dianamp@COMCAST.NET on mon 13 dec 10
Dear Clayart:
I imagine that most of you living in wintry climates
who use propane for fuel, don't fire in winter
unless you have a shed (or hot water?).
Is it wise or even possible to try?
At what temperature would you try it??
Some days are warmer but the nights aren't
so I presume you wouldn't try to fire because
of the length of the firing.
Thanks again for your advice.
Diana Pancioli
Lee Burningham on mon 13 dec 10
Howdy,
=3D20
Northern Utah doesn't quite rank up there with Minnesota on the coldest =3D
days but it is possible to fire year round with 100 pound tanks. I was =3D
firing raku in back of the school at 0 Fahrenheit and the only gas problem =
=3D
I had was needing to switch from one tank to the other when the first tank =
=3D
ran dry. Yes, there was freezing on the outside of the tank but nothing =3D
out of the ordinary for a cool spring or fall day. I have fired propane =3D
kilns at -20 F . Larger tanks give better results and less freezing.
Lee Burningham
=3D20
=3D20
Lee Love on mon 13 dec 10
When my friend Dave Glenn was working as an event director at a
college in St. CLoud, he'd have a holiday raku party every winter on
his deck. We would quench the pots in the snow banks. He started
with full tanks. There were never any problems when I fired with
him.
--
=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
Vince Pitelka on mon 13 dec 10
When raku-firing during the winter in Fargo, our 20-lb propane tanks always
froze up if we didn't heat them. At first we poured hot water over them,
but of course that just froze on the ground and created a deadly ice slick.
Then we got one of those flexible rubber tubs for mixing masonry, set the
tank in that, and poured in a few gallons of hot water. That did the trick
beautifully, but would not be a solution for an overnight firing. I would
imagine that those low-wattage heat-tapes used in rain gutters and
downspouts could work well to keep the propane tank from freezing up.
There's gotta be a safe, reasonably-priced solution.
- Vince
Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Craft
Tennessee Tech University
vpitelka@dtccom.net; wpitelka@tntech.edu
http://iweb.tntech.edu/wpitelka
Dale Neese on mon 13 dec 10
Diana,
the bigger and more full the propane tank is the better the firing time if
you need to fire in colder weather. Even here in South Texas there at times
in Dec, Jan, Feb, that I just don't attempt to fire without the tank being
full of propane. The tank will freeze up limiting the withdrawal rate of ga=
s
in colder weather with low fuel extending the firing time. I've not tried t=
o
compensate by using hot water, heat tape, electric blankets or other means
which could be dangerous and too cumbersome with a 250 gallon propane tank.
Propane companies will not fill a propane tank placed inside or within x
number of feet from a structure. I've heard of someone enveloping the
propane tank with a thick tarp, running a flexible pipe from the exhaust of
an automobile engine into the tarped tank to raise the temperature to finis=
h
a firing. Now I just don't bother firing unless I have a topped off tank of
propane and until the outside temperature is going to be sunny and in the
high 50's all day. I have my tank placed in the sun to take advantage of
natural heating. I quit all firings at night, summer or winter, not because
of the freezing issue but it's me sometimes having difficulty late at night
when I am more tired. I way over fired one time, falling asleep. That's was
all it took to wake up and change my firing habits. Start early, early in
the mornings and finish before it gets too late. And even potters need to
enjoy a holiday season when making clay things slow down due to cold
weather, to be with family and friends and not Scrooged away by yourself in
a chilly studio looking for your last lump of coal for the fire.
Dale Tex
"across the alley from the Alamo"
Helotes, Texas USA
www.daleneese.com
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gwynneth rixon on mon 13 dec 10
Hi, I've just fired a bisque (06) and it was a bit reluctant until I put a
hot water bottle wrapped in a towel over the regulator!!
We were lucky to have a day with temperatures a little over freezing (not
much!) so I went for it.
Gwynneth
On Mon, Dec 13, 2010 at 3:58 PM, wrote:
> Dear Clayart:
>
> I imagine that most of you living in wintry climates
> who use propane for fuel, don't fire in winter
> unless you have a shed (or hot water?).
>
> Is it wise or even possible to try?
> At what temperature would you try it??
>
> Some days are warmer but the nights aren't
> so I presume you wouldn't try to fire because
> of the length of the firing.
>
> Thanks again for your advice.
>
> Diana Pancioli
>
J Motzkin on tue 14 dec 10
Hello Diane,
I fire with propane outdoors in winter, below freezing.
Having a shed does not make a difference because the propane tanks should
not be kept indoors.What size is your tank?
If small you can buddy two together.
Joining 2 small tanks together increases the surface area.
jem
judy motzkin
studio:7 tufts street
cambridge MA 02139
617-547-5513
www.motzkin.com
Nils Lou on tue 14 dec 10
firing with propane (LPG) in winter is no problem if you
have a burner designed for liquid withdrawal. it simply uses the
liquid LPG and vaporizes it at the burner head rather than depending
on boiling it off in the tank. gets all the propane and temperature can =3D
be=3D20
ten below. beats using a fancy $800 vaporizer, or struggling to keep a =3D
vapor tank=3D20
all warm and cuddly.
the burner has a double wall where the liquid is vaporized by self =3D
heating before
expanding into the burner orifice. they are stainless steel and come in
many Btu ratings from 100,000 to 5 million.=3D20
connections are simple too, requiring a regulator rated for liquid and=3D20
high pressure hose. same as needed for vapor.=3D20
propane companies sell LPG in special liquid withdrawal tanks (usually =3D
red)
for construction/roofing stuff. but if you have the regulator and =3D
special
burner you can use a simple barbeque five gallon tank turned upside =3D
down. even a=3D20
100 pounder (vapor) with 26.54 gallons
can be managed to be set on its side or even upside down to get the last =
=3D
drop.
you will have liquid LPG. large tanks require a dip-tube valve for =3D
liquid withdrawal.
which your propane company can install.
=3D97=3D97prices for regulator w/gauge, ten foot hose and a
125,000Btu burner (suitable for raku) as described are about $300. write =
=3D
me off line if interested.
nils lou, professor of art
http://nilslou.blogspot.com
www.tinyurl.com/bpc5nm
503.883.2274
"Play is the essence of creativity", and
"What is not brought forward into consciousness....
we later call Fate", Carl Jung
dianamp@COMCAST.NET on thu 16 dec 10
Many thanks to all the Clayarters who responded to my question
about firing kilns in winter with propane. Many of the replies were
regarding raku firing, which is much shorter in duration than the
kilns we fire here. Nils gave a very complete answer which required
changing to liquid burners, but unfortunately we don't have
the money to afford that. So, my instincts were somewhat confirmed--
that it would be better for us to just mothball the kilns till spring arriv=
es.
We do have indoor gas and electrics, and a wood kiln if anyone wants
to suffer through a 20 degree night! So thanks again for the many
responses. I appreciate you all.
Sincerely,
Diana Pancioli
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