
--
Lee Love in Minneapolis
http://mashikopots.blogspot.com/
http://claycraft.blogspot.com/
"Let the beauty we love be what we do.
There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground." --Rumi
John Post on mon 7 jul 08
Hi Richard,
I understand that it was a tongue in cheek post but I too feel that
some people feel a computer controlled kiln is like a microwave oven,
push a button and it works its magic. Some computer kilns even have
buttons for fast bisque or slow bisque, fast glaze or slow glaze.
But the real reason to get a computer controlled kiln is to control
the rates (ramps on some kilns) at which the kiln heats and cools. If
you set your own programs then you have full control over the work.
I have three different bisque programs I use in my computer kilns. I
set all of the ramps and holds according to the needs of my work.
I have one for work that is not fully dry.
One for thrown work that is dry.
...and one for kid/student sculptural work that is solid like a brick.
I also have quite a few glaze programs with varying ramps and holds
built in as well. Electric kilns can produce rich striking glazes
once the potter takes control of the way the kiln fires. It's only a
big toaster if people choose to fire it that way.
John Post
Sterling Heights, Michigan
:: cone 6 glaze website :: http://www.johnpost.us
:: elementary art website :: http://www.wemakeart.org
> Have you fired a computer controlled kiln before? I haven't, so I
> don't
> know the fine points, but there is much else to consider. For
> instance,
> maintaining the kiln, maintaining the shelves, buying and
> maintaining kiln
> furniture, loading the kiln, actually spending the hours in the studio
> firing the kiln...
Lee on mon 7 jul 08
I have thought about it seriously: If you had computer control on a gas
or oil kiln, you could more closely approximate the cycling
oxydation/neutral/reduction atmospheres you find in a wood firing. I
believe this cycling causes some of the subltle differences in a wood
firing.
On Mon, Jul 7, 2008 at 5:31 PM, Richard Aerni
wrote:
--
Lee Love in Minneapolis
http://mashikopots.blogspot.com/
"Let the beauty we love be what we do.
There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground." --Rumi
John Post on mon 7 jul 08
It all depends on the size/amperage of your aim kiln. I got a
controller for $285 for my aim test kiln on e-bay from a seller who
goes by vulcan-kilns. Larger amperage kilns cost more for a
controller. I recall seeing some on ebay for around $400 for bigger
kilns.
John Post
Sterling Heights, Michigan
:: cone 6 glaze website :: http://www.johnpost.us
:: elementary art website :: http://www.wemakeart.org
On Jul 7, 2008, at 12:57 PM, Lee Love wrote:
> On Sun, Jul 6, 2008 at 2:26 PM, Richard Aerni
> wrote:
>
>> Have you fired a computer controlled kiln before? I haven't, so I
>> >don't know the fine points, but there is much else to consider.
>
> I bisqued in them for the first time at NCC. They are great! You
> can even program to fire large and/or damp things. I am guessing
> they would be very handy for firing large sculpture.
>
> I wonder how much it would cost to retrofit my AIM kiln?
> --
> Lee Love in Minneapolis
> http://mashikopots.blogspot.com/
> http://claycraft.blogspot.com/
>
> "Let the beauty we love be what we do.
> There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground." --Rumi
>
Hank Murrow on tue 8 jul 08
Dear Des;
Since cycling between stoked and clearing modes is the desire, your
program would not need to move the damper to emulate a wood kiln's
pattern of Ox/Red. After all, the wood kiln owner is not changing the
damper setting on each stoking.
I will be interested to hear how close your controller comes to
emulating wood firing.
Cheers, hank
On Jul 8, 2008, at 3:47 PM, Des & Jan Howard wrote:
> Lee
> Roger Graham wrote a program & set up the electronics for me to run
> this
> cycling on my gas kiln but my medical holiday last year stuffed up the
> window of opportunity. As I'm rebuilding the smaller gas kiln I guess
> now is the time to install the system. Pity it can't control the
> damper
> tho'.
> Des
>
> Lee wrote:
>> I have thought about it seriously: If you had computer control
>> on a gas
>> or oil kiln, you could more closely approximate the cycling
>> oxydation/neutral/reduction atmospheres you find in a wood
>> firing. I
>> believe this cycling causes some of the subltle differences in a wood
>> firing.
>
Des & Jan Howard on wed 9 jul 08
Lee
Roger Graham wrote a program & set up the electronics for me to run this
cycling on my gas kiln but my medical holiday last year stuffed up the
window of opportunity. As I'm rebuilding the smaller gas kiln I guess
now is the time to install the system. Pity it can't control the damper
tho'.
Des
Lee wrote:
> I have thought about it seriously: If you had computer control on a gas
> or oil kiln, you could more closely approximate the cycling
> oxydation/neutral/reduction atmospheres you find in a wood firing. I
> believe this cycling causes some of the subltle differences in a wood
> firing.
--
Des & Jan Howard
Lue Pottery
Lue NSW
Australia
2850
02 6373 6419
| |
|
