Ken Chin-Purcell on sun 14 feb 99
Hey weekend warriors!
I've been making functional ware nights and weekends, which
is a fine pace for me (I like my day job too). I've been fuel
firing at a co-op (Northern Clay Center), but while my kids are
young I'm going to switch to firing cone 6 electric at home.
I only have time to make about a dozen pieces a week, sometimes more.
I'm going to get a Skutt computer controlled kiln with an "envirovent".
I have two questions for those of you who have blazed the basement-studio
path before me:
1) Cost aside, should I get a 1018 or 1027? I'm trying to weigh
firing frequently with the flexibility of a larger kiln. My only
experience with electric kilns so far is for bisque.
2) Should I put in a room exhaust fan in addition to the envirovent?
It's a 200 sq. ft. room with it's own cold air supply. Any size
recommendations?
Thanks for any advice...
-- Ken C-P
in Saint Paul, where the ice is solid again.
David Woodin on mon 15 feb 99
I would think carefully about getting the controller mounted on the kiln. It
may be cheaper but if and when it fails you can do nothing with the kiln until
the controller is repaired or replaced. Think about getting the manual type
kiln and a separately mounted controller that the manual kiln is plugged into.
David
Chris Schafale on mon 15 feb 99
Hi Ken,
I just got my kiln a few months ago, and debated this question. I
got the 1027, and am very glad I did. My production volume is
similar to yours right now, and I find that I have no difficulty
filling the kiln. The only time I've wished for a smaller one has
been at the beginning when I've been doing a lot of glaze testing and
wanted to fire a bunch of tests before trying the glazes on real
pots.
As for ventilation, the Environvent seems to do a great job -- I
don't notice any significant fumes when I'm firing (though I usually
don't hang out in the studio during firings anyway). I would
recommend an exhaust fan in addition, though, because of the heat the
kiln generates. (Fine in the winter, but a bit much in the warmer
months).
Chris
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Hey weekend warriors!
>
> I've been making functional ware nights and weekends, which
> is a fine pace for me (I like my day job too). I've been fuel
> firing at a co-op (Northern Clay Center), but while my kids are
> young I'm going to switch to firing cone 6 electric at home.
>
> I only have time to make about a dozen pieces a week, sometimes more.
> I'm going to get a Skutt computer controlled kiln with an "envirovent".
> I have two questions for those of you who have blazed the basement-studio
> path before me:
>
> 1) Cost aside, should I get a 1018 or 1027? I'm trying to weigh
> firing frequently with the flexibility of a larger kiln. My only
> experience with electric kilns so far is for bisque.
>
> 2) Should I put in a room exhaust fan in addition to the envirovent?
> It's a 200 sq. ft. room with it's own cold air supply. Any size
> recommendations?
>
> Thanks for any advice...
>
> -- Ken C-P
> in Saint Paul, where the ice is solid again.
>
>
Light One Candle Pottery
Fuquay-Varina, NC
candle@nuteknet.com
millie carpenter on mon 15 feb 99
hi
I have the 18 inch wide one. I happened to get it used and for a very
good price other wise I would have held out for the wider one. by the
time that you put posts in the width is very reduced if you want to do a
lot of shallow wide bowls or platters. If you get the 3 ring one, you
can always remove a ring to make it smaller and fire faster.
Millie in Md. where it is winter again.
Ken Chin-Purcell wrote:
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Hey weekend warriors!
>
> I've been making functional ware nights and weekends, which
> is a fine pace for me (I like my day job too). I've been fuel
> firing at a co-op (Northern Clay Center), but while my kids are
> young I'm going to switch to firing cone 6 electric at home.
>
> I only have time to make about a dozen pieces a week, sometimes more.
> I'm going to get a Skutt computer controlled kiln with an "envirovent".
> I have two questions for those of you who have blazed the basement-studio
> path before me:
>
> 1) Cost aside, should I get a 1018 or 1027? I'm trying to weigh
> firing frequently with the flexibility of a larger kiln. My only
> experience with electric kilns so far is for bisque.
>
> 2) Should I put in a room exhaust fan in addition to the envirovent?
> It's a 200 sq. ft. room with it's own cold air supply. Any size
> recommendations?
>
> Thanks for any advice...
>
> -- Ken C-P
> in Saint Paul, where the ice is solid again.
