Joy Hought on tue 20 oct 98
For anybody who was rooting for me way back when i was whining about not
having a space to work, i just bought my first kiln: a used 7cuft electric
skutt (thanks LS). i haven't set it up yet (for reasons i'll explain
below) but it's in the garage in pieces and sometimes i just sit and look
at it and get a nice warm feeling inside.
My question is, how do i convince my clay-civilian roommate/landlord that
this thing will not burn the house down? I've never owned my own kiln, or
for that matter my own house, but i'm assuming i could put it in the garage
with adequate ventilation and space and it'd be fine. Am i correct in
assuming it doesn't belong outside without some sort of shelter? (this
makes much more sense to my roommate.) What kind of argument can i offer
him so that he'll be comfortable with it? (i've admitted the possibility
that he never will be and that i'll just have to set it up elsewhere.)
i've tried the "just don't worry about that glowing red thing" line but
somehow that doesn't do the trick for him.
any tips would be greatly appreciated!
joy in irvine, CA
Penny Hosler on wed 21 oct 98
Joy,
I had the same problem, and although it was perfectly safe in the garage my
husband didn't feel comfortable until he built a 3 sided box with "crete"
board. (short for concrete board, I believe--that's the stuff you use on
fireplaces). If you do that you don't even need to have the full
recommended space all around the kiln. But he did that anyway, of course.
I choose my battles. You could tile the garage wall behind the kiln if
he's really paranoid. Even put up a smoke detector in case your wiring goes
blooey on you. But don't worry. He'll adjust. They always do, bless their
hearts....
Penny in WA
-----Original Message-----
From: Joy Hought
To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
Date: Tuesday, October 20, 1998 10:09 AM
Subject: Yahoo! first kiln, odd question
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
For anybody who was rooting for me way back when i was whining about not
having a space to work, i just bought my first kiln: a used 7cuft electric
skutt (thanks LS). i haven't set it up yet (for reasons i'll explain
below) but it's in the garage in pieces and sometimes i just sit and look
at it and get a nice warm feeling inside.
My question is, how do i convince my clay-civilian roommate/landlord that
this thing will not burn the house down? I've never owned my own kiln, or
for that matter my own house, but i'm assuming i could put it in the garage
with adequate ventilation and space and it'd be fine. Am i correct in
assuming it doesn't belong outside without some sort of shelter? (this
makes much more sense to my roommate.) What kind of argument can i offer
him so that he'll be comfortable with it? (i've admitted the possibility
that he never will be and that i'll just have to set it up elsewhere.)
i've tried the "just don't worry about that glowing red thing" line but
somehow that doesn't do the trick for him.
any tips would be greatly appreciated!
joy in irvine, CA
Chris Schafale on wed 21 oct 98
Joy,
How about telling him that you will never, ever fire it without being
present and checking on its progress frequently? Also, make very
sure that you have the correct wiring, place the kiln away from
flammable walls, have the breaker where you could get at it easily if
you needed to shut the kiln down in an emergency, and install
an adequate ventilation system. Maybe have him visit
a pottery studio where a similar kiln is firing, and point out that
in fact there are no flames shooting out, no smoke, and that the
outside of the kiln doesn't even get all that hot (certainly not
glowing red!!)
Just a couple of thoughts as my new kiln has embarked on its first
test-firing, in my basement, and I sure hope it won't burn the house
down!
Chris Schafale
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> For anybody who was rooting for me way back when i was whining about not
> having a space to work, i just bought my first kiln: a used 7cuft electric
> skutt (thanks LS). i haven't set it up yet (for reasons i'll explain
> below) but it's in the garage in pieces and sometimes i just sit and look
> at it and get a nice warm feeling inside.
>
> My question is, how do i convince my clay-civilian roommate/landlord that
> this thing will not burn the house down? I've never owned my own kiln, or
> for that matter my own house, but i'm assuming i could put it in the garage
> with adequate ventilation and space and it'd be fine. Am i correct in
> assuming it doesn't belong outside without some sort of shelter? (this
> makes much more sense to my roommate.) What kind of argument can i offer
> him so that he'll be comfortable with it? (i've admitted the possibility
> that he never will be and that i'll just have to set it up elsewhere.)
> i've tried the "just don't worry about that glowing red thing" line but
> somehow that doesn't do the trick for him.
