Tracey Dobbins on tue 14 apr 98
-------------------
I'm hoping that someone has already gone down this path before. My question=
is
how effective are the cheaper weed burners vs. the raku burners listed in =
supply
catalogs with all sorts of bells and whistles? Is the huge savings in =24 =
really
worth it, or would I be dicing with danger? What are the pros/cons? Any
thoughts on this topic of comparison would be most appreciated=21
TIA...Tracey
tracey=5Fdobbins=40nols.edu
JHaysBSMO on wed 15 apr 98
Hi Tracy,
I started with a weedburner trying to minimize my start-up costs. Guess what,
after 2 months, I upgraded to a venturi burner from Marc Ward. You definitely
get what you pay for! Save yourself the time and aggravation and begin with
the right equipment. It'll save you $$ down the road. I know many people are
very happy with weed-burners, not knocking it, just not for me. Good luck!
Mary Hays
Blue Springs, Missouri
David McBeth on wed 15 apr 98
I have used the weed burner as my sole burner for the raku kiln for 8 or
9 years. We don't fire the raku kiln that much these days but there
were times when we would fire it quite frequently. I found that I had
to make slight modifications in the weed burner. I four drilled 1/8
inch holes in the back of the burner and wrapped koawool around the
outside of the burner. We secure the kaowool in place with ni-chrome
wire and rest in the burner on the edge of the burner port, supporting
the shaft of the weed burner on a cinder block.
--
David McBeth, MFA
Associate Professor of Art
330 C Gooch Hall
University of Tennessee at Martin
Martin, TN 38238
901-587-7416
http://fmc.utm.edu/~dmcbeth/dmcbeth.htm
Fraser on wed 15 apr 98
Hi Tracey:
I have used a 'weed burner' torch and a venturi torch. The weed burner
actually cost more than the torch equipped with a venturi, however, a torch
equipped with a venturi is (in my opinion) far superior. A venturi torch
will burn hotter, and operates very quietly compared to a weed blaster. My
venturi style burner cost just over $100.00 Canadian, while the weed burner
cost just over $200.00. The venturi burner is rated at 185000 btu.
Hope this helps.
Fraser
fraserf@golden.net
www.golden.net/~fraserf
----------
From: Tracey Dobbins
To: Multiple recipients of list CLAYART
Subject: raku burner vs weed burner?
Date: Tuesday, April 14, 1998 7:47 AM
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
-------------------
I'm hoping that someone has already gone down this path before. My
question is
how effective are the cheaper weed burners vs. the raku burners listed in
supply
catalogs with all sorts of bells and whistles? Is the huge savings in $
really
worth it, or would I be dicing with danger? What are the pros/cons? Any
thoughts on this topic of comparison would be most appreciated!
TIA...Tracey
tracey_dobbins@nols.edu
----------
Mmpottery on wed 15 apr 98
Tracey,
I use a weed burner for my Raku. I have no problems. you must be careful
about it blowing out just as you would with any burner that doesnt have safety
equipment. Make sure to watch it and dont light it right away if it has been
out for a while! I fire outside and have never had any problem. It goes to
temp just fine. My kiln is small: 16'x 26" but sometimes I build it up for
taller pots and still get to temp fine.
Michelle
Vince Pitelka on wed 15 apr 98
>I'm hoping that someone has already gone down this path before. My question is
>how effective are the cheaper weed burners vs. the raku burners listed in
supply
>catalogs with all sorts of bells and whistles? Is the huge savings in $ really
>worth it, or would I be dicing with danger? What are the pros/cons? Any
>thoughts on this topic of comparison would be most appreciated!
Tracey -
While teaching at North Dakota State University I raku fired with weed
burners for three years. The worked well enough, but tended to be
troublesome. Since then I have fired several small raku kilns with the
popular MR-750 burner (such as Marc Ward sells), and they are vastly
superior. The weed burner heads are not designed to get very hot or to stay
hot for long periods. They tended to deteriorate rather quickly. The cast
iron MR-750 will last indefinitely. Also, the weed burners work on very
high pressure, and tend to be extremely noisy. With the MR-750 and a proper
tank regulator, you can crank it up full blast if you need to, but you will
also have the option to run it quietly. My preference, even for a small
kiln, would be to have two MR-550s running off one regulator and one tank.
That way you still have plenty of power, but can run the burners quieter.
When you say "all sorts of bells and whistles", I assume you just mean the
tank regulator, hose, and burner valve. There is no reason to have more
than this for a raku kiln unless the kiln is indoors. Then a proper
pilot-light/baso-valve safety system would be a wise investment.
- 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
Sandra K. Tesar on thu 16 apr 98
Tracy,
I started with a weedburner. Soon attended a workshop and built my
own...Ted Metz at Montevallo University in Alabama designed the burner.
The results were very different and I've used it ever since and am happy
with it. You'll find new weed burners and venturi's cost approx the
same....at least at the propane stores...mine was a pawn shop find for
$10. THere are some equipment pieces that merit first class purchase -
especially in the long haul.
Sandra, raku tile maker on Keel Mountain
sashart@juno.com
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Vince Pitelka on thu 16 apr 98
>high pressure, and tend to be extremely noisy. With the MR-750 and a proper
>tank regulator, you can crank it up full blast if you need to, but you will
>also have the option to run it quietly. My preference, even for a small
>kiln, would be to have two MR-550s running off one regulator and one tank.
>That way you still have plenty of power, but can run the burners quieter.
Small mistake, but I don't want anyone misled. The above shold be MR-750,
not MR-550.
- 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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