Candise Flippin on fri 10 sep 99
Hi all!
I'm sure I've lost my mind, but I have seen a couple of things lately
that make me wonder if it is possible (or reasonable) to build an
electric kiln. Being such a daring group, I'm hoping you can give me
some guidance. My dream kiln would have at least 9 cu ft of useable
interior space, be front loading and be able to make use of my
Controller and under the kiln vent. Any advice would be most
appreciated.
Thanks, Candise in it really sprinkled here in San Diego today!
Nikom Chimnok on tue 14 sep 99
Hello Candise,
Unless I missed it, no one has replied to your question at all,
which I know is frustrating, since it happens to me all the time (I ask
weird questions).
First I'd like to quote Fred Olsen: "An electric kiln is the hardest
kind to build." But that doesn't mean it's impossible. I've now built two
electric kilns, one of 1 cubic foot, and the other a tiny test kiln. On the
first one a German professor of Glass Technology helped me with the
calculations, and on the second Gavin Stairs advised me when it first didn't
work at all. In the end both worked.
I think that if you devote a lot of time and energy to it, you might
be able to build your dream kiln. The actual work is not difficult, nor does
it require many tools. Doing all the calculations can be difficult,
especially if you don't know what formulae to use, or if you are not very
good at math.
On the other hand, if you can find a kiln to copy, and have a meter
to reliably measure the resistance of the elements, and can look at how it's
all wired together, you might just strike gold on your first try. In my
case, I had never even seen an electric kiln before, and so built it off
theory and some tips. It was crude, but it worked.
In my opinion, it's just like building anything else. Could you
build a sailboat? An air-to-air heat exchanger? Could you replace the clutch
in your car? If you want to build something you've never built before, it
takes some research, some patience, some problem solving ability. An advisor
is extremely helpful. Details count.
So good luck. You may be getting into more than you bargained for,
or you may build a better kiln than you can buy. It all depends on you. If I
were in San Diego, I'm sure I could do it, because I have a brother-in-law
who works as an electriconics engineer there. He'd help me hook up the
controller, about which I haven't a clue.
Later,
Nikom in Thailand
****************************************************************************
******
At 12:34 10/9/99 EDT, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Hi all!
>
>I'm sure I've lost my mind, but I have seen a couple of things lately
>that make me wonder if it is possible (or reasonable) to build an
>electric kiln. Being such a daring group, I'm hoping you can give me
>some guidance. My dream kiln would have at least 9 cu ft of useable
>interior space, be front loading and be able to make use of my
>Controller and under the kiln vent. Any advice would be most
>appreciated.
>
>Thanks, Candise in it really sprinkled here in San Diego today!
>
>
Nikom Chimnok on sat 18 sep 99
Hello again Candise,
After reading Gavin Stairs' post, I'd like to comment that I really
like his idea of lifting the whole kiln instead of building a front loader.
Front loaders are not that easy to build or to load, but the liftable kiln
is well worked out--it's used all the time in industry, where they have two
pads, and an overhead I-beam with pulleys, so that the kiln is lifted off
one pad, pushed over the next, and fired again, immediately.
The size you're looking at is not unmanagable--the outside
dimensions are only about a yard cubed, so the lifting apparatus needs to be
only about 8 feet high. For raising and lowering, I'd recommend a chain
hoist, such as mechanics use for lifting the engines out of cars. It has the
advantage that it won't freewheel on you, unlike the cheaper "come-along",
which can get out of control.
Not having a front door greatly simplifies construction, and you can
lift it up and work on its inside at eye level. If does need to have a
fairly strong welded steel frame, to keep it from warping out of shape, and
some strong steel at the bottom to take the weight of the walls. I'd put a
fiber top on it, were I doing it. And also an inch or so of fiber outside
the wall bricks, and under the floor.
Hope this is helpful. If not, you know where the delete button is.
Nikom in Thailand
Craig Fulladosa on wed 29 aug 01
I am considering buying a kiln from a friend who is going out of the ceramic
business. He was building an electric kiln (round). He never finished
cutting the grooves into the fiber walls for the elements. He has the
switches and all the elements. Tbhe lid needs to be made and a metal jacket
installed and the grooves need to be cut and then elements connected and the
controller mounted. Is that too much for a first timer, or with a book is it
fairly simple?
He said all he wants is 50 bucks for it. I also thought of flipping it over
and making a raku kiln out of it that will raise with a pulley. What do ya
think?
