Janine in Tacoma on thu 11 jun 09
Hi Wendy:
Having been in a similar spot, and with the advantage of hindsight, I am =
=3D
very=3D20
pleased with my first gas kiln. I considered something even smaller, but=
=3D
ended=3D20
up with a 16 cubic foot downdraft built to my specifications with a treme=
=3D
ndous=3D20
amount of input from the kiln builder and my clay supplier (potters all).=
=3D
My=3D20
learning processes need more than a couple of test tiles or one pot, and =
=3D
I=3D20
wanted to be able to fire frequently, but with a range of pieces. Of mix=
=3D
ed=3D20
sizes, I can get two full bisque loads from the electric (about 6 or 7 cu=
=3D
bic=3D20
feet) into the gas kiln, and with four MR 750 burners, iit costs about $1=
=3D
2 a=3D20
firing. So I don't feel terrible if half the kiln is filled with tests. =
=3D
In perhaps only=3D20
20 or 30 firings I've learned quite a bit in general - and quite a bit th=
=3D
at's=3D20
specific to my kiln. (And I'm still a total beginner!) So I'm glad that=
=3D
I've got a=3D20
kiln that I'm on my way to getting to know that I can stick with for a wh=
=3D
ile or=3D20
longer. Please let us know if you build a little bitty guy and how it wo=
=3D
rks out.
Cheers!
Janine in Tacoma
David Woof on fri 12 jun 09
Hi Wendy=3D2C Your writing doesn't sound as much like asking direction o=
r =3D
advice as it does that your mind is quite made up about what you want to do=
=3D
so are simply requesting affirmations to go ahead. I say good=3D2C go and=
g=3D
et with it.
=3D20
So go ahead=3D2C since a "small fortune" is no problem in your serious ques=
t=3D
=3D2C buy 500 new clean IfB's and dry stack various sizes of small kilns an=
d =3D
fire away. Keep precise records. try anything and everything. you will g=
=3D
et an education as you try your ideas. Build them up and tear them down. =
=3D
A few afternoons well spent.
=3D20
If for instance your interior foot print is 18"x22.5' you will be able to l=
=3D
ay two 12"x24" shelves across the top=3D2C cover them with IFB's for insula=
ti=3D
on=3D2C and use 12"x18" shelves=3D2C set single stack for depth=3D2C for po=
t sett=3D
ing. try various heights until you find optimum performance. Flat tops fi=
=3D
re sweet.
=3D20
In the 1970's I fired a sweet little 6 cu' gas Alpine. loved it. Also =
=3D
fired a tiny 4.5"x4.5"x4.5" IFB chamber with a gasoline blow torch=3D2C "ju=
st=3D
to see". Bought 5=3D2C000 clean APGreen #1's at $0.10 per brick and began=
s=3D
tacking up configurations and watching the flame move through the various c=
=3D
hambers=3D2C venturies=3D2C and flue configurations.
=3D20
My kids were stacking and firing some of these same bricks thru most of the=
=3D
80's and 90's while I fired my "serious" designs and watched with same ser=
=3D
ious curiosity as to what they might come up with.
=3D20
Since this is a deadly serious hobby and not concerned with selling=3D2C yo=
u =3D
have the freedom to explore free of the typical production financial constr=
=3D
aints. Bask in this. Never let other folks ideas get in the way of what e=
=3D
lse might be.
=3D20
There is a time for book learning and other people's theory=3D2C and a hand=
s =3D
on time to just go see where your ideas will lead=3D2C and make sense of it=
. =3D
I like your inquisitiveness=3D2C don't stop half way.
=3D20
David Woof Clarkdale=3D2C Arizona davidwoofstudio.com
=3D20
________________________________________________________________________
9a. Smallest reasonable gas kiln?
Posted by: "Wendy Peck" wpeck@WPECK.COM=3D20
Date: Wed Jun 10=3D2C 2009 12:41 pm ((PDT))
Hi all=3D2C
I have been firing electric for a few years=3D2C and am well on my way to
getting results I really like from both cone 6 and 8-9 firing. However=3D2C=
I
will not be content till I can get true celedons and copper reds.
I am a deadly serious hobbiest=3D2C with no interest in selling my work. On=
e =3D
of
the things that has contributed to my electric success was that I bought a
tiny test kiln (for portability) that turned out to be wonderful for
learning glazes as it was reasonable to fire a few things at a time.
I would like a similar situation in a gas kiln to fire in reduction up to
cone 10 (I really expect to try for cone 8-9=3D2C as I am already set up fo=
r
that range in electric). After years of poking around this issue=3D2C I am =
re=3D
ady
to build one this summer. My current leaning is to use the model in the
Holden Self-Reliant Potter book=3D2C which is featured at 5cu ft=3D2C but s=
tate=3D
s
that it can be smaller. The flame from two burners enters at the bottom=3D2=
C =3D
and
is forced up=3D2C then along the top to the front=3D2C and down to a chimne=
y op=3D
ening
at the bottom back (downdraft?). The chimney opening is located between the
burners.
