mel jacobson on mon 3 apr 00
i am in the process of re/building an electric kiln to the nils lou
reduction spec for the farm.
i just got a free, used, `american beauty` kiln, 240v, single phase.
I am going to take out the coils, replace with euclid's coils
that i will dip in itc 213 metal coating.
then, i will spray the inside with a coat of itc 100, followed
by several thin coats of itc 256a.
will drill an inch and half hole in the bottom and top.
build a small pipe burner, propane....attach to a
25 lb. propane tank with a welding high pressure hose.
my plan is to follow the nils lou spec of firing the kiln with
electricity until 1750f. then turn on the gas burner, place it
in the bottom hole of the kiln...(1/2 inch away from opening.)
fire with the combo of gas and electricity.
fire to cone 10 reduction. i am going to use my oxyprobe to
make sure i get the balance correct.
i am getting rather excited about this kiln design....it is said
that several manufacturers are going to give it a try.
there is every good chance, at least from my experience....this
kiln will fire hundreds of times....if i get the itc stuff correct.
many of you have seen this kiln in nils' book...but, the tiny version.
i will report back to you the results.
i would like to give it a very independent try...sorta kick this
thing in the butt hard. much as i have done with the salt kiln
at the farm. and so far, it is running without damage, and has many
firings on it.
again, make sure you all understand that i am getting nothing
from itc....i do not work for them....just very fascinated in the
product, as is nils. (they did take us out for dinner at nceca.
and that was nice.) of course alice and feriz took us all to a nice
reception in the clayart room, great food.
mel/mn
according to nils, the venting for this kiln is no different than
you would use for any other electric kiln. the amount of gas
coming out with carbon is minimal. this will, of course, be
almost out of doors.
minnetonka, minnesota, u.s.a
http://www.pclink.com/melpots (website)
tgschs10 on tue 4 apr 00
Mel,
I purchased a gas/electric kiln from Ferris Delkic about a year ago. It has
a firing chamber of 4 x 3 x 3 ft. I have now fired it about a dozen times. I
initially had some burner problems that Nils fixed when he paid a visit. I
fired this past week end. Set the electric up Saturday night with a hold
temperature of 1650 C. When I woke Sunday and got ready to introduce the
gas, the kiln was at the appropriate temperature, I turned on the gas and
was done about noon and threw pots the rest of the day. Potters will find
this type of kiln very convenient and my prediction that in not many years
most of the electric kilns will be made to accomodate gas. I really don't
need much gas for heat since I keep the electric going during reduction. As
you may know I am the silent partner in Axners and Howard is looking at this
type of kiln very closely.
Tom Sawyer
Orlando, Fl
tgschs10@msn.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "mel jacobson"
To:
Sent: Monday, April 03, 2000 3:05 PM
Subject: electric reduction kiln
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> i am in the process of re/building an electric kiln to the nils lou
> reduction spec for the farm.
>
> i just got a free, used, `american beauty` kiln, 240v, single phase.
>
> I am going to take out the coils, replace with euclid's coils
> that i will dip in itc 213 metal coating.
> then, i will spray the inside with a coat of itc 100, followed
> by several thin coats of itc 256a.
>
> will drill an inch and half hole in the bottom and top.
> build a small pipe burner, propane....attach to a
> 25 lb. propane tank with a welding high pressure hose.
>
> my plan is to follow the nils lou spec of firing the kiln with
> electricity until 1750f. then turn on the gas burner, place it
> in the bottom hole of the kiln...(1/2 inch away from opening.)
> fire with the combo of gas and electricity.
>
> fire to cone 10 reduction. i am going to use my oxyprobe to
> make sure i get the balance correct.
>
> i am getting rather excited about this kiln design....it is said
> that several manufacturers are going to give it a try.
>
> there is every good chance, at least from my experience....this
> kiln will fire hundreds of times....if i get the itc stuff correct.
>
> many of you have seen this kiln in nils' book...but, the tiny version.
>
> i will report back to you the results.
> i would like to give it a very independent try...sorta kick this
> thing in the butt hard. much as i have done with the salt kiln
> at the farm. and so far, it is running without damage, and has many
> firings on it.
>
> again, make sure you all understand that i am getting nothing
> from itc....i do not work for them....just very fascinated in the
> product, as is nils. (they did take us out for dinner at nceca.
> and that was nice.) of course alice and feriz took us all to a nice
> reception in the clayart room, great food.
> mel/mn
>
> according to nils, the venting for this kiln is no different than
> you would use for any other electric kiln. the amount of gas
> coming out with carbon is minimal. this will, of course, be
> almost out of doors.