>
> any tips would be greatly appreciated!
>
> joy in irvine, CA
>
>
Light One Candle Pottery
Fuquay-Varina, NC
candle@nuteknet.com
Barney Adams on thu 22 oct 98
You might explain how the pit firing in the bathtub
has become awkward.
Barney
Donn Buchfinck on thu 22 oct 98
If the wall gets warm behind the kiln a great way to solve this is to staple
up on the wall sheets of heavy duty aluminum foil with the shiny side facing
out, this will reflect most of the heat away from the wall.
if this is not to you liking then goto a sheet metal fabricator and buy a 4
ft by 4 ft piece of stainless steel real thin and hang it on the wall using 1
inch posts to use a separators from the wall. this allows a 1 inch gap
between the wall and the metal. the stainless will reflect most of the heat,
and what is absorbed bt the metal will be insulated from the wall by the 1
inch space of air.
Donn Buchfinck
jdpotter on thu 22 oct 98
Joy, I too have hade "PMS" (poor me syndrome) for the longest time. My
excuse was always that It's not my house, I don't have any room to set
up...GO FOR IT. Do whatever it takes, though I like the "Don't mind that
glowing red thing" theory. Try bribing your roommate with coffee cups, or
whatever else you can come up with. The point is make it happen, I now have
my "studio" set up in my kitchen, it's tight BUT I'm throwing again. For
myself, NO more excuses, I LOVE CLAY...sorry, I digress...Joy whatever
approach that you take, good luck!
J.D.
Back into clay...at last!
-----Original Message-----
From: Joy Hought
To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
Date: Tuesday, October 20, 1998 1:09 PM
Subject: Yahoo! first kiln, odd question
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
For anybody who was rooting for me way back when i was whining about not
having a space to work, i just bought my first kiln: a used 7cuft electric
skutt (thanks LS). i haven't set it up yet (for reasons i'll explain
below) but it's in the garage in pieces and sometimes i just sit and look
at it and get a nice warm feeling inside.
My question is, how do i convince my clay-civilian roommate/landlord that
this thing will not burn the house down? I've never owned my own kiln, or
for that matter my own house, but i'm assuming i could put it in the garage
with adequate ventilation and space and it'd be fine. Am i correct in
assuming it doesn't belong outside without some sort of shelter? (this
makes much more sense to my roommate.) What kind of argument can i offer
him so that he'll be comfortable with it? (i've admitted the possibility
that he never will be and that i'll just have to set it up elsewhere.)
i've tried the "just don't worry about that glowing red thing" line but
somehow that doesn't do the trick for him.
any tips would be greatly appreciated!
joy in irvine, CA
clay&maxwell on fri 23 oct 98
Congratulations on your kiln Joy!
I have a Skutt electric that I keep in my garage. I have done many many
cone 06 to 02 firings with great results and no scorch marks. Hopefully
you have a kiln manual to help you with some of the set up. Make sure you
have an electrician in to do the hooking up kinds of things properly. (ask
if they are familiar with kiln set ups) The other thing is to make sure
you have adequate space around your kiln - about 18 inches or more from the
wall and all the way around it. My kiln is 18 inches from the wall and 18
inches (each) from my workbench on the left and shelving to the right of
it. I constantly check the way the heat radiates out from the kiln and
while the outside of the kiln gets incredibly hot there is enough space and
airflow to keep my workbench from bursting into flames. As for the fumes,
most of it occurs before the temp hits 1000 farenheit (I leave top peep
hole open through the firing and have the lid open with a wedge until it
hits 1000 and then i close the lid . the "fumes" are not too bad and I
usually open the garage door part way to help the air circulate.
I can't say how things would go at cone 10 since I only do low fire at the
moment but I based my set up on what my kiln manual suggested. If anyone
has had a different experiences in terms of heat and or flames please let
me/us know!
Good luck with your kiln and let us know when you have "fired it up"! :)
Deb Clay in incredibly warm Calgary
At 01:08 PM 10/20/98 EDT, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>For anybody who was rooting for me way back when i was whining about not
>having a space to work, i just bought my first kiln: a used 7cuft electric
>skutt (thanks LS). i haven't set it up yet (for reasons i'll explain
>below) but it's in the garage in pieces and sometimes i just sit and look
>at it and get a nice warm feeling inside.