Experts: I know you always recommend building as large as you can possibly
afford=3D2C but what about the other way? Is it reasonable to consider buil=
di=3D
ng
a kiln that is a 12" cube? 16" cube? 18" cube? This model has two burners
for 5cu ft and I can see that is important for heat circulation. Could I ge=
=3D
t
away with "less serious=3D2C" burners=3D2C i.e.=3D2C weed burners=3D2C with=
a tiny =3D
kiln of
this type?
Is there a problem with heat circulation if the size gets too small? I'm
sure the efficiency is lower than with a larger kiln=3D2C but functionally=
=3D2C=3D
to
get copper red and celedon=3D2C is there a problem?
With a kiln this small=3D2C am I getting way too complicated? Could I just =
bu=3D
ild
a box and put a burner in the bottom=3D2C a hole in the top and fire away? =
I'=3D
ve
tried=3D2C in vain=3D2C to find a small electric kiln to convert=3D2C but s=
o far =3D
have
not found a kiln carcass. I am confident I will not be sorry for building a
small kiln. If at some point I decide to move up to selling my work=3D2C I =
wi=3D
ll
include a new kiln in that decision (worst case=3D2C I have a great little =
te=3D
st
kiln). At this point=3D2C I am very happy being completely obsessed and spe=
nd=3D
ing
a small fortune on my hobby.
Any thoughts much appreciated.
Wendy
=3D20
=3D20
_________________________________________________________________
Hotmail=3DAE has ever-growing storage! Don=3D92t worry about storage limits=
.=3D20
http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/Storage?ocid=3D3DTXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tu=
to=3D
rial_Storage_062009=3D
douglas fur on fri 12 jun 09
School days the word de jour was "fittness" from how cozy is het mug in you=
r
hand to moral economic or spiritual fitness
So find what fits fit for you and use it (as the 12-steppers say...take
what you need and leave the rest)
Last irrresponsible idea- a hair dryer for a blower and a small bottle of
propane
DRB
Seattle
On Wed, Jun 10, 2009 at 2:31 PM, steve graber wrote:
> i'd think in terms of a normal kiln shelf size and expected height of you=
r
> pots.
>
> use a kiln shelf for your internal footprint, expect a pot, do you want a
> second shelf either for the footprint or for another height?
>
> think about a kiln load of pots. stack a few in your workshop and measur=
e
> how big that fixtional kiln might be, and work back from there.
> Steve Graber, Graber's Pottery, Inc
> Claremont, California USA
> The Steve Tool - for awesum texture on pots!
> www.graberspottery.com steve@graberspottery.com
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: Wendy Peck
> To: Clayart@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
> Sent: Wednesday, June 10, 2009 11:32:48 AM
> Subject: Smallest reasonable gas kiln?
>
> Hi all,
>
> I have been firing electric for a few years, and am well on my way to
> getting results I really like from both cone 6 and 8-9 firing. However, I
> will not be content till I can get true celedons and copper reds.
>
> I am a deadly serious hobbiest, with no interest in selling my work. One =
of
> the things that has contributed to my electric success was that I bought =
a
> tiny test kiln (for portability) that turned out to be wonderful for
> learning glazes as it was reasonable to fire a few things at a time.
>
> I would like a similar situation in a gas kiln to fire in reduction up to
> cone 10 (I really expect to try for cone 8-9, as I am already set up for
> that range in electric). After years of poking around this issue, I am
> ready
> to build one this summer. My current leaning is to use the model in the
> Holden Self-Reliant Potter book, which is featured at 5cu ft, but states
> that it can be smaller. The flame from two burners enters at the bottom,
> and
> is forced up, then along the top to the front, and down to a chimney
> opening
> at the bottom back (downdraft?). The chimney opening is located between t=
he
> burners.
>
> Experts: I know you always recommend building as large as you can possibl=
y
> afford, but what about the other way? Is it reasonable to consider buildi=
ng
> a kiln that is a 12" cube? 16" cube? 18" cube? This model has two burners
> for 5cu ft and I can see that is important for heat circulation. Could I
> get
> away with "less serious," burners, i.e., weed burners, with a tiny kiln o=
f
> this type?
> Is there a problem with heat circulation if the size gets too small? I'm
> sure the efficiency is lower than with a larger kiln, but functionally, t=
o
> get copper red and celedon, is there a problem?
>
> With a kiln this small, am I getting way too complicated? Could I just
> build
> a box and put a burner in the bottom, a hole in the top and fire away? I'=
ve
> tried, in vain, to find a small electric kiln to convert, but so far have
> not found a kiln carcass. I am confident I will not be sorry for building=
a
> small kiln. If at some point I decide to move up to selling my work, I wi=
ll
> include a new kiln in that decision (worst case, I have a great little te=
st
> kiln). At this point, I am very happy being completely obsessed and
> spending
> a small fortune on my hobby.
>
> Any thoughts much appreciated.
>
> Wendy
>
>
>
>
>
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