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phoenix woodburning kiln

updated sat 26 jun 99

 

Susan Palmer on thu 24 jun 99

I am in the planning stages of building my first kiln. I'd like to be able
to fire with wood or gas, and I'd like to experiment with soda firing. The
Phoenix Woodburning Kiln looks like a good little kiln. The firebox is under
the kiln and air has to circulate through the kiln to get to the chimney. I
did some research in the Clayart archives and some folks have had trouble
reaching temperature (15-18+ hours vs. 4 hours mentioned in Jack Troy's
book). Suggestions included adding a grate to the fire box and we're already
planning on doing this. Oak is my main source of fuel, so reaching
temperature could still be a challenge. I'd like to add gas burners as an
alternate source of energy, and I'm wondering what is the best (and most
affordable) way to insulate this kiln. If anyone has experience firing this
type of kiln or suggestions on how to modify it, I'd really appreciate it.
Thanks in advance.

Susan in Welch, Minnesota where it warm and muggy outside but quite cool and
comfortable in the basement with my black cocker spaniel at my feet.

David Hendley on fri 25 jun 99

I'd modify the Phoenix kiln by adding another firebox to make
it a down draft instead of a cross draft.
It will then no longer be a Pheonix, but...an Olsen Fast Fire!
This is the best design for a small wood kiln if you want
fast even firings. It's easy to add burner ports.
Build it with 9" thick IFB walls and it will be well-insulated.
Oak is the fuel-of-choice for my Fast Fire. The problem is
keeping it from firing too fast. Just make sure your wood
is properly split and dried and you will have no trouble
reaching temperature.

If you want long firings, with more ash build-up, and don't
care about temperature variations in the kiln, then the
Pheonix design is more suitable.

David Hendley
Maydelle, Texas
hendley@tyler.net
http://www.farmpots.com




At 09:30 AM 6/24/99 EDT, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>I am in the planning stages of building my first kiln. I'd like to be able
>to fire with wood or gas, and I'd like to experiment with soda firing. The
>Phoenix Woodburning Kiln looks like a good little kiln. The firebox is under
>the kiln and air has to circulate through the kiln to get to the chimney. I
>did some research in the Clayart archives and some folks have had trouble
>reaching temperature (15-18+ hours vs. 4 hours mentioned in Jack Troy's
>book). Suggestions included adding a grate to the fire box and we're already
>planning on doing this. Oak is my main source of fuel, so reaching
>temperature could still be a challenge. I'd like to add gas burners as an
>alternate source of energy, and I'm wondering what is the best (and most
>affordable) way to insulate this kiln. If anyone has experience firing this
>type of kiln or suggestions on how to modify it, I'd really appreciate it.
>Thanks in advance.
>
>Susan in Welch, Minnesota where it warm and muggy outside but quite cool and
>comfortable in the basement with my black cocker spaniel at my feet.
>

David Hendley on fri 25 jun 99

is
I'd modify the Phoenix kiln by adding another firebox to make
it a down draft instead of a cross draft.
It will then no longer be a Pheonix, but...an Olsen Fast Fire!
This is the best design for a small wood kiln if you want
fast even firings. It's easy to add burner ports.
Build it with 9" thick IFB walls and it will be well-insulated.
Oak is the fuel-of-choice for my Fast Fire. The problem is
keeping it from firing too fast. Just make sure your wood
is properly split and dried and you will have no trouble
reaching temperature.

If you want long firings, with more ash build-up, and don't
care about temperature variations in the kiln, then the
Pheonix design is more suitable.

David Hendley
Maydelle, Texas
hendley@tyler.net
http://www.farmpots.com




At 09:30 AM 6/24/99 EDT, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>I am in the planning stages of building my first kiln. I'd like to be able
>to fire with wood or gas, and I'd like to experiment with soda firing. The
>Phoenix Woodburning Kiln looks like a good little kiln. The firebox is under
>the kiln and air has to circulate through the kiln to get to the chimney. I
>did some research in the Clayart archives and some folks have had trouble
>reaching temperature (15-18+ hours vs. 4 hours mentioned in Jack Troy's
>book). Suggestions included adding a grate to the fire box and we're already
>planning on doing this. Oak is my main source of fuel, so reaching
>temperature could still be a challenge. I'd like to add gas burners as an
>alternate source of energy, and I'm wondering what is the best (and most
>affordable) way to insulate this kiln. If anyone has experience firing this
>type of kiln or suggestions on how to modify it, I'd really appreciate it.
>Thanks in advance.
>
>Susan in Welch, Minnesota where it warm and muggy outside but quite cool and
>comfortable in the basement with my black cocker spaniel at my feet.
>

John K Dellow on fri 25 jun 99

I built a 12 cu.ft.Olsen fast fire with one layer of diatom bricks &
1"of the cheapest fibre i could find ,glued to the outside of the bricks
. A heat resistant board was used to finnish the job .
The fire boxes and floor were made with high alumna hard brick in one
layer. This kiln has gone to C12 in 7 7 1/2 hours

Susan Palmer wrote:
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> I am in the planning stages of building my first kiln. I'd like to be able
> to fire with wood or gas, and I'd like to experiment with soda firing. The
> Phoenix Woodburning Kiln looks like a good little kiln. The firebox is under
> the kiln and air has to circulate through the kiln to get to the chimney. I
> did some research in the Clayart archives and some folks have had trouble
> reaching temperature (15-18+ hours vs. 4 hours mentioned in Jack Troy's
> book). Suggestions included adding a grate to the fire box and we're already
> planning on doing this. Oak is my main source of fuel, so reaching
> temperature could still be a challenge. I'd like to add gas burners as an
> alternate source of energy, and I'm wondering what is the best (and most
> affordable) way to insulate this kiln. If anyone has experience firing this
> type of kiln or suggestions on how to modify it, I'd really appreciate it.
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Susan in Welch, Minnesota where it warm and muggy outside but quite cool and
> comfortable in the basement with my black cocker spaniel at my feet.

--

John Dellow "the flower pot man"
ICQ : #2193986 {jacka}
E-mail : dellowjk@kewl.com.au
25 Hugh Guinea Ct, Worongary Q 4213
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