>
>
> minnetonka, minnesota, u.s.a
> http://www.pclink.com/melpots (website)
>
John Post on tue 4 apr 00
>i am in the process of re/building an electric kiln to the nils lou
>reduction spec for the farm.
>
>i just got a free, used, `american beauty` kiln, 240v, single phase.
>
Hi mel,
I have one of my kilns converted to gas-electric. It's a tiny one...only
14 inches deep by 14 inches wide.
I sprayed it first with itc 100 all over the interior including the
elements. The elements only lasted for about 10 reduction firings before
starting to lose power. This is because they were old to begin with and I
only itc'd the surface of them. I had Euclids make me some new elements
and had them beef them up so I could hit cone 10. The new elements I
dipped in itc 213. I have fired six times in reduction with them and so
far so good.
Frey Scientific makes some nice little burners. They have them for
propane, natural gas, etc. They are just the right height on a cinder
block under the kiln stand. They are tiny bunsen and tirrill burners. I
run mine with propane. I got a raku setup with the regulator from Marc
Ward. I had him send it without the burner. Then I attached the tirrill
burner with a band clamp. Runs great.
The tiny tirrill burner has an adjustment for the primary air which is
nice. Very easy to get a nice flame and control reduction. Plus the
burner is only $13 to $15 dollars US. They even have one they call a high
temp burner that puts out 12,000 btu for only $38 US dollars.
(888)222-1332 is the number for Frey Scientific.
I get my best results if I fire it as you described. The only thing I do
different is that after I hit temp., I shut off the gas and slow cool the
kiln using the electric elements. Sometimes I only have the gas on for 1-2
hours and still get nice reduction fired pots.
I only have one complaint and it is a minor one. It is that the itc 213
pops off of the elements a bit leaving brown specks in the kiln. I think
that this is likely happening when the kiln cools since the specks are not
stuck in the glazed ware. I think that as the elements contract some of
the itc pops off. I spoke to Alice about this and she said that this is
just excess itc popping off. Since it's not affecting the ware I don't
worry about it. It will be interesting to see if the elements stand up to
the reduction atmosphere over the long haul.
I just fire this little kiln out of curiousity. It's fun to experiment
with a gas kiln in the middle of a crowded suburban neighborhood. It's a
quiet little bugger...
Good luck with your experiment and keep us posted.
Congrats on the modjob...don't let anyone tease you into using your shift
key, we really prefer your "melphabet".
John Post
Sterling Heights, Michigan
rp1mrvl@moa.net
David Woodin on wed 5 apr 00
I am not sure that I get the why's of using a gas/electric kiln. I am
fortunate to have a Bailey gas kiln that is piped in such a manner that I can
easily control the gas to ramp to and hold at 1650 deg F.
David
chris@euclids.com on thu 6 apr 00
> i am in the process of re/building an electric kiln to the nils lou
> reduction spec for the farm.
> I am going to take out the coils, replace with euclid's coils
> that i will dip in itc 213 metal coating.
> then, i will spray the inside with a coat of itc 100, followed
> by several thin coats of itc 256a.
> i would like to give it a very independent try...sorta kick this
> thing in the butt hard
Hi mel,
We would be very interested in the results, & will gladly donate the
elements for this experiment.
As far as the coating of the elements goes, keep it thin & even.
What is your guess as to how many firings they will last ?
Lots of luck,
chris
Gregory D Lamont on thu 6 apr 00
At 03:53 PM 4/5/00 -0400, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>I am not sure that I get the why's of using a gas/electric kiln. I am
>fortunate to have a Bailey gas kiln that is piped in such a manner that I can
>easily control the gas to ramp to and hold at 1650 deg F.
>David
David,
The reason for this is to enable potters who, like myself, have our studios
located in residential settings where zoning regulations and/or the gas
company do not permit gas kilns to be used. It would allow us, the legion
of "basement potters", the ability to to attain a reduction atmosphere when
desired, yet fire normally, as well. It's my understanding that the
concept is not new, but previous attempts saw the reduction atmosphere
dramatically shorten the life of the elements. The availability of the ITC
coatings provide the protection necessary to allow the electric/reduction
concept to become a practical reality.
Greg
E-mail address:
gdlamont@isunet.net
Pottery Web Page:
http://www.ourwebpage.net/greglamont/
Mailing address and Phone:
Greg Lamont
3011 Northwood Drive
Ames, IA 50010-4750
(515) 233-3442
tgschs10 on thu 6 apr 00
David,
I for one would be most reluctant to fire with gas overnight while I was
sleeping; I have much less concern with electric. I live in a residential
neighborhood and like the idea of topping off the firing during daylight and
using an oxyprobe set about 0.65 where only a wiff of smoke is seen and I
get good reduction. My neighbors have no inkling when I'm firing.
