mel jacobson on tue 13 mar 12
there are so many things to consider before you even start a
fuel kiln.
so many think it is brick stacking.
far from it. many of the old books were really
books about kiln architecture. that is the easy part.
that is what we cover in our book. (25 authors, not just me.)
the what to do first sort of thing.
kiln size, kiln location, available fuel, neighbors, fire safety,
your safety. what cone? what, how, when, why. then the story
of how to fire it..how to cool...
stacking bricks is the easy part.
i am not selling books here, i am asking people to make decisions
based on many factors. long before you buy a brick. get information
and learn the how and why. don't rush to your city and say...`gonna
build me a kiln in my yard that fires to 2500F.` first answer. NO
YOU ARE NOT.
rush to your city fathers dressed in ripped jeans, and clay all over you.
no, you dress up/look professional. you set the stage.
in most cases you do not have to approach any public figures. but,
you better let your neighbors have a look see, and discuss it with them.
they are the barrier. you start that at least a year before you build.
lots of presents of pots given out.
even at our farm we have established really good relationships with
neighbors. they don't look at us as `hippy city artists`..we are good
neighbors with welding equipment, tools and share stuff. i can
site in guns...and do it freely. they support our endeavors. like the
remark last fall in the local grocery store...`hey, you folks are ok.`
wow. made me smile. had no idea who the guy was. but, we are ok.
IT IS CALLED REPUTATION. i wear a camo jacket, a green bay packers
shirt, and flame orange hat. i blend in. and often i am heard saying..
`dem jerks in the city don't know noth'n.`
it is like the joke in minnetonka, if there needs to be a kiln inspection,
they would call me to go with the
fire inspector.. i have never been inspected. but, if i got one nasty
call to the city about my kiln...i bet they would try to shut me down.
i also try and keep lots of research materials around. and, when i
get publicity i always stress my `research`. i never talk about
production work. i am a teacher, that researches clay and glaze and
writes books and articles. set the stage. even the city council of
minnetonka has made a simple statement that i can have exhibits in
my home. just mel, not others. now that made me smile. i am not
a `national treasure`...but at least respected in an 80 block circle.
i tell people to tell neighbors that your kiln is just like an outdoor
bbq, food smoker. you underplay, not over play. you make it
a simple thing. that is what bob anderson did; he called the city
and asked for specifications for a gas fired barbecue system. they
gave him the lot line specs, where to put it and that was that.
he built his back yard kiln to those specs. not a worry in the world.
he is fully within the law. but, he got those specs a year before he
built. (he had a gal line brought into his studio.
and he had his very beautiful kiln shelter done and in place
to cover the kiln. it is very attractive. he shelters the flame with
a tarp system that is moveable for wind protection...but the
big issue, the neighbors never see flames. and there again, he is
a retired art teacher/craftsman, doing his `hobby`. `good fellow
and i wish i was as talented`...sort of thing. he has built a very
nice studio off his garage, and has the kiln about ten feet from
his studio. very nice. he is respected.
it sort of made me shutter when the person said the other
day...`three story stack`.
i said to myself `how high?` three stories... does it go through
the ceiling, up a wall. free standing????? that is a big issue i would
not want to deal with. i think that has to be thought through very
carefully. with help. my vision was it went through the apartment
complex above...right through the living room. and a three story stack
built into a 6 cubic foot kiln would draw so fast it would suck your lips
and teeth off your head. i can feel it from here. can you say `venturi`.
well, anyway...just sitting here thinking about some questions that folks
have emailed me with. dannon just came back from a kiln/help/q.a. with
some folks. (she emailed me with some
of the same thoughts we are discussing here.)
it is amazing how much dis-information is out there. she was
able to help, but who knows if they even believe her. and that is
the real issue. old, stuck in brain, dis-information about kilns, heat, an=
d
thermo/dynamic issues. books written in 1939 and still bibles to some
folks.
mel
http://www.visi.com/~melpots/
clayart page below:
http://www.visi.com/~melpots/clayart.html
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