sam bucus on sat 31 jul 10
Hello,=3D20
I am planning to open a pottery studio next spring/summer in Maine. I am ho=
=3D
ping to have a woodfired kiln for salt glazing (and would like a kiln that =
=3D
deposits a little bit of ash on the pots as well, but nothing excessive). I=
=3D
have been looking at all kinds of kilns, but have been drawn to John Theis=
=3D
and Bill Van Gilder's Manabigama kiln plans for 30 cubic foot cross draugh=
=3D
t that can be fired to cones 12 (front) to 10(back) in under 12 hours with =
=3D
under 1 cord of wood. I have also considered Olsen/Phoenix and catenary arc=
=3D
h kilns as well.
=3DA0
But I wonder, is 30 cubic feet too small? I will be trying to support mysel=
=3D
f and family from this pottery and will have one kiln.=3D20
=3DA0
I know there are many things to consider and everyones=3DA0personal situati=
on=3D
s differ,=3DA0but would appreciate advice on what size of wood kiln offers =
a =3D
good compromise between stacking space, how often the kiln must be fired an=
=3D
d how much wood/how long it must be fired. Yet still produces a decent amou=
=3D
nt of work.
=3DA0
It seems like I would have to fire a 30 cubic foot kiln every week to have =
=3D
a reasonable amount of stock to sell when I built one up with cardboard jus=
=3D
t to get an idea of how big it would be.=3D20
=3DA0
Any advice about things I should be thinking about when deciding what=3DA0s=
iz=3D
e of wood kiln to build?
=3DA0
How small is too small?=3DA0=3DA0
=3DA0
Thanks!
=3DA0
Samm
=3DA0
=3DA0=3D0A=3D0A=3D0A
William & Susan Schran User on sat 31 jul 10
On 7/31/10 4:31 AM, "sam bucus" wrote:
> But I wonder, is 30 cubic feet too small? I will be trying to support mys=
=3D
elf
> and family from this pottery and will have one kiln. =3DA0
> I know there are many things to consider and everyones=3DA0personal situa=
tion=3D
s
> differ,=3DA0but would appreciate advice on what size of wood kiln offers =
a go=3D
od
> compromise between stacking space, how often the kiln must be fired and h=
=3D
ow
> much wood/how long it must be fired. Yet still produces a decent amount o=
=3D
f
> work. =3DA0
> It seems like I would have to fire a 30 cubic foot kiln every week to hav=
=3D
e a
> reasonable amount of stock to sell when I built one up with cardboard jus=
=3D
t to
> get an idea of how big it would be. =3DA0
> Any advice about things I should be thinking about when deciding what=3DA=
0siz=3D
e of
> wood kiln to build?
Though I am not currently in your position of setting up a pottery to make
pots full time, I plan to be in that position within the decade. I currentl=
=3D
y
have my studio in a garage and fire in electric kilns. Having a place/space
for gas or wood kiln would be ideal.
Tony Clennell posted something on his blog about replacing his kiln damper.
Date is Monday, July 26. Blog: http://smokieclennell.blogspot.com/
There is a picture of his loaded gas kiln, a 24 or 32 cu ft =3DA0it appears=
.
This will give you a visual idea of stacking space in this size kiln. He
also has a wood burning kiln, but I don't know the size. Perhaps he will
post some information. He has been doing what you plan on doing for many
years. Look back for his post titled "3 legged stool".
Let's think about the end goal - selling pots. Will you sell from your
studio or take/ship pots to galleries? If from your studio in Maine, who
will buy the pots? Locals? Tourists? If tourists, what will they buy?
Large casseroles and big vases or mugs and small bowls - items they can
easily pack for travel? What is your production like? How quickly can your
make a kiln load of pots? If much of your production is smaller forms, then
it will take many of them to fill the kiln.
This is how I will think about what size kiln I install. It will be part of
the business plan.
Bill
--=3D20
William "Bill" Schran
wschran@cox.net
wschran@nvcc.edu
http://www.creativecreekartisans.com
tony clennell on sat 31 jul 10
Bill and Samm:
Firstly I wouldn't set out to feed a family from a wood fired kiln.
If I did I'd probably make it 100 cubic feet minimum. Economy of
scale. It takes just as long to fire a small one as a big one. I
believe Micheal Hunt (Bandana Pottery) fires 300 cubic feet in under
20 hours.
