James Freeman on fri 18 may 12
Andy...
I would imagine it's up to your home owners' insurance company. When I
installed an outdoor wood furnace, my insurance company just wanted to know
that it was at least 50 feet from the house. There may also be fire codes
in your area, though there were none in mine.
As to a road, do you really need one? At the college, we just drive on the
grass when we need to get a vehicle out to the wood kiln, and we just walk
on the grass otherwise. The grass doesn't seem to care. If you do need a
road, how about just scraping off your topsoil and dumping gravel? Or just
dump the gravel right on top of everything, since it won't get much
traffic. My driveway is about 1800 feet long, and I was able to cover the
entire thing with crushed limestone with only four trainloads, at $600 per
trainload. The drivers will "dump-and-run" at no charge, which spreads the
gravel very evenly. I only had to touch up a few places (the beginning and
end of each dump) with my tractor. You could probably cover your 50' with
one triple axle dump truck load, and wouldn't even need to bother with a
gravel train.
Just a few thoughts. I'm sure you will get better advice. Congrats on
your wood kiln! I am still hoping to build mine this summer, though the
"honey-do" list keeps getting longer as the summer gets shorter.
...James
James Freeman
"Talk sense to a fool, and he calls you foolish."
-Euripides
http://www.jamesfreemanstudio.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesfreemanstudio/
http://www.jamesfreemanstudio.com/resources
On Fri, May 18, 2012 at 1:53 PM, sam bucus wrote:
> Hi,
> I am starting to build a wood kiln after a year of brick collecting. A
> medium sized, 60 +/- cubic ft. catenary arch kiln. I may fire up to 3 day=
s
> but will be hoping most firings will go in 24-36 hours to stoneware
> temperatures.
>
> I am concerned about how far to keep the kiln from the house and our
> barn/outbuilding. We plan to put in a road to extend the distance but at =
a
> cost of about $20 per foot of road a 50 foot extension will cost $1000.
>
> Does anyone have any advice on how far is reasonable/normal. I have seen
> some kilns less than 50 feet from other structures. But we certainly don'=
t
> want anything to catch fire. Safety first. But we also don't want to spen=
d
> thousands, or even hundreds if it can be helped, making an overly long
> road. I know the further the better, but we do have a budget.
>
> Thanks,
> Andy
>
sam bucus on fri 18 may 12
Hi,=3DA0=3D0AI am starting to build a wood kiln after a year of brick colle=
ctin=3D
g. A medium sized, 60 +/- cubic ft. catenary arch kiln. I may fire up to 3 =
=3D
days but will be hoping most firings will go in 24-36 hours to stoneware te=
=3D
mperatures.=3DA0=3D0A=3D0AI am concerned about how far to keep the kiln fro=
m the =3D
house and our barn/outbuilding. We plan to put in a road to extend the dist=
=3D
ance but at a cost of about $20 per foot of road a 50 foot extension will c=
=3D
ost $1000.=3DA0=3D0A=3D0ADoes anyone have any advice on how far is reasonab=
le/nor=3D
mal. I have seen some kilns less than 50 feet from other structures. But we=
=3D
certainly don't want anything to catch fire. Safety first. But we also don=
=3D
't want to spend thousands, or even hundreds if it can be helped, making an=
=3D
overly long road. I know the further the better, but we do have a budget.=
=3D
=3DA0=3D0A=3D0AThanks,=3DA0=3D0AAndy
Ben Morrison on sat 19 may 12
There should actually be a fire code in your city, county etc. la=3D
Sam,=3D0A=3D0AThere should actually be a fire code in your city, county etc=
. la=3D
ws that states how far things are supposed to be from your house. They migh=
=3D
t mention burning inside of a container vs. burning in the open. My area sa=
=3D
ys 10ft from any structure in a container and 25 ft burning in the open.=3D=
0A=3D
=3D0A-Ben=3D0A=3D0A=3D0A=3D0A________________________________=3D0A From: sa=
m bucus m_bucus@YAHOO.COM>=3D0ATo: Clayart@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG =3D0ASent: Friday, May =
18, =3D
2012 10:53 AM=3D0ASubject: Wood Kiln Distance from house=3D0A =3D0AHi,=3DA0=
=3D0AI am =3D
starting to build a wood kiln after a year of brick collecting. A medium si=
=3D
zed, 60 +/- cubic ft. catenary arch kiln. I may fire up to 3 days but will =
=3D
be hoping most firings will go in 24-36 hours to stoneware temperatures.=3D=
A0=3D
=3D0A=3D0AI am concerned about how far to keep the kiln from the house and =
our =3D
barn/outbuilding. We plan to put in a road to extend the distance but at a =
=3D
cost of about $20 per foot of road a 50 foot extension will cost $1000.=3DA=
0=3D
=3D0A=3D0ADoes anyone have any advice on how far is reasonable/normal. I ha=
ve s=3D
een some kilns less than 50 feet from other structures. But we certainly do=
=3D
n't want anything to catch fire. Safety first. But we also don't want to sp=
=3D
end thousands, or even hundreds if it can be helped, making an overly long =
=3D
road. I know the further the better, but we do have a budget.=3DA0=3D0A=3D0=
AThank=3D
s,=3DA0=3D0AAndy
Ben Morrison on sat 19 may 12
I was told by someone in college that over time as the wood is repeatedly h=
eated the combustion temperature actually drops. I don't know if that's tru=
e, but the wood frame holding up the steel sheeting at my college always lo=
oked very suspect. I was always concerned that it was going to go up in fla=
mes on my watch. Always had the hose and buckets of water handy.
