Vince Pitelka on wed 5 jan 11
This is a follow-up about the discussion that occurred a week ago =3D
regarding
gas burner systems to convert old toploader electric kilns. I checked =3D
with
Marc Ward, and here=3D92s what he wrote back:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------=
=3D
--
Sent: Wednesday, January 05, 2011 5:24 AM
To: Vince Pitelka
Subject: Re: burners for electric kiln conversion
I've never built a stand like that with MR750's, but have sold lots of =3D
them
(MR750's) to folks that have replaced their pipe burners. Plus, we sell
complete setups with hoses and regulators to do the same thing as the
stands. We just don't provide the metal work. =3D20
- Marc
info@wardburner.com=3DA0
Ward Burner Systems=3D20
865.397.2914 phone=3D20
865.397.1253 fax=3D20
www.wardburner.com=3D20
-------------------------------------------------------------------------=
=3D
--
So, it seems that a lot of people have found the pipe burners to be
inadequate on the Summit conversion systems sold by Axner or on the =3D
Olympic
updraft toploaders. I do not understand why those companies don't just =3D
use
the MR-750. It is such a great little burner. =3DA0It is not hard to =3D
build a
stand or to adapt the existing stand, so if it were me, I would go with =3D
the
off-the-shelf parts or the kit from Marc Ward rather than the systems
available from Summit or Olympic.
- Vince
Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Craft
Tennessee Tech University
vpitelka@dtccom.net; wpitelka@tntech.edu=3D20
http://iweb.tntech.edu/wpitelka
Cathi Newlin on wed 5 jan 11
I'm wondering what the issues are with the Summit burners?
On 1/5/2011 5:31 AM, Vince Pitelka wrote:
> This is a follow-up about the discussion that occurred a week ago regardi=
ng
> gas burner systems to convert old toploader electric kilns. I checked wi=
th
> Marc Ward, and here's what he wrote back:
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------=
--
> Sent: Wednesday, January 05, 2011 5:24 AM
> To: Vince Pitelka
> Subject: Re: burners for electric kiln conversion
>
> I've never built a stand like that with MR750's, but have sold lots of th=
em
> (MR750's) to folks that have replaced their pipe burners. Plus, we sell
> complete setups with hoses and regulators to do the same thing as the
> stands. We just don't provide the metal work.
> - Marc
>
> info@wardburner.com
> Ward Burner Systems
> 865.397.2914 phone
> 865.397.1253 fax
> www.wardburner.com
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------=
--
>
> So, it seems that a lot of people have found the pipe burners to be
> inadequate on the Summit conversion systems sold by Axner or on the Olymp=
ic
> updraft toploaders. I do not understand why those companies don't just u=
se
> the MR-750. It is such a great little burner. It is not hard to build a
> stand or to adapt the existing stand, so if it were me, I would go with t=
he
> off-the-shelf parts or the kit from Marc Ward rather than the systems
> available from Summit or Olympic.
> - Vince
>
> Vince Pitelka
> Appalachian Center for Craft
> Tennessee Tech University
> vpitelka@dtccom.net; wpitelka@tntech.edu
> http://iweb.tntech.edu/wpitelka
>
>
--
Cathi Newlin, Angels Camp, Ca
box49@caltel.com
http://www.cnewlin.com
Vince Pitelka on wed 5 jan 11
Cathi Newlin wrote:
"I'm wondering what the issues are with the Summit burners?"
Hi Cathi -
I think this was mentioned in some previous posts, but both Summit and
Olympic seem to use cheaply made tube burners composed of off-the-shelf
black iron pipe component parts. In other words, they are not "designed"
burners, but rather a conglomeration of pipe fittings that happen to
function as burners. And as Bill Schran pointed out, there is no primary
air adjustment. According to Marc Ward's comment, some users are so
dissatisfied with these burners that they have enlisted Marc's help in
converting over to the MR-750 venturi burners. The MR-750 and the larger
MR-100 are nice little cast iron venturi burners with an efficient
adjustable primary air shutter. And as Marc Says, he sells kits that will
provide you with the burners, valves, pilots, etc., and you would have to
either build your own frame, or adapt the original electric kiln frame.
- Vince
Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Craft
Tennessee Tech University
vpitelka@dtccom.net; wpitelka@tntech.edu
http://iweb.tntech.edu/wpitelka
Rob Haugen on thu 6 jan 11
Vince,
You may want to take a look at one of our current burner systems a little
more carefully. I can assure you that our burners are not a conglomeration
of "off the shelf" parts. We use a GACO AM100 air mixer that most
definitely do have a shutter plate for primary air adjustment. In fact the
shutter plate, brass spud and orifice are the same for the AM100 and the
MR750. We have done extensive testing with our current burner and the MR75=
0
and find very little difference in performance between the two burners. We
have been building gas kilns for over 40 years and have probably built more
gas kilns than anyone out there. We are very aware of the gas kiln firing
process and we strive to build a simple kiln, that can be easily set up and
fired by anybody with the desire to fire a gas kiln. If someone wants the
MR750's on one of our kilns, we can do it, but I do not feel that it is a
necessity. If someone wants to buy just the burner system and do the
conversion, we will do that as well.
Rob Haugen
Olympic Kilns
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:Clayart@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of Vince Pitelka
Sent: Wednesday, January 05, 2011 6:03 PM
To: Clayart@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Re: FW: burners for electric kiln conversion
Cathi Newlin wrote:
"I'm wondering what the issues are with the Summit burners?"
Hi Cathi -
I think this was mentioned in some previous posts, but both Summit and
Olympic seem to use cheaply made tube burners composed of off-the-shelf
black iron pipe component parts. In other words, they are not "designed"
burners, but rather a conglomeration of pipe fittings that happen to
function as burners. And as Bill Schran pointed out, there is no primary
air adjustment. According to Marc Ward's comment, some users are so
dissatisfied with these burners that they have enlisted Marc's help in
converting over to the MR-750 venturi burners. The MR-750 and the larger
MR-100 are nice little cast iron venturi burners with an efficient
adjustable primary air shutter. And as Marc Says, he sells kits that will
provide you with the burners, valves, pilots, etc., and you would have to
either build your own frame, or adapt the original electric kiln frame.
- Vince
Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Craft
Tennessee Tech University
vpitelka@dtccom.net; wpitelka@tntech.edu
http://iweb.tntech.edu/wpitelka
Dan Hill on fri 7 jan 11
Thanks to Clayart.
Having started this thread I want to thank everyone Vince, Bill, Tom, Cathi=
,
Rob, Nils, Mel and Hank for their experiences and expertise.
I feel like I have plenty of good information now to make an informed
decision of what will work for me in my particular situation.
It is good to see when open discussion between potters and suppliers can
clear up problems and misconceptions, which in the end makes for better
choices and products.
I will report back to the list with the results and costs of my conversion
kiln.
Clayart is a fantastic resource for the potter who lives off the beaten
path.
Dan Hill
Hill Pottery
Wilno Ont. Canada
^6 soda fired Porcelain and Stoneware
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