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new gas kiln-long

updated fri 22 oct 99

 

Lynne Antone on mon 18 oct 99

Have been off the list for over a month getting the studio ready for lessons
and the "Washington" Flat Top gas kiln ready to fire. We've had two firings
and still (of course) working out the kinks.

First, when the propane was connected, the installer replaced the gauge
already on the burners we bought from Nils. Big mistake!!! Now we know why
Nils' gauge went to a lower pressure reading. We fired the first time with
the pressure at close to 40psi. I told Paul (spouse) it was too loud and too
fast, but didn't know why. Did a cone 6 firing in 5 hours. Bad news, but pots
not too bad looking. Did have some bloating.

Second firing, still not aware of the need for Nils' gauge, but kept the
pressure as close to 0psi as we could. This time the neighbors didn't report
a jet engine noise coming from our property. Closer to a 9 hour firing, but
still having the bloating, esp. in smaller pieces, which are also on the
bottom shelves. So interesting to see the changes in the glazes which I have
been using in oxidation, which were so predictable, now taking on a whole new
look. Deep purple, from this list, is such a nice purple breaking light blue
on edges,but now a sky blue in the gas kiln. Maybe once we get the reduction
down better, we'll get more purple out of it.

This is great fun. A little disappointing when it doesn't go as expected, but
does it ever? My biggest concern right now is the bloating. Any suggestions.
I know I may need to give more info on our process, but not sure where to
start. Read thru Hamer and Hamer, but too many variations to get a good idea.

Lynne Antone
Olympia WA
Feeling good to know Joyce and other Mojavians are okay thru the recent
quaking.

Julie & Harold Deeley on tue 19 oct 99

I am just in the process of building a gas Raku/reduction fibre kiln again
after 10 years of electric firings and have just purchased a single 250,000
BTU burner. These burners are used by hunters/farmers locally here in NZ
for burning the hair off wild and domestic pigs. The burner is designed to
connect directly to the propane tank according to the manufacturer without
a regulator. It does sound like a jet engine when opened up full and no
flame is apparent but huge amounts of noise and heat. Quite cool actually
... even brought the neighbors across the road to the window.
So how does one calculate what size regulator is needed. The
manufacturer/sales person swears I don't need one. The propane companies in
Canada or the States always took care of this for me. I have ordered
Olsen's Kiln Book and perhaps this will answer my questions but delivery is
several weeks away. Any help will be appreciated.

TIA
Harold

>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Have been off the list for over a month getting the studio ready for lessons
>and the "Washington" Flat Top gas kiln ready to fire. We've had two firings
>and still (of course) working out the kinks.
>
>First, when the propane was connected, the installer replaced the gauge
>already on the burners we bought from Nils. Big mistake!!! Now we know why
>Nils' gauge went to a lower pressure reading. We fired the first time with
>the pressure at close to 40psi. I told Paul (spouse) it was too loud and too
>fast, but didn't know why. Did a cone 6 firing in 5 hours. Bad news, but pots
>not too bad looking. Did have some bloating.
>
>Second firing, still not aware of the need for Nils' gauge, but kept the
>pressure as close to 0psi as we could. This time the neighbors didn't report
>a jet engine noise coming from our property. Closer to a 9 hour firing, but
>still having the bloating, esp. in smaller pieces, which are also on the
>bottom shelves. So interesting to see the changes in the glazes which I have
>been using in oxidation, which were so predictable, now taking on a whole new
>look. Deep purple, from this list, is such a nice purple breaking light blue
>on edges,but now a sky blue in the gas kiln. Maybe once we get the reduction
>down better, we'll get more purple out of it.
>
>This is great fun. A little disappointing when it doesn't go as expected, but
>does it ever? My biggest concern right now is the bloating. Any suggestions.
>I know I may need to give more info on our process, but not sure where to
>start. Read thru Hamer and Hamer, but too many variations to get a good idea.
>
>Lynne Antone
>Olympia WA
>Feeling good to know Joyce and other Mojavians are okay thru the recent
>quaking.



**********************************************************
Harold & Julie Deeley
6 Braggs Ave.
Taumarunui
New Zealand
(07) 895-3470
***********************************************************

Dewitt on wed 20 oct 99

At 05:02 PM 10/19/99 -0400, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>I am just in the process of building a gas Raku/reduction fibre kiln again
>after 10 years of electric firings and have just purchased a single 250,000
>BTU burner. These burners are used by hunters/farmers locally here in NZ
>for burning the hair off wild and domestic pigs.