We fire our 30 cubic feet gas kiln every two weeks and the wood
fired kiln is our hobby kiln. Fired maybe 3 times a year for special
pots. After many years of firing like David Hendley you have some
predictability but in the beginning you will have less control, more
loss, more work, and winter to deal with. Covering wood, firing in the
cold, not fun!
The size of your kiln does determine the scale of your work. If you
have a big kiln you are more apt to make some big work to fill it. A
small kiln and you make smaller work or at least that is how it has
worked for us.
Have you ever fired a wood kiln solo? If you think you can call
friends up every two weeks to come over and help think again. Build a
kiln that you can manage solo or one big enuff that you can fire it
less often and with help.
gotta go clean my messy studio. Why I let it get so unorganized is beyond m=
e.
Tc
On Sat, Jul 31, 2010 at 9:01 AM, William & Susan Schran User
wrote:
> On 7/31/10 4:31 AM, "sam bucus" wrote:
>
>> But I wonder, is 30 cubic feet too small? I will be trying to support my=
self
>> and family from this pottery and will have one kiln.
>> I know there are many things to consider and everyones personal situatio=
ns
>> differ, but would appreciate advice on what size of wood kiln offers a g=
ood
>> compromise between stacking space, how often the kiln must be fired and =
how
>> much wood/how long it must be fired. Yet still produces a decent amount =
of
>> work.
>> It seems like I would have to fire a 30 cubic foot kiln every week to ha=
ve a
>> reasonable amount of stock to sell when I built one up with cardboard ju=
st to
>> get an idea of how big it would be.
>> Any advice about things I should be thinking about when deciding what si=
ze of
>> wood kiln to build?
>
> Though I am not currently in your position of setting up a pottery to mak=
e
> pots full time, I plan to be in that position within the decade. I curren=
tly
> have my studio in a garage and fire in electric kilns. Having a place/spa=
ce
> for gas or wood kiln would be ideal.
>
> Tony Clennell posted something on his blog about replacing his kiln dampe=
r.
> Date is Monday, July 26. Blog: http://smokieclennell.blogspot.com/
> There is a picture of his loaded gas kiln, a 24 or 32 cu ft it appears.
> This will give you a visual idea of stacking space in this size kiln. He
> also has a wood burning kiln, but I don't know the size. Perhaps he will
> post some information. He has been doing what you plan on doing for many
> years. Look back for his post titled "3 legged stool".
>
> Let's think about the end goal - selling pots. Will you sell from your
> studio or take/ship pots to galleries? If from your studio in Maine, who
> will buy the pots? Locals? Tourists? If tourists, what will they buy?
> Large casseroles and big vases or mugs and small bowls - items they can
> easily pack for travel? What is your production like? How quickly can you=
r
> make a kiln load of pots? If much of your production is smaller forms, th=
en
> it will take many of them to fill the kiln.
>
> This is how I will think about what size kiln I install. It will be part =
of
> the business plan.
>
> Bill
>
> --
> William "Bill" Schran
> wschran@cox.net
> wschran@nvcc.edu
> http://www.creativecreekartisans.com
>
--
http://sourcherrypottery.com
http://smokieclennell.blogspot.com
Brandon Phillips on sat 31 jul 10
Sam-
Go bigger! I have a 70 cu.ft. crossdraft cat and it fires better with
less effort than my 30 cu.ft. did. I've fired it as fast as 5.5 hours to
cone 10 though 7-8 hours makes the glazes look better. I can fire it with
a truckload or 2 of scrap wood(i get it from construction sites.) I salt
it and it gives just a touch of ash. This kiln holds about 200 pots and
when I'm really killing it I fire once a month. I haven't fired it since
March, so that may give you some clue as to the state of sales here. There
are some photos of the kiln on my blog:
http://supportyourlocalpotter.blogspot.com/2009/03/pots.html
http://supportyourlocalpotter.blogspot.com/2009/03/photos.html
Brandon Phillips
www.supportyourlocalpotter.com
> Hello,
> I am planning to open a pottery studio next spring/summer in Maine. I am
> hoping to have a woodfired kiln for salt glazing (and would like a kiln
> that deposits a little bit of ash on the pots as well, but nothing
> excessive). I have been looking at all kinds of kilns, but have been draw=
n
> to John Theis and Bill Van Gilder's Manabigama kiln plans for 30 cubic
> foot cross draught that can be fired to cones 12 (front) to 10(back) in
> under 12 hours with under 1 cord of wood. I have also considered
> Olsen/Phoenix and catenary arch kilns as well.
>
> But I wonder, is 30 cubic feet too small? I will be trying to support
> myself and family from this pottery and will have one kiln.
