David Hendley on fri 3 sep 99
There would be no reason to attach a Bourry box to a
Fastfire. Hmmm.... don't even know how you'd do it.
Listen, the Bourry Box and the Fastfire designs both
have advantages and disadvantages. You just have to
decide what you want.
The most important consideration is what kind of wood
you have to burn. That will often make the decision for you.
My friend Dee Buck gets his wood from a saddle factory, in
the form of hand-sized blocks. Perfect for a Bourry Box; he
dumps them in the firebox by the bucket-full. I get long,
thin strips of wood from the pallet factory. Perfect to slide
onto the grates of a Fastfire. Also, the size of kiln you
want is important. It affects everything you do in your
studio. If you want a really small (by wood kiln standards)
kiln, like 16 - 20 cu. ft. of stacking space, that's the specialty
of the Fastfire. If you have a shop with 2 assistants,
forget the Fastfire; you'd be loading, firing, and unloading
constantly.
EASE AND EXPENSE OF BUILDING
The Fastfire wins. It's smaller, uses less material, and
it's just your common downdraft kiln set on top of fireboxes.
EASE OF FIRING
Hmmm... I'd say it's a tie. The Fastfire requires more frequent
stoking. The open firebox is also a disadvantage, as it
radiates out a lot of heat. Several people mentioned that
it requires bending down too much - not true if you build the
whole kiln up on a couple of courses of cinderblocks.
So, maybe it's a little tougher work, but it fires in less time.
Personally, I'd rather run the 100 meter and run like hell,
than pace myself for a marathon for 5 hours.
Now, if you compare time spent firing to amount of work
fired, a large Bourry Box kiln is the most efficient, but I
think that a larger kiln always has that advantage.
EASE OF SWITCHING IT INTO A GAS KILN
Fastfire wins again. Just close off the fireboxes, and open
up the built-in burner ports. Nothing sticking out from
the kiln to get in your way.
ASH BUILD-UP
Bourry Box wins, probably as a result of the longer firing.
Again remember, all you wood-firing dreamers: this is
tough work. It's very rewarding, but forget it unless you
really have that burning (ha) desire. I don't know any potters
who have consistently and exclusively fired with wood for
more than 10 years.
Best wishes,
--
David Hendley
Maydelle, Texas
hendley@tyler.net
http://www.farmpots.com/
----- Original Message -----
From: gambaru
To:
Sent: Thursday, September 02, 1999 11:04 AM
Subject: Re: The ideal wood-fired kiln for older, unsure, or solitary
potters
| ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
| Tony and David: Do you think it is possible to successfully (firing) to
| build a bourry box firing/stoking chamber on to a Fast Fire design
therefore
| somewhat easier for firing for those of us over the 50 line? Marj.
| -----Original Message-----
| From: clennell
| To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
| Date: Tuesday, August 31, 1999 1:06 PM
| Subject: Re: The ideal wood-fired kiln for older, unsure, or solitary
| potters
|
|
| |
|