________________________________
From: Steve Mills
To: Clayart@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Sent: Saturday, May 19, 2012 2:03 PM
Subject: Re: Wood Kiln Distance from house
Hi Sam,
You've had lots of very sound advice on distances, roads, et al, may I advi=
se you to treat your Kiln to a non-combustable cover/shed/hovel, way more i=
mportant, as that has to survive the cooling cycle of your pyromantic effor=
ts, and a burning shed is much more dangerous.
Several Potter friends of mine have had close calls with the spontaneous co=
mbustion of their wooden kiln sheds, and a few famous ones as well, and som=
e lost everything!!
Be safe and enjoy.
Steve M
Just finished firing my (outdoor) "compact" wood kiln and chewing my finger=
nails to the elbow in anticipation of the opening!
Steve Mills
Bath
UK
www.mudslinger.me.uk
Sent from my iPod
On 18 May 2012, at 18:53, sam bucus wrote:
> Hi,
> I am starting to build a wood kiln after a year of brick collecting. A me=
dium sized, 60 +/- cubic ft. catenary arch kiln. I may fire up to 3 days bu=
t will be hoping most firings will go in 24-36 hours to stoneware temperatu=
res.
>
> I am concerned about how far to keep the kiln from the house and our barn=
/outbuilding. We plan to put in a road to extend the distance but at a cost=
of about $20 per foot of road a 50 foot extension will cost $1000.
>
> Does anyone have any advice on how far is reasonable/normal. I have seen =
some kilns less than 50 feet from other structures. But we certainly don't =
want anything to catch fire. Safety first. But we also don't want to spend =
thousands, or even hundreds if it can be helped, making an overly long road=
. I know the further the better, but we do have a budget.
>
> Thanks,
> Andy
Snail Scott on sat 19 may 12
On May 18, 2012, at 7:48 PM, James Freeman wrote:
> ...As to a road, do you really need one? At the college, we just =3D
drive on the
> grass when we need to get a vehicle out to the wood kiln, and we just =3D
walk
> on the grass otherwise...
Depends on local conditions. I have a gravel=3D20
driveway, but the local ground is so squishy in the=3D20
spring that big trucks aren't even allowed on the=3D20
nearby paved roads, and gravel drives like mine=3D20
have to be topped up every few years as they subside.
I have no road to my studio either, and most of the=3D20
year I just drive on the grass, but in the spring even=3D20
the four-wheel-drive will bog down and get buried to=3D20
the axles. I share the access with a neighbor and=3D20
we discussed gravel, but around here it takes many,=3D20
many repeated dump truck loads before it quits just=3D20
sinking right in. Not worth it. Now, I just try to avoid=3D20
loading anything during the rainy season, hike to=3D20
the studio in muck boots, and buy a lot of straw to=3D20
scatter atop the mud before the grass disappears=3D20
entirely. A half-dozen bales a season has generally=3D20
done the trick; lots cheaper than gravel.=3D20
-Snail=3D
Steve Mills on sat 19 may 12
Hi Sam,
You've had lots of very sound advice on distances, roads, et al, may I advi=
s=3D
e you to treat your Kiln to a non-combustable cover/shed/hovel, way more im=
p=3D
ortant, as that has to survive the cooling cycle of your pyromantic efforts=
,=3D
and a burning shed is much more dangerous.=3D20
Several Potter friends of mine have had close calls with the spontaneous co=
m=3D
bustion of their wooden kiln sheds, and a few famous ones as well, and some=
l=3D
ost everything!!
