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the atlanta wheel outcome /more

updated sat 29 jan 00

 

J. Pennington on thu 27 jan 00

Hello all. You might remember that I'm the newbie that went to Atlanta
to drop a friend off and was looking for a wheel for his wife. Well, I'm
on a couple of lists that like trip reports, so I've written a short one
here, skip to the last paragragh if you don't want the story.

After driving around that city for over an hour looking for the right
number, I called Kickwheel and learned that "Oh, there are *two*
'Peachtree Industrial Blvds.'" Yeah, being from Charleston, I'm a bit
naive about the whole Peachtree thing, figured I'd just drop in. I
finally called and went there and they were *very* nice, I mean, nice to
the point of telling me to go home and order the wheel from SC and I
wouldn't pay tax. "What about shipping," I said. Their reply was "You
drove all the way here? Go home and call, we'll give you the showroom
price and pay for shipping." *WOW*! Unfortunately for Kickwheel (I
really wanted to give them my wheel business, guess I'll wait to see if
I buy a kiln), they told me to ask my wife to make sure I knew what she
wanted. This was supposed to be a surprise, but that's good advice when
you're spending $800. Called and although she was all about Brent when I
was asking her about *others* wheels, she suddenly wanted a Pacifica
when I told her it was hers. Don't see any difference myself, but am not
a potter. So, on my way home I stopped at the other store, Daven's and,
although I hate to admit to going to the competition, I bought a
Pacifica, which they happened to have *one* of in stock (shipping being
more than tax, I drove home with it). Both stores were nice, with very
good people. It's nicer when the people at one store are mean, then
loyalties are easy. Judy and I are heading to Atlanta for a meeting in
March. We're going to spread our purchases over both stores. Sure it
sounds silly, but- all other factors being even- there's something to be
said for loyalty, right. She loves the wheel, and right now I can do no
wrong.

To complete this tale, I'm looking to build a gas Kiln. I'm getting
Olsen's book today from the library, and I might by Nils' plans if
there's enough support from them (I know you're one the list Nils,
you're opinion's biased :-). I've always been good with my hands and was
going to weld a metal forge for melting metals anyway. The metal forge
was going to be a cylinder of metal within a cylinder of metal, the
space between them filled with refractory clay and the inner cylinder
removed. A pipe would be laid before the pouring to leave an opening for
the gas line. Lid would be made with refractory clay poured into a metal
lid. Works nice for melting metals. Anyone build anything like this. Can
reach a temp of 1800 deg F like nothing.

One question is this: What are the temps for the cones? I know what
metal temps are and if they're similiar, I may build one of the kilns
from the books and *not* my metal forge. We can use the same thing
(gaseous products from molten metals shouldn't leave anything behind...
Maybe they would). I might just build two.

Real question is this: Where do I find kiln building supplies
(firebrick, other stuff) close to South Carolina that will ship
inexpensively. Any experience from anyone? Rather than search blindly,
I'd like to use a good company with a known product.

Long post, but I don't post often. Thanks, Jonathan.

Catherine Jarosz on fri 28 jan 00

HI Johnathon ,,, theres a place in GA. Larkin furnace and do
believe the town is called commerce GA ... they have great deals on brick
usually .. if not at the moment then get on a list to be called as soon as
they find some ... I picked up some k 2500 brick for .50 cents each and got
the arch for 2.00 each and the splits and hard for 1.00 each they
delivered over 1700 brick to me up here in the Asheville area for only 100
bucks :o) cant believe my good fortune ... believe I payed only 1300
for all that brick delivered ... of course they are not k 2400 brick but
the savings in the cost to build is substantial enough ... may take
longer to fire or cost more to fire but dont think the difference was
enough to wait on a good price for k2400 brick.. actually payed alot more
for the shelves than I did the brick ... any how these folks do have a
toll free # but I dont know what it is ... but sure you can find out
from imformation ... ask for Jim when you call and tell em Cat Jarosz
told ya about em :o) ps I'm planning to build a 60 cubic ft car kiln
as soon as I can build onto the kiln shed ... good luck let me know how
you fare.. cat got 1700 of the soft k 2500 100 of the arch 25
soaps 25 hard and 25 splits plus a big roll of fiber blanket for $1295
delivered wooo hoooo what a bargain ...