Philip Schroeder on fri 5 jun 98
I am seeking some feedback re: moving my electric kiln, a move I have been
contemplating for some time. My elec. kiln is in my basement studio
currently and is directwired and vented and all that. I currently fire to 03
but want to accomplish three seperate goals 1.) I want to gain more studio
space. 2.) I want to increase firing temp to cone 5/6 to improve
function/durability and decrease absorption of the body(change clay bodies),
and 3.) I want to be as sure as I can that the kiln is going to be as safe as
possible. I really don't want a fire hazard!
I have a space available under the back porch of my house which is large
enough to house the kiln with 24" clearence on all sides and 7 foot ceiling
which can be covered with fireproof sheetrock. However, the space is below
grade and unheated; its a brick/stone foundation and above grade is typical
wood construction.. It can , therefore, be damp, especially during rainy
periods but I have never had seepage/flooding in the 16 years I have lived
here.
First question: Would these damp conditions be okay for an electric kiln?
Any damage likely to elements/ brick/ wiring/shelves/etc.?
Next question: I have long been uneasy about a kiln in the house and have
taken precautions, like having an electritian wire the thing and covering
ceiling joists above the kiln with fireproof sheetrock. It is also part of
the reason that I have choosen to fire in the low fire range verses mid/high
fire. I am always present during a firing and monitor frequently as I don't
wholely trust kiln sitters etc. If nothing else , I want to be there to call
911. I know its only a few hundred degrees difference between 03 and 5 but
it has seemed a tad more in control at lower temps. In point of fact, I am
not sure if this is really any safer or if it just feels that way to me. I
guess this is the next question, is cone 03 any safer than cone five? Or is
this meerly a figment of my imagination and personal neurosis?
Last question: I have been firing electric kilns for alot of years and am
careful to do regular maintence/ safty checks; I have never really had a
problem but I have always wondered but never asked: How safe are these damn
things , anyway?
So I am seeking some opinions and feedback. TIA Phil Schroeder in Chicago
Barney Adams on sat 6 jun 98
Hi Phil,
I'm in Woodridge so we are'nt too far from one another.
I have'nt got much experience with kilns, but I have a great deal
of electronics and field service experience. The first step in safety
you've already met in being concerned about the safety.
Common sense will protect you over 99% of the time and you need luck
to protect for the other 1%. No matter what precautions you go through
something can go wrong. Dampness and electricity is not good not just
from the obvious point. The dampness can corrode the relays, wiring,..etc.
I'll leave the fire hazard to someone more knowledagble, but I imagine a
good fire extinguisher (for electrical fires) and smoke detector with fresh batt
in a position around the kiln would do the trick. I probably would suggest that
try to schedule the firing schedule so the end of the fire or shutdown is done
at a time where you will be nearby since going over the temp is where the danger
fire will be the worst. I would imagine the local fire dept would be more than w
to inspect the setup and make suggestions.
Barney
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> I am seeking some feedback re: moving my electric kiln, a move I have been
> contemplating for some time. My elec. kiln is in my basement studio
> currently and is directwired and vented and all that. I currently fire to 03
> but want to accomplish three seperate goals 1.) I want to gain more studio
> space. 2.) I want to increase firing temp to cone 5/6 to improve
> function/durability and decrease absorption of the body(change clay bodies),
> and 3.) I want to be as sure as I can that the kiln is going to be as safe as
> possible. I really don't want a fire hazard!
> I have a space available under the back porch of my house which is large
> enough to house the kiln with 24" clearence on all sides and 7 foot ceiling
> which can be covered with fireproof sheetrock. However, the space is below
> grade and unheated; its a brick/stone foundation and above grade is typical
> wood construction.. It can , therefore, be damp, especially during rainy
> periods but I have never had seepage/flooding in the 16 years I have lived
> here.
> First question: Would these damp conditions be okay for an electric kiln?
> Any damage likely to elements/ brick/ wiring/shelves/etc.?
> Next question: I have long been uneasy about a kiln in the house and have
> taken precautions, like having an electritian wire the thing and covering
> ceiling joists above the kiln with fireproof sheetrock. It is also part of
> the reason that I have choosen to fire in the low fire range verses mid/high
> fire. I am always present during a firing and monitor frequently as I don't
> wholely trust kiln sitters etc. If nothing else , I want to be there to call
> 911. I know its only a few hundred degrees difference between 03 and 5 but
> it has seemed a tad more in control at lower temps. In point of fact, I am
> not sure if this is really any safer or if it just feels that way to me. I
> guess this is the next question, is cone 03 any safer than cone five? Or is
> this meerly a figment of my imagination and personal neurosis?
> Last question: I have been firing electric kilns for alot of years and am
> careful to do regular maintence/ safty checks; I have never really had a
> problem but I have always wondered but never asked: How safe are these damn
> things , anyway?
> So I am seeking some opinions and feedback. TIA Phil Schroeder in Chicago
>
Margaret Arial on sat 6 jun 98
Dear Phil,
I did a few years stints in South Carolina
going around the state as Artist in the Schools and wow did I see evidence of
accidents in schools and facilities in the communities.Overfirings are more
frequent than I care to know.
1)The tube can get glaze in it form a pop and it "GLUES" the rod so it faild
to shit off.
2)The shelves shift from stilt failure or a peice shifting or exploding and
keep the cone from functing.
3)the cone can just be at an incorrect placement or not go melt in such a way
as to release the weight to drop on front breaking the circuit
4)at Penland there was a fire that started at the plug or recepticle that
burned the whole cord off when we were in the next room unaware (thank
goodness the walls were cement block!) Then a couple years later I had a
recepticle explode with the kiln plugged in but I it was on a close breaker
box that limited the damage and I was there to kill the main power for our
protection.It was then I moved the whole operation out of my garage and have a
seperate kiln building now.
I WOULD NEVER FIRE ANY KILN WITHOUT BEING IN THE CLOSE VICINITY AND HAVE
CORRECT WIRING WITH ADEQUATELY SIZED BREAKERS AND WIRE SIZE AND GOOD ACCESS TO
THE MAIN AND CLEAR EXIT WAYS IN CASE OF WORST CASE SCENERIO.
Margaret
in South Carolina
where the last hail storm beat the dickens out of my plants and garden.
Ardis Bourland on sat 6 jun 98
I, too, have the same questions. I am about to set up my electric kiln in the
garage where the wiring is already in place. The garage is attached to the
side of the house and has a wooden ceiling. I don't think enough heat escapes
to burn the place down but am concerned about carbon monoxide fumes. I only
plan to bisque up to cone 06 so how dangerous can it be? I used to fire a
kiln (C/04) in a large classroom for years...unvented! Would you believe?
And no one ever said a word until we couldn't stand the sulfurous smells any
longer and insisted on a venting system. I live in Fla. so putting it outside
would be a possibility...until we have a hurricane. I'd prefer to leave it in
the garage and vent it out the window. Possible???
Kathi LeSueur on sun 7 jun 98
In a message dated 6/5/98 2:41:35 PM, you wrote:
>I have a space available under the back porch of my house which is large
>enough to house the kiln with 24" clearence on all sides and 7 foot ceiling
>which can be covered with fireproof sheetrock.
I won't comment on the appropriateness of the space you provide sinces others
here are more qualified to answer. But, I do want to caution you that there is
not such thing as fire"proof" sheetrock. There is fire"code" sheetrock. It
will withstand temperatures far in excess of standard sheetrock. But it is not
fireproof. No sheetrock is fireproof. Too often people get careless with the
space they are firing in because of this misconception.
Kathi LeSueur, Ann Arbor
"Originality is failure to remember"
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