Be safe and enjoy.=3D20
Steve M
Just finished firing my (outdoor) "compact" wood kiln and chewing my finger=
n=3D
ails to the elbow in anticipation of the opening!
Steve Mills
Bath
UK
www.mudslinger.me.uk
Sent from my iPod
On 18 May 2012, at 18:53, sam bucus wrote:
> Hi,=3D20
> I am starting to build a wood kiln after a year of brick collecting. A me=
d=3D
ium sized, 60 +/- cubic ft. catenary arch kiln. I may fire up to 3 days but=
w=3D
ill be hoping most firings will go in 24-36 hours to stoneware temperatures=
.=3D
=3D20
>=3D20
> I am concerned about how far to keep the kiln from the house and our barn=
/=3D
outbuilding. We plan to put in a road to extend the distance but at a cost =
o=3D
f about $20 per foot of road a 50 foot extension will cost $1000.=3D20
>=3D20
> Does anyone have any advice on how far is reasonable/normal. I have seen =
s=3D
ome kilns less than 50 feet from other structures. But we certainly don't w=
a=3D
nt anything to catch fire. Safety first. But we also don't want to spend th=
o=3D
usands, or even hundreds if it can be helped, making an overly long road. I=
k=3D
now the further the better, but we do have a budget.=3D20
>=3D20
> Thanks,=3D20
> Andy
David Hendley on sat 19 may 12
Andy/Sam,
As Steve M. mentioned, a good, generous, completely non-combustible shed
or cover over a wood kiln is the most important place to spend any money
above and beyond the cost of the kiln itself.
"The further the better" for a kiln is not true at all. It will simply make
every
single pot you load and unload waste more time and require extra steps.
Since
my pottery is set up to provide a living for the potter (me), and all the
pottery
is fired in a wood kiln, I want the kiln as close as possible to the potter=
y
shop
door. My ~40 cubic foot fastfire-style wood kiln is about 6 feet from the
back door. The wood siding of the building is protected from radiant heat
with heat shields (metal roofing mounted to the wall with air space behind
it). Everything is still in fine condition after 20+ years of firings. My
firings
are shorter at about 10 hours to cone 10, so YMMV.
Once a kiln is 10 or 15 feet from a structure I see no benefit of moving
it even farther away.
David Hendley
david@farmpots.com
http://www.farmpots.com
http://www.thewahooligans.com
----- Original Message -----
I am starting to build a wood kiln after a year of brick collecting. A
medium sized, 60 +/- cubic ft. catenary arch kiln. I may fire up to 3 days
but will be hoping most firings will go in 24-36 hours to stoneware
temperatures.
I am concerned about how far to keep the kiln from the house and our
barn/outbuilding. We plan to put in a road to extend the distance but at a
cost of about $20 per foot of road a 50 foot extension will cost $1000.
Does anyone have any advice on how far is reasonable/normal. I have seen
some kilns less than 50 feet from other structures. But we certainly don't
want anything to catch fire. Safety first. But we also don't want to spend
thousands, or even hundreds if it can be helped, making an overly long road=
.
I know the further the better, but we do have a budget.
Thanks,
Andy
Steve Mills on sun 20 may 12
I don't know the "physics" of that, but I suspect that because over time th=
e=3D
timber becomes super-dry, it ignites very easily. I've certainly experienc=
e=3D
d that, tho' luckily not with a kiln shed!
Steve M
Steve Mills
Bath
UK
www.mudslinger.me.uk
Sent from my iPod
On 20 May 2012, at 07:18, Ben Morrison wrote:
> I was told by someone in college that over time as the wood is repeatedly=
h=3D
eated the combustion temperature actually drops. I don't know if that's tru=
e=3D
, but the wood frame holding up the steel sheeting at my college always loo=
k=3D
ed very suspect. I was always concerned that it was going to go up in flame=
s=3D
on my watch. Always had the hose and buckets of water handy.