>
>My question is, how do i convince my clay-civilian roommate/landlord that
>this thing will not burn the house down? I've never owned my own kiln, or
>for that matter my own house, but i'm assuming i could put it in the garage
>with adequate ventilation and space and it'd be fine. Am i correct in
>assuming it doesn't belong outside without some sort of shelter? (this
>makes much more sense to my roommate.) What kind of argument can i offer
>him so that he'll be comfortable with it? (i've admitted the possibility
>that he never will be and that i'll just have to set it up elsewhere.)
>i've tried the "just don't worry about that glowing red thing" line but
>somehow that doesn't do the trick for him.
>
>any tips would be greatly appreciated!
>
>joy in irvine, CA
>
>
Cindy on fri 23 oct 98
Joy,
Your kiln should be fine in the garage, so long as it is placed the
specified distance from any flammable surface. Depending on the ventilation
in your garage, fumes may cause a problem or not. If they do, you may need
a venting system. Don't put it in the garage if this space is cluttered
with combustible things that may end up in contact with your kiln. Don't
allow it to be used as a table.
As to how to convince your friend, I couldn't say. Have him read the
manual. Make sure he sees you reading the manual. If anything will reassure
him, this probably will. If not, maybe he'd visit the local art center with
you and talk with the custodian or department manager or whoever is
responsible for the kiln. You'll probably both end up learning valuable
stuff if you do these things. Best of luck, and congratulations on your new
kiln.
Cindy Strnad
Earthen Vessels
Custer, SD
USA http://blackhills-info.com/a/cindys/menu.htm
Barney Adams on sat 24 oct 98
I imagine (and the experts can correct me) that the potential for hazard
from the kiln centers around the wiring and electric more than the heat from
the kiln firing. If you follow the manual as Deb does the kiln should be
safe in firing. The wiring is hidden from you and much more a likely problem
if not done correctly and to spec.
Barney
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Congratulations on your kiln Joy!
> I have a Skutt electric that I keep in my garage. I have done many many
> cone 06 to 02 firings with great results and no scorch marks. Hopefully
> you have a kiln manual to help you with some of the set up. Make sure you
> have an electrician in to do the hooking up kinds of things properly. (ask
> if they are familiar with kiln set ups) The other thing is to make sure
> you have adequate space around your kiln - about 18 inches or more from the
> wall and all the way around it. My kiln is 18 inches from the wall and 18
> inches (each) from my workbench on the left and shelving to the right of
> it. I constantly check the way the heat radiates out from the kiln and
> while the outside of the kiln gets incredibly hot there is enough space and
> airflow to keep my workbench from bursting into flames. As for the fumes,
> most of it occurs before the temp hits 1000 farenheit (I leave top peep
> hole open through the firing and have the lid open with a wedge until it
> hits 1000 and then i close the lid . the "fumes" are not too bad and I
> usually open the garage door part way to help the air circulate.
> I can't say how things would go at cone 10 since I only do low fire at the
> moment but I based my set up on what my kiln manual suggested. If anyone
> has had a different experiences in terms of heat and or flames please let
> me/us know!
> Good luck with your kiln and let us know when you have "fired it up"! :)
> Deb Clay in incredibly warm Calgary
> At 01:08 PM 10/20/98 EDT, you wrote:
> >----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> >For anybody who was rooting for me way back when i was whining about not
> >having a space to work, i just bought my first kiln: a used 7cuft electric
> >skutt (thanks LS). i haven't set it up yet (for reasons i'll explain
> >below) but it's in the garage in pieces and sometimes i just sit and look
> >at it and get a nice warm feeling inside.
> >
> >My question is, how do i convince my clay-civilian roommate/landlord that
> >this thing will not burn the house down? I've never owned my own kiln, or
> >for that matter my own house, but i'm assuming i could put it in the garage
> >with adequate ventilation and space and it'd be fine. Am i correct in
> >assuming it doesn't belong outside without some sort of shelter? (this
> >makes much more sense to my roommate.) What kind of argument can i offer
> >him so that he'll be comfortable with it? (i've admitted the possibility
> >that he never will be and that i'll just have to set it up elsewhere.)
> >i've tried the "just don't worry about that glowing red thing" line but
> >somehow that doesn't do the trick for him.
> >
> >any tips would be greatly appreciated!
