Caroline and Hedley Saunders on fri 23 jan 98
I was very relieved to see the posts suggesting that kiln building is a
perfectly viable alternative to buying. I am a serious hobby potter with no
previous kiln building experience but am very keen to build my own gas kiln.
The main reason, for me, is that I feel I will know the kiln far more
intimately and will therefore be less intimidated by firing.
I am busy researching and working out what questions I need answering. It
is so exciting figuring it all out. My current dilemma is whether I should
go for a flat top which would be easier for me to make or a sprung arch. I
am nervous of my ability to cut the bricks accurately enough for the arch!
I saw a film of Michael Cardew in Africa recently, he described potters as
falling into two categories; those like himself who are mud and water people
and interested in making and decorating, and those who loved the firing. He
was not interested in the art of firing and by all accounts not too good at
it either. For me I want to be in control of all the processes, the firing
is such a huge part of the pot how can a potter not be interested .
Any feedback to me will be devoured with relish!
Caroline
England
delphin@eclipse.co.uk
Lili Krakowski on sat 24 jan 98
Some one who replied to yours or a a similar query pointed out the fact
that zoning, and fire and building codes MUST be considered BEFORE one
builds a kiln. I have NO idea what it's like in GB--I expect things have
changed a biot since Blake's "dark Satanic mills"-- but do investigate,
and do also check whether your insurance will protect you if a homebuilt
kiln causes damage.
On Fri, 23 Jan 1998, Caroline and Hedley Saunders wrote:
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> I was very relieved to see the posts suggesting that kiln building is a
> perfectly viable alternative to buying. I am a serious hobby potter with no
> previous kiln building experience but am very keen to build my own gas kiln.
> The main reason, for me, is that I feel I will know the kiln far more
> intimately and will therefore be less intimidated by firing.
>
> I am busy researching and working out what questions I need answering. It
> is so exciting figuring it all out. My current dilemma is whether I should
> go for a flat top which would be easier for me to make or a sprung arch. I
> am nervous of my ability to cut the bricks accurately enough for the arch!
>
> I saw a film of Michael Cardew in Africa recently, he described potters as
> falling into two categories; those like himself who are mud and water people
> and interested in making and decorating, and those who loved the firing. He
> was not interested in the art of firing and by all accounts not too good at
> it either. For me I want to be in control of all the processes, the firing
> is such a huge part of the pot how can a potter not be interested .
>
> Any feedback to me will be devoured with relish!
>
> Caroline
> England
> delphin@eclipse.co.uk
>
Lili Krakowski
Pierre Brayford on sat 24 jan 98
If you do decide to go for a sprung arch - buy ready cut arch bricks and
make the arch former to fit the bricks.
Caroline and Hedley Saunders wrote:
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> I was very relieved to see the posts suggesting that kiln building is a
> perfectly viable alternative to buying. I am a serious hobby potter with no
> previous kiln building experience but am very keen to build my own gas kiln.
> The main reason, for me, is that I feel I will know the kiln far more
> intimately and will therefore be less intimidated by firing.
>
> I am busy researching and working out what questions I need answering. It
> is so exciting figuring it all out. My current dilemma is whether I should
> go for a flat top which would be easier for me to make or a sprung arch. I
> am nervous of my ability to cut the bricks accurately enough for the arch!
>
> I saw a film of Michael Cardew in Africa recently, he described potters as
> falling into two categories; those like himself who are mud and water people
> and interested in making and decorating, and those who loved the firing. He
> was not interested in the art of firing and by all accounts not too good at
> it either. For me I want to be in control of all the processes, the firing
> is such a huge part of the pot how can a potter not be interested .
>
> Any feedback to me will be devoured with relish!
>
> Caroline
> England
> delphin@eclipse.co.uk
--
Pierre Brayford
Old School Pottery, Edgton
Shropshire, U.K.
Vince Pitelka on sat 24 jan 98
>I am busy researching and working out what questions I need answering. It
>is so exciting figuring it all out. My current dilemma is whether I should
>go for a flat top which would be easier for me to make or a sprung arch. I
>am nervous of my ability to cut the bricks accurately enough for the arch!
Caroline -
You will get lots of rave reviews of the flat tops on this list, but not
from me. I acknowledge that they fire OK, but I just don't like the looks
of them. I love brick arches. And you do not have to cut any bricks for an
IFB arch, except perhaps the key brick at the top. With IFBs, that is an
easy task. Check out the arch-configuration charts in an APGreen pocket
catalog, and purchase the right number of the correct arch bricks. You will
have to build an arch form to support the arch during construction, but that
is not a difficult chore. And when you are done, you will have a beautiful
rounded kiln ceiling, inviting the graceful flow of flames and heat.
- Vince
Vince Pitelka - vpitelka@DeKalb.net
Home 615/597-5376, work 615/597-6801, fax 615/597-6803
Appalachian Center for Crafts
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
Dave Eitel on sun 25 jan 98
My current dilemma is whether I should
>go for a flat top which would be easier for me to make or a sprung arch. I
>am nervous of my ability to cut the bricks accurately enough for the arch!
I strongly favor the sprung arch--but have never built a flat top. Sprung
arches are not difficult--in fact, I've heard that flat tops are harder to
build. Perhaps others will have opinions on this.
Dave
Dave Eitel
Cedar Creek Pottery
Cedarburg, WI USA
http://www.cedarcreekpottery.com
KLeSueur on mon 26 jan 98
In a message dated 1/23/98 8:01:38 AM, you wrote:
<< My current dilemma is whether I should
go for a flat top which would be easier for me to make or a sprung arch. I
am nervous of my ability to cut the bricks accurately enough for the arch!>>
One of the best flat tops I ever saw was a car kiln built by Dick Lehman in
Goshen, IN. It had a fiber roof. The kiln itself sat outside of the studio.
But the bed of the car rolled into his studio. I thought it was a great
system. I'm sure if you called him he'd share any information he could.
Kathi LeSueur, just shut the kiln off and now it's on to praying for a good
one
Vince Pitelka on mon 26 jan 98
>If you do decide to go for a sprung arch - buy ready cut arch bricks and
>make the arch former to fit the bricks.
I don't get this. Arch bricks are available in three angle configurations,
in both IFB and hardbrick, and using readily available tables we purchase
the bricks we need for the desired arch. No cutting of arch bricks is
necessary.
- Vince
Vince Pitelka - vpitelka@DeKalb.net
Home 615/597-5376, work 615/597-6801, fax 615/597-6803
Appalachian Center for Crafts
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
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