Dan Hill on wed 11 nov 09
Hi All
My experience with hard brick versus Insulating FB is this.
I built my first kiln from hard brick. I bought a non functional wood fired
kiln that had sat in the bush for 10 years for $500. I tore it down and
rebuilt a 30 cu. ft. catenary arch ^6 soda kiln. I purchased burners from a
retiring potter and scrounged shelves etc. That kiln fired to temp. in 12
hours with a preheat overnight. 250 litres or 63 American gallons of
propane.
I fired that kiln 100 times at a cost of, at todays prices, $15,000.
My newly built 30 cu. ft. sprung arch Insulating Fire Brick kiln fires in
7-8 hrs. to ^6 on 100 litres or 25 gals. of propane. If I fire it 100 times
that will cost about $6000. Thats quite a difference, not to mention the
ease and speed of reaching temp.
The new kiln was built from all used materials that I bought from a potter
that was switching to electric. I purchased all the bricks, shelves and
posts etc. for $500. I had to puchase some new brick, itc coatings and fibr=
e
for the door system . Total materials cost was about $1500.
My opinion would be to look around for a used soft brick kiln to rebuild.
Save on your propane bill, your firing time and your back!
Dan Hill
Hill Pottery
Wilno Ontario Canada
www.wilnogardengallery.com
David Hendley wrote -
> The cost differential between free bricks and high fuel bills
> trumps paying big money for new IFBs just to save on fuel costs.
> If this concept were not true, the whole country would be
> driving around in new Priuii.
>
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