Mike Santone on mon 15 feb 99
I have a 1027 with the vent and computer in a 550 sq ft garage with a high
ceiling. It gets warm and comfortable. Your 200 ft basement will be hot.
Big outside air source. It is nice to have the space for glaze firings.
And sometimes having some extra space has helped me experiment and test and
do somethings I might not do. That little creative space has been worth
it....for me.
Ken Chin-Purcell wrote:
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Hey weekend warriors!
>
> I've been making functional ware nights and weekends, which
> is a fine pace for me (I like my day job too). I've been fuel
> firing at a co-op (Northern Clay Center), but while my kids are
> young I'm going to switch to firing cone 6 electric at home.
>
> I only have time to make about a dozen pieces a week, sometimes more.
> I'm going to get a Skutt computer controlled kiln with an "envirovent".
> I have two questions for those of you who have blazed the basement-studio
> path before me:
>
> 1) Cost aside, should I get a 1018 or 1027? I'm trying to weigh
> firing frequently with the flexibility of a larger kiln. My only
> experience with electric kilns so far is for bisque.
>
> 2) Should I put in a room exhaust fan in addition to the envirovent?
> It's a 200 sq. ft. room with it's own cold air supply. Any size
> recommendations?
>
> Thanks for any advice...
>
> -- Ken C-P
> in Saint Paul, where the ice is solid again.
Cathy Harris on mon 15 feb 99
Ken;
Go for the larger of the two kilns. Vent it outside as well as enclosing
it in its own room. It sounds like my situation is similar to yours and I
have the smaller kiln, in the basement with the hood vent. We are now in
the process of building a 250 square foot addition. I am going to the
bigger kiln and the enclosed room. Should have done this right from the
start! You won't regret it!
Cathy
Aurora, Ontario
----------
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Hey weekend warriors!
>
> I've been making functional ware nights and weekends, which
> is a fine pace for me (I like my day job too). I've been fuel
> firing at a co-op (Northern Clay Center), but while my kids are
> young I'm going to switch to firing cone 6 electric at home.
>
> I only have time to make about a dozen pieces a week, sometimes more.
> I'm going to get a Skutt computer controlled kiln with an "envirovent".
> I have two questions for those of you who have blazed the basement-studio
> path before me:
>
> 1) Cost aside, should I get a 1018 or 1027? I'm trying to weigh
> firing frequently with the flexibility of a larger kiln. My only
> experience with electric kilns so far is for bisque.
>
> 2) Should I put in a room exhaust fan in addition to the envirovent?
> It's a 200 sq. ft. room with it's own cold air supply. Any size
> recommendations?
>
> Thanks for any advice...
>
> -- Ken C-P
> in Saint Paul, where the ice is solid again.
>
Marco Galdames on mon 15 feb 99
Ken Chin-Purcell wrote:
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Hey weekend warriors!
>
> I've been making functional ware nights and weekends, which
> is a fine pace for me (I like my day job too). I've been fuel
> firing at a co-op (Northern Clay Center), but while my kids are
> young I'm going to switch to firing cone 6 electric at home.
>
> I only have time to make about a dozen pieces a week, sometimes more.
> I'm going to get a Skutt computer controlled kiln with an "envirovent".
> I have two questions for those of you who have blazed the basement-studio
> path before me:
>
> 1) Cost aside, should I get a 1018 or 1027? I'm trying to weigh
> firing frequently with the flexibility of a larger kiln. My only
> experience with electric kilns so far is for bisque.
>
> 2) Should I put in a room exhaust fan in addition to the envirovent?
> It's a 200 sq. ft. room with it's own cold air supply. Any size
> recommendations?
>
> Thanks for any advice...
>
> -- Ken C-P
> in Saint Paul, where the ice is solid again.
Ken:
I have both the 1018 and the 1027 run off a wallmount Kilnmaster each
with their own envirovent. I bought the 1018 as a bisque kiln but found
I use it more and more for glazes. One day of glazing fills the kiln so
I have a quicker turn around of pots,it fires more evenly without such a
difference between top and bottom and I can still get a good number of
pots in it. I use the 1027 when the pressure is on and I have great
quantities of pots in need of firing; then I alternate back and forth.If
I had a chioce of having just one kiln I would go for the 1018.
As far as an additional exhaust fan, I fire at night now and whereas
before I couldn't cause of the smell(especially from bisques) I now get
no odor at all coming from the basement using just the envirovent. Just
make sure you're exhausting it where the fumes can't get back in the
house.Hope this helps.
