mel jacobson on mon 6 jun 11
in my many years of running clayart i have learned
that most commercial kilns will have detractors.
it is part of the problem of folks thinking if they buy
a kiln and pay a good deal of money it should just
fire perfectly every time.
sorry, that facts do not support that theory.
i have found a great deal of `pilot error` in kiln firing.
there is so much `bad information` out there.
and, every area of the country has unique wind direction,
humidity, weather patterns and of course the buildings that
surround your kiln will make a huge difference.
i have listened to complaints about baillies, geils, olympics
and the old alpines had their trouble too.
in almost every case the kilns had to be modified for the unique
situation and firing habits of the buyer.
rob haugen does his best. that is all i can say. and often
his kilns are on the lower end price wise. he has to cut
corners. i know that every one of the kiln companies are
sort of on the edge right now. hard way to make a buck.
and saying that...`one size fits all`..never works...and many
commercial kilns are going into the hands of rank amateurs.
often they think it just goes on, then turn it off. and instantly
you will have perfectly fired pots, with perfect glazes.
it is the same for kilns in our new book. a set of plans that we
know work, but...but....the builder has to learn to fire that kiln.
it takes time and adjustments. maybe twenty firings.
a burner system is a simple thing. a tube, a hole for gas and
air coming to that gas. how much gas comes from that pipe
is always a question mark. what you get in arizona, is not what
you get in minneapolis. you have to adjust and adapt. from natural
air to blowers/compressed air, you have to know how to use and
adjust them.
one size does not fit all. the most important concept i can
suggest for kilns.
many of you would howl at what i see when i go out and help
folks with kilns. it is totally a crap shoot. i often wonder how
they ever followed a plan. the kiln does not have sense of
being the kiln from the plan...`you know my saying...`wally at
the jr. college gave us some help and made a lot of changes`...
well, wally does not know crap.` the friendly helper that
always knows more than the manufacturer. can you spell `screwed up`?
so, for all these kilns...a bit of patience, and of course a steep
learning curve. it just might be you that is the problem.
mel
from: minnetonka, mn
website: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/
clayart link: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/clayart.html
new book: http://www.21stcenturykilns.com
alternate: melpots7575@gmail.com
Steve Mills on mon 6 jun 11
Ah Dear Mel-san,
So true, so true.
Buying (or building) and installing a Kiln is only 25% of the process!
Steve M
Steve Mills
Bath
UK
www.mudslinger.me.uk
Sent from my Ipod touch
On 6 Jun 2011, at 14:42, mel jacobson wrote:
> in my many years of running clayart i have learned
> that most commercial kilns will have detractors.
>
> it is part of the problem of folks thinking if they buy
> a kiln and pay a good deal of money it should just
> fire perfectly every time.
>
> sorry, that facts do not support that theory.
>
> i have found a great deal of `pilot error` in kiln firing.
> there is so much `bad information` out there.
>
> and, every area of the country has unique wind direction,
> humidity, weather patterns and of course the buildings that
> surround your kiln will make a huge difference.
>
> i have listened to complaints about baillies, geils, olympics
> and the old alpines had their trouble too.
>
> in almost every case the kilns had to be modified for the unique
> situation and firing habits of the buyer.
>
> rob haugen does his best. that is all i can say. and often
> his kilns are on the lower end price wise. he has to cut
> corners. i know that every one of the kiln companies are
> sort of on the edge right now. hard way to make a buck.
>
> and saying that...`one size fits all`..never works...and many
> commercial kilns are going into the hands of rank amateurs.
> often they think it just goes on, then turn it off. and instantly
> you will have perfectly fired pots, with perfect glazes.
>
> it is the same for kilns in our new book. a set of plans that we
> know work, but...but....the builder has to learn to fire that kiln.
> it takes time and adjustments. maybe twenty firings.
>
> a burner system is a simple thing. a tube, a hole for gas and
> air coming to that gas. how much gas comes from that pipe
> is always a question mark. what you get in arizona, is not what
> you get in minneapolis. you have to adjust and adapt. from natural
> air to blowers/compressed air, you have to know how to use and
> adjust them.
>
> one size does not fit all. the most important concept i can
> suggest for kilns.
>
> many of you would howl at what i see when i go out and help
> folks with kilns. it is totally a crap shoot. i often wonder how
> they ever followed a plan. the kiln does not have sense of
> being the kiln from the plan...`you know my saying...`wally at
> the jr. college gave us some help and made a lot of changes`...
> well, wally does not know crap.` the friendly helper that
> always knows more than the manufacturer. can you spell `screwed up`?
>
> so, for all these kilns...a bit of patience, and of course a steep
> learning curve. it just might be you that is the problem.
> mel
>
>
>
>
> from: minnetonka, mn
> website: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/
> clayart link: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/clayart.html
> new book: http://www.21stcenturykilns.com
> alternate: melpots7575@gmail.com
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