>
> I know there are many things to consider and everyones personal situation=
s
> differ, but would appreciate advice on what size of wood kiln offers a
> good compromise between stacking space, how often the kiln must be fired
> and how much wood/how long it must be fired. Yet still produces a decent
> amount of work.
>
> It seems like I would have to fire a 30 cubic foot kiln every week to hav=
e
> a reasonable amount of stock to sell when I built one up with cardboard
> just to get an idea of how big it would be.
>
> Any advice about things I should be thinking about when deciding what siz=
e
> of wood kiln to build?
>
> How small is too small?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Samm
>
>
>
>
>
>
Lee Love on sat 31 jul 10
A lot depends on your experience with woodkilns. In the begining,
I would not build a kiln you only fire once or twice a year. If you
are as old as Tony or me, you might croak before you learn the kiln.
Build one you can fill at least once a month. Actually, if
you can, fire with others as much as you can before you build your own
kiln.
--
=3DA0Lee, a Mashiko potter in Minneapolis
http://mingeisota.blogspot.com/
=3D93Observe the wonders as they occur around you. Don't claim them. Feel
the artistry moving through and be silent.=3D94 --Rumi
tony clennell on sat 31 jul 10
Brandon: Nice pots on your blog! Yikes you haven't fired since March.
That is a down economy!
tc
On Sat, Jul 31, 2010 at 12:26 PM, Brandon Phillips
wrote:
> Sam-
>
> Go bigger! I have a 70 cu.ft. crossdraft cat and it fires better with
> less effort than my 30 cu.ft. did. I've fired it as fast as 5.5 hours to
> cone 10 though 7-8 hours makes the glazes look better. I can fire it wit=
h
> a truckload or 2 of scrap wood(i get it from construction sites.) I salt
> it and it gives just a touch of ash. This kiln holds about 200 pots and
> when I'm really killing it I fire once a month. I haven't fired it since
> March, so that may give you some clue as to the state of sales here. Ther=
e
> are some photos of the kiln on my blog:
> http://supportyourlocalpotter.blogspot.com/2009/03/pots.html
> http://supportyourlocalpotter.blogspot.com/2009/03/photos.html
>
> Brandon Phillips
> www.supportyourlocalpotter.com
>
>> Hello,
>> I am planning to open a pottery studio next spring/summer in Maine. I am
>> hoping to have a woodfired kiln for salt glazing (and would like a kiln
>> that deposits a little bit of ash on the pots as well, but nothing
>> excessive). I have been looking at all kinds of kilns, but have been dra=
wn
>> to John Theis and Bill Van Gilder's Manabigama kiln plans for 30 cubic
>> foot cross draught that can be fired to cones 12 (front) to 10(back) in
>> under 12 hours with under 1 cord of wood. I have also considered
>> Olsen/Phoenix and catenary arch kilns as well.
>>
>> But I wonder, is 30 cubic feet too small? I will be trying to support
>> myself and family from this pottery and will have one kiln.
>>
>> I know there are many things to consider and everyones personal situatio=
ns
>> differ, but would appreciate advice on what size of wood kiln offers a
>> good compromise between stacking space, how often the kiln must be fired
>> and how much wood/how long it must be fired. Yet still produces a decent
>> amount of work.
>>
>> It seems like I would have to fire a 30 cubic foot kiln every week to ha=
ve
>> a reasonable amount of stock to sell when I built one up with cardboard
>> just to get an idea of how big it would be.
>>
>> Any advice about things I should be thinking about when deciding what si=
ze
>> of wood kiln to build?
>>
>> How small is too small?
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>> Samm
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
--
http://sourcherrypottery.com
http://smokieclennell.blogspot.com
tony clennell on sat 31 jul 10
Joyce: Where were you when I was 20 something. I luv a woman that
wants to try everything.
All the best,
Tony
On Sat, Jul 31, 2010 at 4:08 PM, MEUNIER LEE wrote:
> Forgive that, Tony. What I meant was Oh God, where were you when I
> needed to build my own small woodfire kiln....... I'm back, after hearing
> you guys talk about shino, to longing for the woodfire and the shino....
> whether potential customers like it or not. I do adore that shino and
> the woodfire, ashy look! Take care.
>
> ________________________________
> From: tony clennell
> To: Clayart@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
> Sent: Sat, July 31, 2010 11:15:49 AM
> Subject: Re: Wood Kiln Size Advice
>
> Brandon: Nice pots on your blog! Yikes you haven't fired since March.
