Dana Om Pottery on tue 1 mar 11
I have a question about kiln bricks. I broke a chunk off of the top brick o=
n my
kiln. I guess i must have habitually leaned over to load the bottom shelf i=
n the
same spot over and over. The chunk is about 2 inches and now exposes the co=
il
element. It did not damage the element but it no longer is nestled in the
"grove" between bricks. The lid still closes fine and as it is the inner ed=
ge of
the brick i figure it will not impact heat escaping the kiln lid. Do i need=
to
fix this? If yes do i need to replace the entire brick or is there cement t=
hat i
can piece the chunks back in?
Thanks
Dana
\
William & Susan Schran User on tue 1 mar 11
On 3/1/11 9:34 AM, "Dana Om Pottery" wrote:
> I have a question about kiln bricks. I broke a chunk off of the top brick=
on
> my kiln. I guess i must have habitually leaned over to load the bottom sh=
elf
>in the same spot over and over. The chunk is about 2 inches and now expos=
es
>the coil element. It did not damage the element but it no longer is nestle=
d in
>the "grove" between bricks. The lid still closes fine and as it is the inn=
er
>edge of the brick i figure it will not impact heat escaping the kiln lid.=
Do i
>need to fix this? If yes do i need to replace the entire brick or is there
>cement that can piece the chunks back in?
The simple answer is yes, the brick can be cemented back in place, but if
you will continue to lean over that spot, it will probably break again.
You write: "It did not damage the element but it no longer is nestled in
>the "grove" between bricks." If the element is still laying in the groove,
and the bottom of the groove is still intact, you can probably use a couple
element pins to secure the element in place.
I would suggest leaving as is, sanding off any loose/rough edges of the
broken brick, vacuuming out all chunks/brick dust, putting a thick towel
over the area when loading/unloading to prevent further damage.
You can replace the brick when replacing elements. Just loosing the metal
skin and sliding brick out, sliding in new brick.
FYI - I have several short female students and a couple tallish top loading
kilns. I put cinder blocks on floor both sides of kilns. This allows shorte=
r
persons to more easily reach down into kilns.
Bill
--
William "Bill" Schran
wschran@cox.net
wschran@nvcc.edu
http://www.creativecreekartisans.com
Arnold Howard on tue 1 mar 11
On 3/1/2011 10:50 AM, William & Susan Schran User wrote:
> I would suggest leaving as is, sanding off any loose/rough edges of the
> broken brick, vacuuming out all chunks/brick dust, putting a thick towel
> over the area when loading/unloading to prevent further damage.
-------
I agree with Bill. As long as 1 1/2" of the damaged wall brick surface
is left to contact the lid, you do not need to replace the brick. The
photo at the top of page 3 illustrates this (see link below):
http://www.paragonweb.com/files/manuals/IM234_Firebrick_Repair.pdf
Here is an article on reducing damage to the top rim of kiln wall bricks:
http://www.paragonweb.com/Kiln_Pointer.cfm?PID=3D160
Sincerely,
Arnold Howard
Paragon Industries, L.P., Mesquite, Texas USA
ahoward@paragonweb.com / www.paragonweb.com
Steve Mills on wed 2 mar 11
I have two broken bricks on the rim of my kiln. It's been like it a while. =
N=3D
o I'll effects, just makes me remember to be careful!
Steve M
Steve Mills
Bath
UK
www.mudslinger.me.uk
Sent from my Ipod touch
On 1 Mar 2011, at 14:34, Dana Om Pottery wrote:
> I have a question about kiln bricks. I broke a chunk off of the top brick=
o=3D
n my
> kiln. I guess i must have habitually leaned over to load the bottom shelf=
i=3D
n the
> same spot over and over. The chunk is about 2 inches and now exposes the =
c=3D
oil
> element. It did not damage the element but it no longer is nestled in the
> "grove" between bricks. The lid still closes fine and as it is the inner =
e=3D
dge of
> the brick i figure it will not impact heat escaping the kiln lid. Do i ne=
e=3D
d to
> fix this? If yes do i need to replace the entire brick or is there cement=
t=3D
hat i
> can piece the chunks back in?
>=3D20
> Thanks
> Dana
> \
Snail Scott on mon 7 mar 11
On Mar 1, 2011, at 8:34 AM, Dana Om Pottery wrote:
> I have a question about kiln bricks. I broke a chunk off of the top =3D
brick on my
> kiln...
My kiln has had the same kind of chip in the top=3D20
rim for twenty years, no harm done. It was there=3D20
when I bought it, but with a new kiln I might protect=3D20
it. It's a very common phenomenon for top-loading=3D20
electric kilns. I don't think it's loading that does the=3D20
damage in most cases, but rather the way that the=3D20
prop is set when keeping the lid partially open=3D20
during candling.
-Snail=3D
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