Tom Sawyer
Orlando, Fl
tgschs10@msn.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "David Woodin"
To:
Sent: Wednesday, April 05, 2000 12:53 PM
Subject: Re: electric reduction kiln
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> I am not sure that I get the why's of using a gas/electric kiln. I am
> fortunate to have a Bailey gas kiln that is piped in such a manner that I
can
> easily control the gas to ramp to and hold at 1650 deg F.
> David
>
David Woodin on fri 7 apr 00
I am sorry, I had to go to the archieves to get the gist of this and now
understand what's going on. I have used ITC and sprayed many potters kilns
with it and have had great results. The only thing is to be sure it is on
the elements thin or else you can have problems changing elements when the
time comes to change them, on some kilns the fit will be too tight for the
groove and you can break the brick trying to get the elements out. In our
studio situation the kiln that has ITC on the elements is still firing
properly after 2 1/2 years, the elements use to last one year or less.
David
clayjunkie on mon 10 apr 00
Dear Tom,
Hello, ok you did it now. Where is the business from which you
purchased your gas /electric kiln?
Do they have a US address?
Hey this is exciting for us with garage studios and nosy neighbors , he
heh.
thanks for the information
Jan Wilson clayjunkie@earthlink.com
tgschs10 wrote:
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Mel,
>
> I purchased a gas/electric kiln from Ferris Delkic about a year ago. It has
> a firing chamber of 4 x 3 x 3 ft. I have now fired it about a dozen times. I
> initially had some burner problems that Nils fixed when he paid a visit. I
> fired this past week end. Set the electric up Saturday night with a hold
> temperature of 1650 C. When I woke Sunday and got ready to introduce the
> gas, the kiln was at the appropriate temperature, I turned on the gas and
> was done about noon and threw pots the rest of the day. Potters will find
> this type of kiln very convenient and my prediction that in not many years
> most of the electric kilns will be made to accomodate gas. I really don't
> need much gas for heat since I keep the electric going during reduction. As
> you may know I am the silent partner in Axners and Howard is looking at this
> type of kiln very closely.
> Tom Sawyer
> Orlando, Fl
> tgschs10@msn.com
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "mel jacobson"
> To:
> Sent: Monday, April 03, 2000 3:05 PM
> Subject: electric reduction kiln
>
> > ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> > i am in the process of re/building an electric kiln to the nils lou
> > reduction spec for the farm.
> >
> > i just got a free, used, `american beauty` kiln, 240v, single phase.
> >
> > I am going to take out the coils, replace with euclid's coils
> > that i will dip in itc 213 metal coating.
> > then, i will spray the inside with a coat of itc 100, followed
> > by several thin coats of itc 256a.
> >
> > will drill an inch and half hole in the bottom and top.
> > build a small pipe burner, propane....attach to a
> > 25 lb. propane tank with a welding high pressure hose.
> >
> > my plan is to follow the nils lou spec of firing the kiln with
> > electricity until 1750f. then turn on the gas burner, place it
> > in the bottom hole of the kiln...(1/2 inch away from opening.)
> > fire with the combo of gas and electricity.
> >
> > fire to cone 10 reduction. i am going to use my oxyprobe to
> > make sure i get the balance correct.
> >
> > i am getting rather excited about this kiln design....it is said
> > that several manufacturers are going to give it a try.
> >
> > there is every good chance, at least from my experience....this
> > kiln will fire hundreds of times....if i get the itc stuff correct.
> >
> > many of you have seen this kiln in nils' book...but, the tiny version.
> >
> > i will report back to you the results.
> > i would like to give it a very independent try...sorta kick this
> > thing in the butt hard. much as i have done with the salt kiln
> > at the farm. and so far, it is running without damage, and has many
> > firings on it.
> >
> > again, make sure you all understand that i am getting nothing
> > from itc....i do not work for them....just very fascinated in the
> > product, as is nils. (they did take us out for dinner at nceca.
> > and that was nice.) of course alice and feriz took us all to a nice
> > reception in the clayart room, great food.
> > mel/mn
> >
> > according to nils, the venting for this kiln is no different than
> > you would use for any other electric kiln. the amount of gas
> > coming out with carbon is minimal. this will, of course, be
> > almost out of doors.
> >
> >
> > minnetonka, minnesota, u.s.a
> > http://www.pclink.com/melpots (website)
> >
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