Craig Fulladosa
the Clayman
craigfull@earthlink.net
http://clayman.lookscool.com
mel jacobson on mon 31 jan 05
i think that by the time you buy the parts,
make all the assembly, make sure it passes simple
inspection, safe and easy to use...you would spend
more money than it would be worth.
buy electric, build fuel.
that is my rule.
it seems to make sense for those that go that route.
but, a nice commercial kiln, fired with gas can serve
a great many folks.
joyce lee has two..geils. she loves them.
and, dozens of clayarters have commercial gas kilns.
most are damn fine.
but, you can build a kiln with bricks for far less dollars
when you include shelves, posts, building to house it
and all the rest.....gas hook up...etc.
mel
mel jacobson/minnetonka/minnesota/usa
http://www.pclink.com/melpots
http://www.rid-a-tick.com
Mark Tigges on tue 1 feb 05
On Mon, Jan 31, 2005 at 02:28:49PM -0600, mel jacobson wrote:
> i think that by the time you buy the parts,
> make all the assembly, make sure it passes simple
> inspection, safe and easy to use...you would spend
> more money than it would be worth.
Is this the only reason?
I will completely disregard the cost of labour that I put in to the
project. I enjoy this kind of thing, the reward of doing it and the
learning process is more than compensation enough.
The kiln I wish to build is identical to the 20x20x20 Fredrickson kiln
which you can see here:
http://www.pottery-books.com/axner/equipment/kilnfrontelectric.php
If I undertake the project I'm only unsure if I will build an arch or
a flat top. The price on the Fredrickson is $4275. I would have to
clad mine in platinum to reach that price, (sorry about the
exageration).
I've estimated that I can build it for about 2/3 the cost of a brand
new computerized skutt that is withen my size range. Though I
wouldn't buy a computerized kiln.
> buy electric, build fuel.
> that is my rule.
If I were a professionally operating production potter, I wouldn't
even consider building an electric, I agree whole-heartedly. But, in
my situation, I think it would be a great project. There is no big
hurry since I have an at-least sufficient kiln to use in the mean
time.
And given the dearth of anecdotal and professional information on
building electrics, I think a little diary of my experience on the web
(if I decide to go through with it) may be very welcome by others.
NB, I asked the list recently if anyone knew of a book that detailed
some of the technical considerations for building an electric kiln. I
should have engaged in better research before asking the
question. Nobody had an answer, but I have since found two resource,
one of which I have ordered;
1. "Electric Kiln Construction for Potters"
http://www.pottery-books.com/axner/books/p570.php
This seems to be out of print, but Axner is re-printing it.
2. "Calibrating and Calculating the Electric Kiln"
http://www.bigceramicstore.com/Books/kilnbooks.htm
Best regards,
Mark.
Arnold Howard on wed 2 feb 05
Mark, building your own kiln will be a good learning experience. It reminds
me of the time I rebuilt my VW engine from the book "How to Keep Your
Volkswagen Alive." When I started the project, I didn't know a cam follower
from a valve. I had engine parts and grease all over my parents' garage. But
eventually the engine purred to life again.
Sincerely,
Arnold Howard
Paragon Industries, L.P., Mesquite, Texas USA
arnoldhoward@att.net / www.paragonweb.com
From: "Mark Tigges"
> On Mon, Jan 31, 2005 at 02:28:49PM -0600, mel jacobson wrote:
>> i think that by the time you buy the parts,
>> make all the assembly, make sure it passes simple
>> inspection, safe and easy to use...you would spend
>> more money than it would be worth.
>
> Is this the only reason?
>
> I will completely disregard the cost of labour that I put in to the
> project. I enjoy this kind of thing, the reward of doing it and the
> learning process is more than compensation enough.
Carl D Cravens on wed 2 feb 05
On Tue, 1 Feb 2005, Mark Tigges wrote:
> NB, I asked the list recently if anyone knew of a book that detailed
> some of the technical considerations for building an electric kiln.
Kiln building with space-age materials, by Frank A Colson
It's out of print, but my library has a copy, and I'm seeing used copies
for about $20. Colson is the "Rocky Raku" guy.
It's a bit out of date, but might be worth borrowing from the library.
--
Carl D Cravens (raven@phoenyx.net)
REALITY.SYS Corrupted: Re-boot universe? (Y/N/Q)
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