Caryl in "sunny" White Rock,B.C.(the sun actually came out today!!!)
Steve McNutt on tue 16 feb 99
Just a word of accolade for the 1027. I fired in a warehouse co-op
environment until recently. When I moved my studio home I sold my virtually
new kiln there to the people taking my space and bought another just like it
to install at home. Just had it wired into the garage last week.
I have fired everything from bisque to cone 10 in the first one with fine
results. I have never been sorry for having the extra height/depth. I make
things of varying size from soap dishes to tall covered jars and always fired
single fire atmospherically until recently. The flexibility of the 1027
dimensions lets me do whatever I want.
When I ordered my first one I was told a couple of things which I took as
guidelines for my decision and for which I have been rewarded. One was to get
the 3" brick. This has meant that I have smooth, economical firings right up
to the cone 10 and slow cooling. The other thing I was told was to leave the
bottom peep open well into the firing. Depending on how I have loaded the
kiln I begin closing up with the lid, then alternating peeps. Always plug the
bottom peep last and my temps are even. I fire slow. I don't use an
envirovent as I was firing in a kiln room with a garage door open and now fire
in a garage which is separate from the house so don't have active concerns
about breathing fumes. It seems that this system does some of the things in
an active sense that my "peep" system does in a more passive one. All this is
pretty wordy, but I do love the 1027. Hope things go as well for you.
Mary Beth Bishop
MBNews@aol.com
Morgan Britt on tue 16 feb 99
I have a Skuitt 1027 with controller and envirovent which I absolutely
love. However, it takes a lot to fill it. I have run it partially loaded
out of pure impatience at times and it really adds to variables in glaze
results.
Last month I mixed several test glazes and have left them sitting because
I didn't want to waste finished pots and certainly didn't have enough test
tiles to fill the kiln. Hence the final decision, buy the smaller kiln ( I
was fortunate to have been saving for awhile and had the cash).
As soon as it gets here I'll be responding to all of you who have been so
generous with your glaze recipes. My advice? If you're not making tons of
pots or large pieces, buy the smaller kiln. The envirovent should be fine
without the additional ventilation. I use mine in my basement and never have
had a problem.
Good luck
Morgan Britt
morgan@unlimited.net
in Fair Oaks near Sacramento near Truckee/Tahoe where the skiing over the
weekend was absolutely pristine.
Rick Brady on wed 17 feb 99
Ken,
From one weekend warrior to another...
I have a Skutt KM1018 with an Envirovent and love it. Most of my glaze firings
My kiln is in my studio(aka garage). I vent out the side wall so I can keep the
Good Luck...
Rick Brady
Pleasanton, CA
-----Original Message-----
From: Ken Chin-Purcell [mailto:kcp@bridge.com]
Sent: Sunday, February 14, 1999 10:08 AM
To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
Subject: Skutt 1018 or 1027?
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Hey weekend warriors!
I've been making functional ware nights and weekends, which
is a fine pace for me (I like my day job too). I've been fuel
firing at a co-op (Northern Clay Center), but while my kids are
young I'm going to switch to firing cone 6 electric at home.
I only have time to make about a dozen pieces a week, sometimes more.
I'm going to get a Skutt computer controlled kiln with an "envirovent".
I have two questions for those of you who have blazed the basement-studio
path before me:
1) Cost aside, should I get a 1018 or 1027? I'm trying to weigh
firing frequently with the flexibility of a larger kiln. My only
experience with electric kilns so far is for bisque.
2) Should I put in a room exhaust fan in addition to the envirovent?
It's a 200 sq. ft. room with it's own cold air supply. Any size
recommendations?
Thanks for any advice...
-- Ken C-P
in Saint Paul, where the ice is solid again.
cp dunbar on wed 17 feb 99
everyone is different in their habits of firing
i have a 1027 which has worked out well for me, but i wish it were
larger, not smaller
perhaps you should consider only what will work for you and not use
other peoples opinions w/o
a grain of salt, as you are your best consultant.
i am aiming at a gas kiln, larger than my 1027, though not markedly so
i believe the 1027 was a good first step, and i think for myself, a
smaller kiln would have been frustrating
for now all kilns look large, but when you actually start to stack in
them, only a few round pieces fit, and
you will be amazed at christmas time at how much more room you will wish
you had.
imho
cp, by the pond, taping xfiles to watch later w/o commercials ;)
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