>=3D20
> From: Steve Mills
> To: Clayart@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG=3D20
> Sent: Saturday, May 19, 2012 2:03 PM
> Subject: Re: Wood Kiln Distance from house
>=3D20
> Hi Sam,
>=3D20
> You've had lots of very sound advice on distances, roads, et al, may I ad=
v=3D
ise you to treat your Kiln to a non-combustable cover/shed/hovel, way more =
i=3D
mportant, as that has to survive the cooling cycle of your pyromantic effor=
t=3D
s, and a burning shed is much more dangerous.=3D20
> Several Potter friends of mine have had close calls with the spontaneous =
c=3D
ombustion of their wooden kiln sheds, and a few famous ones as well, and so=
m=3D
e lost everything!!
>=3D20
> Be safe and enjoy.=3D20
>=3D20
> Steve M
> Just finished firing my (outdoor) "compact" wood kiln and chewing my fing=
e=3D
rnails to the elbow in anticipation of the opening!
>=3D20
>=3D20
> Steve Mills
> Bath
> UK
> www.mudslinger.me.uk
> Sent from my iPod
>=3D20
>=3D20
> On 18 May 2012, at 18:53, sam bucus wrote:
>=3D20
> > Hi,=3D20
> > I am starting to build a wood kiln after a year of brick collecting. A =
m=3D
edium sized, 60 +/- cubic ft. catenary arch kiln. I may fire up to 3 days b=
u=3D
t will be hoping most firings will go in 24-36 hours to stoneware temperatu=
r=3D
es.=3D20
> >=3D20
> > I am concerned about how far to keep the kiln from the house and our ba=
r=3D
n/outbuilding. We plan to put in a road to extend the distance but at a cos=
t=3D
of about $20 per foot of road a 50 foot extension will cost $1000.=3D20
> >=3D20
> > Does anyone have any advice on how far is reasonable/normal. I have see=
n=3D
some kilns less than 50 feet from other structures. But we certainly don't=
w=3D
ant anything to catch fire. Safety first. But we also don't want to spend t=
h=3D
ousands, or even hundreds if it can be helped, making an overly long road. =
I=3D
know the further the better, but we do have a budget.=3D20
> >=3D20
> > Thanks,=3D20
> > Andy
>=3D20
>=3D20
Ben Morrison on sun 20 may 12
I concur, the kiln I'm currently planning is going to be 10 ft behind my wo=
rkshop.
________________________________
From: David Hendley
To: Clayart@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Sent: Saturday, May 19, 2012 8:37 PM
Subject: Re: Wood Kiln Distance from house
Andy/Sam,
As Steve M. mentioned, a good, generous, completely non-combustible shed
or cover over a wood kiln is the most important place to spend any money
above and beyond the cost of the kiln itself.
"The further the better" for a kiln is not true at all. It will simply make
every
single pot you load and unload waste more time and require extra steps.
Since
my pottery is set up to provide a living for the potter (me), and all the
pottery
is fired in a wood kiln, I want the kiln as close as possible to the potter=
y
shop
door. My ~40 cubic foot fastfire-style wood kiln is about 6 feet from the
back door. The wood siding of the building is protected from radiant heat
with heat shields (metal roofing mounted to the wall with air space behind
it). Everything is still in fine condition after 20+ years of firings. My
firings
are shorter at about 10 hours to cone 10, so YMMV.
Once a kiln is 10 or 15 feet from a structure I see no benefit of moving
it even farther away.
David Hendley
david@farmpots.com
http://www.farmpots.com
http://www.thewahooligans.com
----- Original Message -----
I am starting to build a wood kiln after a year of brick collecting. A
medium sized, 60 +/- cubic ft. catenary arch kiln. I may fire up to 3 days
but will be hoping most firings will go in 24-36 hours to stoneware
temperatures.
I am concerned about how far to keep the kiln from the house and our
barn/outbuilding. We plan to put in a road to extend the distance but at a
cost of about $20 per foot of road a 50 foot extension will cost $1000.
Does anyone have any advice on how far is reasonable/normal. I have seen
some kilns less than 50 feet from other structures. But we certainly don't
want anything to catch fire. Safety first. But we also don't want to spend
thousands, or even hundreds if it can be helped, making an overly long road=
.
I know the further the better, but we do have a budget.
Thanks,
Andy
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