David Hendley on sun 17 may 98
I also tend to form loyal and affectionate relationships with
inantimate objects. I don't get rid of anything until it is
used past the point of reason.
This goes for everything from clothing to cars.
By the time I'm through with something it doesn't go to
the Goodwill store or the used car lot. It goes to the rag
dealer or the scrap metal yard.
And I'm left with all the memories.
Kilns, on the other hand, never completely die.
Once a kiln is born at my place it will never be thrown out, it will
just make its progression down the 'life cycle'.
Being made up of hundreds of smaller pieces, just about
every piece can be reused.
Here's my life cycle of an insulating fire brick as it degrades
and wears out:
1. Part of the 'hot' face of an interior kiln wall
2. Part of the 'outside' or back-up insulation wall
3. A half or 'bat' brick in an exterior wall
4. A handfull of rock to pebble sized pieces that becomes part
of the mix in a castible refractory or a slurry serving as back-up
insulation over a kiln roof.
5. Grog, added to a claybody.
and the final, low-tech, but useful destination,
6. Driveway fill.
Hard bricks have a similar, but not quite as useful, life cycle.
The steel from a kiln can, of course, be re-used again and again
on another kiln or for some other purpose.
Ceramic fiber is a problem. Rather than having a useful
secondary use, it just turns into a nasty mess. Another reason
I don't like ceramic fiber and don't use it.
Of course you don't just throw out a faithful kiln and think nothing of
it, Corinne. Save part of it and make it 'live on' in your next kiln.
If nothing is salvagable, save a couple of broken fluxed-out bricks.
Put them in your flower garden, or by a shrub by your front door.
You'll have good memories every time you see them.
David Hendley
Maydelle, Texas
http://www.farmpots.com
At 04:00 PM 5/16/98 EDT, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>There has to be some collective wisdom here about the end of life for a
>kiln. I am having a hard time with the concept of chopping up a kiln and
>taking it to the dump. Is that what is done when it's time is done?
>
>I read about kiln sites that are no longer used, but visited for their
>historical significance. True, these are one-of-a-kind wood fired kilns.
>Are they the only ones worshipped?
>
>What about a trusty gas kiln which has put out a multitude of gorgeous
>pots? Just toss it out? Think nothing of it?
>
>What kilns have you had to "dispose of"? How did you feel about it?
>
>Help me.
>
>Thanks
>
>Corinne
>Corinne Null
>Bedford, NH
>USA
>
>null@mediaone.net
>
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