> >
> >joy in irvine, CA
> >
> >
>
Marty Anderson on sat 24 oct 98
Joy,
I have had my kilns in the garage (3rd car not used for cars) for 4 years.
It is the recommened feet away from the walls. I think about 2 feet and
have never had any trouble. They are by the back door so I leave it open
and the garage door open when firing. I just bought a used TNF 800 and it
was getting my wall too hot until I realized the lid did not completely seal
when closed. After sealing the leaks with fibers, I now have cool walls
again. The one thing I do is stay at home when I am firing. I may leave
for a few hours before it can reach 700, then I stay home.
Marty D/FW
-----Original Message-----
From: Penny Hosler
To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
Date: Wednesday, October 21, 1998 8:24 AM
Subject: Re: Yahoo! first kiln, odd question
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Joy,
>I had the same problem, and although it was perfectly safe in the garage my
>husband didn't feel comfortable until he built a 3 sided box with "crete"
>board. (short for concrete board, I believe--that's the stuff you use on
>fireplaces). If you do that you don't even need to have the full
>recommended space all around the kiln. But he did that anyway, of course.
>I choose my battles. You could tile the garage wall behind the kiln if
>he's really paranoid. Even put up a smoke detector in case your wiring
goes
>blooey on you. But don't worry. He'll adjust. They always do, bless
their
>hearts....
>
>Penny in WA
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Joy Hought
>To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
>Date: Tuesday, October 20, 1998 10:09 AM
>Subject: Yahoo! first kiln, odd question
>
>
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>For anybody who was rooting for me way back when i was whining about not
>having a space to work, i just bought my first kiln: a used 7cuft electric
>skutt (thanks LS). i haven't set it up yet (for reasons i'll explain
>below) but it's in the garage in pieces and sometimes i just sit and look
>at it and get a nice warm feeling inside.
>
>My question is, how do i convince my clay-civilian roommate/landlord that
>this thing will not burn the house down? I've never owned my own kiln, or
>for that matter my own house, but i'm assuming i could put it in the garage
>with adequate ventilation and space and it'd be fine. Am i correct in
>assuming it doesn't belong outside without some sort of shelter? (this
>makes much more sense to my roommate.) What kind of argument can i offer
>him so that he'll be comfortable with it? (i've admitted the possibility
>that he never will be and that i'll just have to set it up elsewhere.)
>i've tried the "just don't worry about that glowing red thing" line but
>somehow that doesn't do the trick for him.
>
>any tips would be greatly appreciated!
>
>joy in irvine, CA
>
Frank Tucker on tue 27 oct 98
Well Joy, Barney's right.
If your electrician has used the right guage and type of wire, and has
hooked up the kiln properly, and if you have the kiln at least 12" from any
combustible surface; then the kiln causing a fire is the least of your
worries.
Common North American electric pottery kilns are made with Kanthal A-1
elements. Although these are designed to heat up efficiently, and last a
long time, they are also designed to break down at a certain temperature.
If for some reason your sitter or controller didn't shut off, and you
weren't monitoring the kiln and using witness cones, the elements would
eventually melt. Once the element melts and breaks, the electrical circuit
is broken, and the kiln will begin to cool down. This will happen long
before your bricks break down enough to let too much heat out.
The fire hazard from the kiln itself is nil if properly installed.
Michael Leonard
Tucker's Pottery Supplies
email: tuckers@passport.ca
At 01:22 PM 10/24/98 EDT, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>I imagine (and the experts can correct me) that the potential for hazard
>from the kiln centers around the wiring and electric more than the heat from
>the kiln firing. If you follow the manual as Deb does the kiln should be
>safe in firing. The wiring is hidden from you and much more a likely problem
>if not done correctly and to spec.
>
>Barney
>>
>> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>> Congratulations on your kiln Joy!