> That is a down economy!
> tc
>
> On Sat, Jul 31, 2010 at 12:26 PM, Brandon Phillips
> wrote:
>> Sam-
>>
>> Go bigger! I have a 70 cu.ft. crossdraft cat and it fires better with
>> less effort than my 30 cu.ft. did. I've fired it as fast as 5.5 hours t=
o
>> cone 10 though 7-8 hours makes the glazes look better. I can fire it wi=
th
>> a truckload or 2 of scrap wood(i get it from construction sites.) I sal=
t
>> it and it gives just a touch of ash. This kiln holds about 200 pots and
>> when I'm really killing it I fire once a month. I haven't fired it sinc=
e
>> March, so that may give you some clue as to the state of sales here. The=
re
>> are some photos of the kiln on my blog:
>> http://supportyourlocalpotter.blogspot.com/2009/03/pots.html
>> http://supportyourlocalpotter.blogspot.com/2009/03/photos.html
>>
>> Brandon Phillips
>> www.supportyourlocalpotter.com
>>
>>> Hello,
>>> I am planning to open a pottery studio next spring/summer in Maine. I a=
m
>>> hoping to have a woodfired kiln for salt glazing (and would like a kiln
>>> that deposits a little bit of ash on the pots as well, but nothing
>>> excessive). I have been looking at all kinds of kilns, but have been
>>> drawn
>>> to John Theis and Bill Van Gilder's Manabigama kiln plans for 30 cubic
>>> foot cross draught that can be fired to cones 12 (front) to 10(back) in
>>> under 12 hours with under 1 cord of wood. I have also considered
>>> Olsen/Phoenix and catenary arch kilns as well.
>>>
>>> But I wonder, is 30 cubic feet too small? I will be trying to support
>>> myself and family from this pottery and will have one kiln.
>>>
>>> I know there are many things to consider and everyones personal
>>> situations
>>> differ, but would appreciate advice on what size of wood kiln offers a
>>> good compromise between stacking space, how often the kiln must be fire=
d
>>> and how much wood/how long it must be fired. Yet still produces a decen=
t
>>> amount of work.
>>>
>>> It seems like I would have to fire a 30 cubic foot kiln every week to
>>> have
>>> a reasonable amount of stock to sell when I built one up with cardboard
>>> just to get an idea of how big it would be.
>>>
>>> Any advice about things I should be thinking about when deciding what
>>> size
>>> of wood kiln to build?
>>>
>>> How small is too small?
>>>
>>> Thanks!
>>>
>>> Samm
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>
>
>
> --
> http://sourcherrypottery.com
> http://smokieclennell.blogspot.com
>
--
http://sourcherrypottery.com
http://smokieclennell.blogspot.com
Steve Mills on sat 31 jul 10
Sam,
I worked on my own for 18 years, and my last production Kiln had a setting
area of 30 Cu-ft. I found it just right for a 3 week turn-round of orders
and stock.
Never keep a customer waiting!
Steve Mills
On 31 July 2010 09:31, sam bucus wrote:
> Hello,
> I am planning to open a pottery studio next spring/summer in Maine. I am
> hoping to have a woodfired kiln for salt glazing (and would like a kiln t=
hat
> deposits a little bit of ash on the pots as well, but nothing excessive).=
I
> have been looking at all kinds of kilns, but have been drawn to John Thei=
s
> and Bill Van Gilder's Manabigama kiln plans for 30 cubic foot cross draug=
ht
> that can be fired to cones 12 (front) to 10(back) in under 12 hours with
> under 1 cord of wood. I have also considered Olsen/Phoenix and catenary a=
rch
> kilns as well.
>
> But I wonder, is 30 cubic feet too small? I will be trying to support
> myself and family from this pottery and will have one kiln.
>
> I know there are many things to consider and everyones personal situation=
s
> differ, but would appreciate advice on what size of wood kiln offers a go=
od
> compromise between stacking space, how often the kiln must be fired and h=
ow
> much wood/how long it must be fired. Yet still produces a decent amount o=
f
> work.
>
> It seems like I would have to fire a 30 cubic foot kiln every week to hav=
e
> a reasonable amount of stock to sell when I built one up with cardboard j=
ust
> to get an idea of how big it would be.
>
> Any advice about things I should be thinking about when deciding what siz=
e
> of wood kiln to build?
