Craig Martell on fri 17 dec 99
Mudworks sez:
>This winter i'm trying to design a one-half size IFB Minnesota Flat Top, a
>la Nils Lou's older book, with the kiln size cut in half (about 20 cf of
>stackspace) just one 'big' propane burner with a bag wall on one side, and
>with brick-up door (all to save costs, since I don't weld, and am a hobby
>potter, with no tax writeoffs). Can somebody tell me what kind of burner a
>'Big Bertha' is, as mentioned in attached post? Sounds like one would work
>for me pretty good if it goes to around 400,000 plus BTU.
Hey:
Big Berthas are weed burners or torch heads. They are natural draft
inspiration type burners. You can have the gas company order them for you
from LB White Co in Onalaska, Wisconsin. I just purchased two of them this
past summer for $35 bucks each. LB White has no idea what the top BTU
output is for these burners. Putting them through their paces, I've been
able to ascertain a maximum output of about 250,000 btu's. Beyond that,
you're wasting gas because they just can't mix enough primary air. They
also don't have an air shutter to control primary air so you have to use
the damper and sometimes block some of the primary with barnyard
tactics. Why do I use such a primitive burner? Because Tom Turner told me
to, that's why. I never argue with Tom and he's used these burners with
stellar results for years.
Also, If I wuz you, and I'm not of course, I'd use two burners with this
kiln design. I think that you will be a lot happier with the results of
your firings. LB White makes a smaller model of the Big B and you might
look into the cost. Even two Big B's are pretty cheap.
regards, Craig Martell in Oregon
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