Boy, I bet the pigs hate it when you do that! :-)

Take a look at Marc Ward's web site http://wardburner.com/ . Look for
"High Pressure Adjustable Regulator" on the burner parts page. A regulator
will give you better control of the flame. Probably not required for
burning pig hair, but nice when firing a kiln.

deg

>The burner is designed to
>connect directly to the propane tank according to the manufacturer without
>a regulator. It does sound like a jet engine when opened up full and no
>flame is apparent but huge amounts of noise and heat. Quite cool actually
>... even brought the neighbors across the road to the window.
>So how does one calculate what size regulator is needed. The
>manufacturer/sales person swears I don't need one. The propane companies in
>Canada or the States always took care of this for me. I have ordered
>Olsen's Kiln Book and perhaps this will answer my questions but delivery is
>several weeks away. Any help will be appreciated.
>
>TIA
>Harold
>
> >----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> >Have been off the list for over a month getting the studio ready for lessons
> >and the "Washington" Flat Top gas kiln ready to fire. We've had two firings
> >and still (of course) working out the kinks.
> >
> >First, when the propane was connected, the installer replaced the gauge
> >already on the burners we bought from Nils. Big mistake!!! Now we know why
> >Nils' gauge went to a lower pressure reading. We fired the first time with
> >the pressure at close to 40psi. I told Paul (spouse) it was too loud and too
> >fast, but didn't know why. Did a cone 6 firing in 5 hours. Bad news, but
> pots
> >not too bad looking. Did have some bloating.
> >
> >Second firing, still not aware of the need for Nils' gauge, but kept the
> >pressure as close to 0psi as we could. This time the neighbors didn't report
> >a jet engine noise coming from our property. Closer to a 9 hour firing, but
> >still having the bloating, esp. in smaller pieces, which are also on the
> >bottom shelves. So interesting to see the changes in the glazes which I have
> >been using in oxidation, which were so predictable, now taking on a
> whole new
> >look. Deep purple, from this list, is such a nice purple breaking light blue
> >on edges,but now a sky blue in the gas kiln. Maybe once we get the reduction
> >down better, we'll get more purple out of it.
> >
> >This is great fun. A little disappointing when it doesn't go as
> expected, but
> >does it ever? My biggest concern right now is the bloating. Any suggestions.
> >I know I may need to give more info on our process, but not sure where to
> >start. Read thru Hamer and Hamer, but too many variations to get a good
> idea.
> >
> >Lynne Antone
> >Olympia WA
> >Feeling good to know Joyce and other Mojavians are okay thru the recent
> >quaking.
>
>
>
>**********************************************************
>Harold & Julie Deeley
>6 Braggs Ave.
>Taumarunui
>New Zealand
>(07) 895-3470
>***********************************************************

Ray Carlton on thu 21 oct 99

sounds dangerouse to me....the pressure from a tank direct into a burner
would be awesome....i would think that it would be far too powerfull for a
raku kiln unless the jet size is very small.....How big is the
kiln???...for the sake of safety and control i would suggest at least one
regulator (variable type} or preferably two stage one on the bottle and one
on the kiln.....you are pressurizing your gas line to the max and any
weakness will soon be evident....suggest you check your insurance policy
and also get a plumber to check the installation or better still get the
plumber to do the gas work

good luck


At 17:02 19/10/1999 EDT, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>I am just in the process of building a gas Raku/reduction fibre kiln again
>after 10 years of electric firings and have just purchased a single 250,000
>BTU burner. These burners are used by hunters/farmers locally here in NZ
>for burning the hair off wild and domestic pigs. The burner is designed to
>connect directly to the propane tank according to the manufacturer without
>a regulator. It does sound like a jet engine when opened up full and no
>flame is apparent but huge amounts of noise and heat. Quite cool actually
>... even brought the neighbors across the road to the window.
>So how does one calculate what size regulator is needed. The
>manufacturer/sales person swears I don't need one. The propane companies in
>Canada or the States always took care of this for me. I have ordered
>Olsen's Kiln Book and perhaps this will answer my questions but delivery is
>several weeks away. Any help will be appreciated.
>
>TIA
>Harold
>
>>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>>Have been off the list for over a month getting the studio ready for lessons
>>and the "Washington" Flat Top gas kiln ready to fire. We've had two firings
>>and still (of course) working out the kinks.
>>
>>First, when the propane was connected, the installer replaced the gauge
>>already on the burners we bought from Nils. Big mistake!!! Now we know why
>>Nils' gauge went to a lower pressure reading. We fired the first time with
>>the pressure at close to 40psi. I told Paul (spouse) it was too loud and too
>>fast, but didn't know why. Did a cone 6 firing in 5 hours. Bad news, but
pots
>>not too bad looking. Did have some bloating.
>>
>>Second firing, still not aware of the need for Nils' gauge, but kept the
>>pressure as close to 0psi as we could. This time the neighbors didn't report
>>a jet engine noise coming from our property. Closer to a 9 hour firing, but
>>still having the bloating, esp. in smaller pieces, which are also on the
>>bottom shelves. So interesting to see the changes in the glazes which I have
>>been using in oxidation, which were so predictable, now taking on a whole
new
>>look. Deep purple, from this list, is such a nice purple breaking light blue
>>on edges,but now a sky blue in the gas kiln. Maybe once we get the reduction
>>down better, we'll get more purple out of it.
>>
>>This is great fun. A little disappointing when it doesn't go as expected,
but
>>does it ever? My biggest concern right now is the bloating. Any suggestions.
>>I know I may need to give more info on our process, but not sure where to
>>start. Read thru Hamer and Hamer, but too many variations to get a good
idea.
>>
>>Lynne Antone
>>Olympia WA
>>Feeling good to know Joyce and other Mojavians are okay thru the recent
>>quaking.
>
>
>
>**********************************************************
>Harold & Julie Deeley
>6 Braggs Ave.
>Taumarunui
>New Zealand
>(07) 895-3470
>***********************************************************
>
cheers Ray Carlton

McMahons Creek Victoria Australia