>> I have a Skutt electric that I keep in my garage. I have done many many
>> cone 06 to 02 firings with great results and no scorch marks. Hopefully
>> you have a kiln manual to help you with some of the set up. Make sure you
>> have an electrician in to do the hooking up kinds of things properly. (ask
>> if they are familiar with kiln set ups) The other thing is to make sure
>> you have adequate space around your kiln - about 18 inches or more from the
>> wall and all the way around it. My kiln is 18 inches from the wall and 18
>> inches (each) from my workbench on the left and shelving to the right of
>> it. I constantly check the way the heat radiates out from the kiln and
>> while the outside of the kiln gets incredibly hot there is enough space and
>> airflow to keep my workbench from bursting into flames. As for the fumes,
>> most of it occurs before the temp hits 1000 farenheit (I leave top peep
>> hole open through the firing and have the lid open with a wedge until it
>> hits 1000 and then i close the lid . the "fumes" are not too bad and I
>> usually open the garage door part way to help the air circulate.
>> I can't say how things would go at cone 10 since I only do low fire at the
>> moment but I based my set up on what my kiln manual suggested. If anyone
>> has had a different experiences in terms of heat and or flames please let
>> me/us know!
>> Good luck with your kiln and let us know when you have "fired it up"! :)
>> Deb Clay in incredibly warm Calgary
>> At 01:08 PM 10/20/98 EDT, you wrote:
>> >----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>> >For anybody who was rooting for me way back when i was whining about not
>> >having a space to work, i just bought my first kiln: a used 7cuft electric
>> >skutt (thanks LS). i haven't set it up yet (for reasons i'll explain
>> >below) but it's in the garage in pieces and sometimes i just sit and look
>> >at it and get a nice warm feeling inside.
>> >
>> >My question is, how do i convince my clay-civilian roommate/landlord that
>> >this thing will not burn the house down? I've never owned my own kiln, or
>> >for that matter my own house, but i'm assuming i could put it in the
garage
>> >with adequate ventilation and space and it'd be fine. Am i correct in
>> >assuming it doesn't belong outside without some sort of shelter? (this
>> >makes much more sense to my roommate.) What kind of argument can i offer
>> >him so that he'll be comfortable with it? (i've admitted the possibility
>> >that he never will be and that i'll just have to set it up elsewhere.)
>> >i've tried the "just don't worry about that glowing red thing" line but
>> >somehow that doesn't do the trick for him.
>> >
>> >any tips would be greatly appreciated!
>> >
>> >joy in irvine, CA
>> >
>> >
>>
>
>
Liz Dodge on wed 28 oct 98
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Since you bought the kiln used, perhaps you didn't get the set-up
instructions. New Skutt kilns come with recommendations that they be set
up on a stand and be at least 18 inches from any wwall.Being the nervous
type also, I also added fire-resistant panels to the walls and put tiles
on the floor under the kiln (its in a store room under the house). I also
use an envirovent. Then I use a timer and cone sitter with the electric
controller so there are two back up systems if something fails. Also,
based on aadvice on this list, I put a kaowool blanket over the kiln
(conserves energy) as well as adds insulation between the kiln and
everything else. Then I still stay home when I fire it.
>My question is, how do i convince my clay-civilian roommate/landlord that
>this thing will not burn the house down? I've never owned my own kiln, or
>for that matter my own house, but i'm assuming i could put it in the garage
>with adequate ventilation and space and it'd be fine. Am i correct in
>assuming it doesn't belong outside without some sort of shelter? (this
>makes much more sense to my roommate.) What kind of argument can i offer
>him so that he'll be comfortable with it? (i've admitted the possibility
>that he never will be and that i'll just have to set it up elsewhere.)
>i've tried the "just don't worry about that glowing red thing" line but
>somehow that doesn't do the trick for him.
>
>any tips would be greatly appreciated!
>
>joy in irvine, CA
>
Joy Hought on thu 29 oct 98
Hey all, thanks so much for the very helpful input on my new kiln.
Barney's comment made me howl, people gophered up from cubicles all around
to see what the commotion was. so now i am well-armed and working on my
roommate, i even printed out some of the comments for him to digest. i
have to admit i'm pretty naive about all this myself. i read the little
book that came with the skutt, it just didn't mention the indoor/outdoor
thing. We do have a 220 outlet (in the laundry room of course) that is not
being used, and we're checking on the amps for the fuse, but the outlet is
nowhere near the garage so maybe the kiln'll end up outside after all. i
have near a kiln-load of big coiled pots and pressmolded tiles ready to be
bisqued, and i sense the end is in sight. Almost can't contain myself!
i'll keep you all posted....
joy in irvine,
glad to be back at sea level after a trip to the mountains of northern
arizona for a great Karen Koblitz workshop....
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