mel jacobson on wed 7 mar 12
donovan palmquist built a wonderful car kiln
for warren a few years back. compressed air burners,
and, it works like a charm.
the best part is:
with the car, warren can now
load the kiln and do the grunt work
with very little effort. (warren still makes
pots in the thousands.) and, he can fire them
all to cone 10 if he wishes...and still fire three cone
ranges if he wishes.
as one ages (warren is 87) it makes
life much easier when things are built
for ease and human energy saving. like having
the kiln under shelter, near your studio.
(in minnesota, inside is best.)
it would be like building a kiln and
not measuring your waist height.
you make the kiln fit your body, not
the plan. if you are short, make the door
short, it you are 6`8", build the kiln and door high.
(some people think the concrete block base has
to be three high...who says so?)
same for kiln shelves. it is easy to place silicon
carbide shelves lower than your chest...but higher
than that, while leaning in can be daunting.
buy a few advancers for just the top shelves.
(or if you are well off, buy 25 of them.)
what is simple and easy to do when you are 25 will
be hell on wheels when you are 70. plan ahead.
and, never be a slave to a plan. kiln plans should
be modified for your space, your physical size and how you fire.
that is why we love the lou/flat top kiln plan. any size,
any configuration is easy and can be built by almost anyone
with a hand or two from family or friends. and quality
materials are very near. leach did not have smith sharpe/fire brick supply
just down the street, or a quality brick company making
perfect brick and kaowool near you.. the world has come a long way.
same for glazes...they must be made to fit you, your clay and
your style. as emeril says...`beans don't come from the store
already seasoned, that is up to you.`
mel
http://www.visi.com/~melpots/
clayart page below:
http://www.visi.com/~melpots/clayart.html
Lee on wed 7 mar 12
One of Warren's inlaws built him a kiln closer out of a recycled
garage door closer and bicycle parts. He used to have to have help
closing the kiln. Now, he can crank it open and closed himself.
--
=3DA0Lee Love in Minneapolis
http://mingeisota.blogspot.com/
=3DA0"Ta tIr na n-=3DF3g ar chul an tI=3D97tIr dlainn trina ch=3DE9ile"=3D9=
7that is, =3D
"The
land of eternal youth is behind the house, a beautiful land fluent
within itself." -- John O'Donohue
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