>
> How small is too small?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Samm
>
>
>
>
>
>
--
Steve
Bath
UK
www.mudslinger.me.uk
Growing old is inevitable, growing up is optional!
gary navarre on sat 31 jul 10
Sam and All,=3D0A=3D0A Somewhere I read 20cu.ft. is about the smallest you =
woul=3D
d want to make in terms of efficiency and 30cu.ft. is good for learning how=
=3D
to wood fire and have something to sell. However, once you get some experi=
=3D
ence and choose to stick with wood fuel 60cu.ft. would be a minimum. That M=
=3D
inigama is great for a university or high school where you can't pull an al=
=3D
l-nighter firing for a day or two but in your own place nobody is gonna bus=
=3D
t you out. =3D0A=3D0A Just for a rough estimate I figured I'd need to make =
$125=3D
per kiln shelf to make it worth loading and given the shelves I can load I=
=3D
came up with a possible $15,000 in pots if they all turned out keepers on =
=3D
the first firing. In reality we know that didn't happen. After two firings =
=3D
I might have about 5 grand worth, in my eyes anyway, and these will take a =
=3D
while to sell because I don't want to drive to shows more than 50 miles awa=
=3D
y. At that rate I don't think I could raise a family on that kind of money.=
=3D
With a wife and a kid I'd need to fire at least 6 times a year. That's a l=
=3D
ot of work dude. I know I'm not up for it so good luck and stay in there eh=
=3D
. Just don't give up the day job until you have two years income saved up t=
=3D
o live on. Till then learn to make killer pots.=3D0A =3D0AGary Navarre=3D=
0ANava=3D
rre Pottery=3D0ANavarre Enterprises=3D0ANorway, Michigan, USA=3D0Ahttp://ww=
w.yout=3D
ube.com/GindaUP=3D0Ahttp://public.fotki.com/GindaUP/=3D0A=3D0A=3D0A--- On S=
at, 7/31=3D
/10, sam bucus wrote:=3D0A=3D0A> From: sam bucus mm_b=3D
ucus@YAHOO.COM>=3D0A> Subject: [Clayart] Wood Kiln Size Advice=3D0A> To: Cl=
ayar=3D
t@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG=3D0A> Date: Saturday, July 31, 2010, 3:31 AM=3D0A> Hello=
, =3D
=3D0A> I am planning to open a pottery studio next spring/summer=3D0A> in M=
aine=3D
. I am hoping to have a woodfired kiln for salt=3D0A> glazing (and would li=
ke=3D
a kiln that deposits a little bit of=3D0A> ash on the pots as well, but no=
th=3D
ing excessive). I have been=3D0A> looking at all kinds of kilns, but have b=
ee=3D
n drawn to John=3D0A> Theis and Bill Van Gilder's Manabigama kiln plans for=
3=3D
0=3D0A> cubic foot cross draught that can be fired to cones 12=3D0A> (front=
) to=3D
10(back) in under 12 hours with under 1 cord of=3D0A> wood. I have also co=
ns=3D
idered Olsen/Phoenix and catenary arch=3D0A> kilns as well.=3D0A> =3DA0=3D0=
A> But I=3D
wonder, is 30 cubic feet too small? I will be trying=3D0A> to support myse=
lf=3D
and family from this pottery and will have=3D0A> one kiln. =3D0A> =3DA0=3D=
0A> I kn=3D
ow there are many things to consider and=3D0A> everyones=3DA0personal situa=
tion=3D
s differ,=3DA0but would appreciate=3D0A> advice on what size of wood kiln o=
ffer=3D
s a good compromise=3D0A> between stacking space, how often the kiln must b=
e =3D
fired and=3D0A> how much wood/how long it must be fired. Yet still produces=
=3D
=3D0A> a decent amount of work.=3D0A> =3DA0=3D0A> It seems like I would hav=
e to fir=3D
e a 30 cubic foot kiln=3D0A> every week to have a reasonable amount of stoc=
k =3D
to sell when=3D0A> I built one up with cardboard just to get an idea of how=
b=3D
ig=3D0A> it would be. =3D0A> =3DA0=3D0A> Any advice about things I should b=
e thinki=3D
ng about when=3D0A> deciding what=3DA0size of wood kiln to build?=3D0A> =3D=
A0=3D0A> H=3D
ow small is too small?=3DA0=3DA0=3D0A> =3DA0=3D0A> Thanks!=3D0A> =3DA0=3D0A=
> Samm=3D0A> =3DA0=3D
=3D0A> =3DA0=3D0A> =3D0A> =3D0A> =3D0A> =3D0A=3D0A=3D0A
| |
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