search  current discussion  categories  kilns & firing - misc 

oil firing

updated fri 4 apr 08

 

Joyce Lee on mon 2 nov 98

Coincidentally, I received Dennis Parks' "A Potter's Guide To Raw
Glazing and Oil Firing" (mentioned by Milton in a post today) as a gift
last week. I understand that it is out of print, but I'd be glad to
copy and snail-mail specific pages or subject matter areas for
clayarters who might be interested. Personally, I have to learn how to
fire, with more consistent results, the kilns I presently have before I
start thinking "oil" or "raw glazing," or "single firing." But who
knows? Someday, maybe, and Parks' workshops are only a state away.

Joyce
In the Mojave

mel jacobson on thu 27 mar 08


again, i think duff has hit one nail on the head.
you don't just dump oil into a kiln.\

there are many things to think about, and some
real important technologies to consider.

drip plates
atomizers
blowers

if you are firing a wood fired kiln, most
anything can be thrown in that burns after you reach
red heat. oil, meat, fat, corn cobs, saw dust, old clothes.

but, to consider using veggie oil as a mainstay.
well,
i would not consider it. unless you understand the process
of oil firing.

being frank, and understanding problems before they
occur is the role of the teacher.

many never listen...just run off and build whatever they
want. fine with me.
it is a learning curve worth working on. but i sure get lots
of brick, potters wheels and tools from folks that quit.

oil has always been problematic.

many industrial kilns fired with oil, coal, wood, sawdust.
\all have their place. but engineering is essential
to great firing. it must be considered and learned. (before you
light the kiln.)

as i said the other day.
if you mis/fire half your kiln...you are not an ecologist.
you just wasted a great deal of fuel for nothing.
it is to be considered.

understanding your fuel is the most important part of any kiln.
kilns are boxes of bricks. fuel makes it work, along with some
basic understanding of thermo dynamics.
no free lunch.
mel


from minnetonka:
website http://www.visi.com/~melpots/
clayart site:
http://www.visi.com/~melpots/clayart.html

John Britt on thu 27 mar 08


mel,

No one said anything about dumping oil into a kiln. I used drip burners
and Kent and others use the waste oil burners. There is a lot of
technology in the burners.

I can be done and is being done everyday.

I have to say that I completely disagree with your statement: "being
frank, and understanding problems before they occur is the role of the
teacher."

Helping people along the path of discover is the role of the teacher. And
the teacher has to know when to get out of the way. Imposing your
prejudices on students is not the role of the teacher. You are sounding
like John Hesselberth who is warning against learning the Currie method
because it doesn=92t conform to his views on stability.

Real learning, innovation and discovery always scare the false teachers
because it threatens their position of authority. Let them run and
discover and then they can be the teachers!

You know that they told the Wright Brother they couldn=92t fly.

John Britt

Lee on fri 28 mar 08


Most noborigama still being fired in Mashiko, fire off the main firebox wit=
h
compressed air kerosene burners and only put wood in the climbing chambers.

Burning with wood makes much or more sense than burning vegetable
oil (veggie oil is probably more effective in in diesel engines.)And
currently, we cannot used recycled wood to power petrochemical engines.

Never the less, experimenting is a positive thing to do.

--=20
Lee, a Mashiko potter in Minneapolis
http://mashikopots.blogspot.com/

"Ta tIr na n-=F3g ar chul an tI=97tIr dlainn trina ch=E9ile"=97that is, "Th=
e land of
eternal youth is behind the house, a beautiful land fluent within itself."
-- John O'Donohue

artact@comcast.net on thu 3 apr 08


On this subject, just a reminder that an oil bunner diagram can be
downloaded (Free) at
www=2ER2D2u=2Ecom (scroll to the bottom of the opening page) This system h=
as
been proven over and over again! I put it in my book when building kilns
in Mexico=2E


Frank Colson
www=2ER2D2u=2Ecom

Original Message:
-----------------
From: mel jacobson melpots2@VISI=2ECOM
Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2008 14:53:17 -0500
To: CLAYART@LSV=2ECERAMICS=2EORG
Subject: oil firing


again, i think duff has hit one nail on the head=2E
you don't just dump oil into a kiln=2E\

there are many things to think about, and some
real important technologies to consider=2E

drip plates
atomizers
blowers

if you are firing a wood fired kiln, most
anything can be thrown in that burns after you reach
red heat=2E oil, meat, fat, corn cobs, saw dust, old clothes=2E

but, to consider using veggie oil as a mainstay=2E
well,
i would not consider it=2E unless you understand the process
of oil firing=2E

being frank, and understanding problems before they
occur is the role of the teacher=2E

many never listen=2E=2E=2Ejust run off and build whatever they
want=2E fine with me=2E
it is a learning curve worth working on=2E but i sure get lots
of brick, potters wheels and tools from folks that quit=2E

oil has always been problematic=2E

many industrial kilns fired with oil, coal, wood, sawdust=2E
\all have their place=2E but engineering is essential
to great firing=2E it must be considered and learned=2E (before you
light the kiln=2E)

as i said the other day=2E
if you mis/fire half your kiln=2E=2E=2Eyou are not an ecologist=2E
you just wasted a great deal of fuel for nothing=2E
it is to be considered=2E

understanding your fuel is the most important part of any kiln=2E
kilns are boxes of bricks=2E fuel makes it work, along with some
basic understanding of thermo dynamics=2E
no free lunch=2E
mel


from minnetonka:
website http://www=2Evisi=2Ecom/~melpots/
clayart site:
http://www=2Evisi=2Ecom/~melpots/clayart=2Ehtml

=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=
=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=
=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=
=5F
=5F=5F
Clayart members may send postings to: clayart@lsv=2Eceramics=2Eorg

You may look at the archives for the list, post messages, change your
subscription settings or unsubscribe/leave the list here:=20
http://www=2Eacers=2Eorg/cic/clayart/

Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots2@visi=2Ecom

--------------------------------------------------------------------
mail2web=2Ecom - Microsoft=AE Exchange solutions from a leading provider -=

http://link=2Email2web=2Ecom/Business/Exchange