Judy Kanigel on mon 10 apr 00
Hi all,
Had a great time at NCECA, enjoyed many of the sessions, and especially
liked seeing friends that live far away.
I'm hoping Clayarters can help me with a problem. I have a Skutt 1027
electric kiln that I fired for several years in my garage/studio with no
problems.
Then, a few months ago we moved to a three unit condominium in another
state. Big problem: The other two families are worried that a kiln in the
basement would be dangerous.
I would like to set up my kiln, properly installed and vented in a shared
space in the basement. The floor is concrete, the walls a safe distance
away are stone and I would have the kiln set up by a licensed electrician
who makes his living installing and repairing kilns.
Any suggestions as to how to help my new neighbors feel comfortable with a
kiln in the house would be more than appreciated.
TIA,
Judy in Cambridge where yesterday was a day for shorts and today it snowed!
Cindy Strnad on tue 11 apr 00
Judy,
If you have reasonable neighbors (and that's a big "if", unfortunately), you
should be able to invite them over and go through the specs, safety
requirements, and so on with them. If your electrician has worked with kilns
and is willing to talk with them, that would be a really big plus. I know
people who are convinced that the kiln in the basement might simply explode
one of these days, and there's no way to unconvince them. Hope your project
goes well.
BTW, I hate to say it, but it may be better if you can find a man to explain
this to them. Chances are, you'll get a lot better credibility. It stinks, I
know, but lots of people are like that.
Cindy Strnad
earthenv@gwtc.net
Earthen Vessels Pottery
RR 1, Box 51
Custer, SD 57730
chris@euclids.com on tue 11 apr 00
> Any suggestions as to how to help my new neighbors feel comfortable with a
> kiln in the house would be more than appreciated.
> TIA,
> Judy in Cambridge where yesterday was a day for shorts and today it
snowed!
Hi Judy,
A couple of things that may help,
--If you turn your kiln on "high" & go on vacation for a week, the kiln
would look pretty normal until you opened it. What would happen inside is
that the elements would burn themselves out. Either the melting brick would
cause the elements to break or they would overheat. Either way the kiln
would cool down.
--The only fires i know about are from people placing things on the kiln or
too close to the kiln.
--Another way a fire can happen is with poor connections. Having a qualified
electrician will reduce this risk.
--Install alot of smoke alarms or a heat sensor.
--The other idea i had was to make a deal with your neighbours ... if you
can connect the kiln then they don`t have to get rid of their stoves.
chris
chris@euclids.com
www.euclids.com
800-296-5456
Arnold Howard on tue 11 apr 00
Ideas:
1) Assure your neighbors that you will monitor the
kiln during firing.
2) Vent the fumes.
3) Keep pets and children out of the basement during
firing.
4) Is the kiln UL listed? If so, mention it.
5) Invite your neighbors to join you in making
ceramics.
Arnold Howard
--- Judy Kanigel wrote:
> ----------------------------Original
> message----------------------------
>
> Hi all,
> Had a great time at NCECA, enjoyed many of the
> sessions, and especially
> liked seeing friends that live far away.
> I'm hoping Clayarters can help me with a problem. I
> have a Skutt 1027
> electric kiln that I fired for several years in my
> garage/studio with no
> problems.
> Then, a few months ago we moved to a three unit
> condominium in another
> state. Big problem: The other two families are
> worried that a kiln in the
> basement would be dangerous.
> I would like to set up my kiln, properly installed
> and vented in a shared
> space in the basement. The floor is concrete, the
> walls a safe distance
> away are stone and I would have the kiln set up by a
> licensed electrician
> who makes his living installing and repairing kilns.
> Any suggestions as to how to help my new neighbors
> feel comfortable with a
> kiln in the house would be more than appreciated.
> TIA,
> Judy in Cambridge where yesterday was a day for
> shorts and today it snowed!
>
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Evan Dresel on wed 12 apr 00
I suggest keeping the discussion as simple as possible. Tell them the
kiln is UL listed, it will be installed by that licensed electrician
with plenty of clearance per the manufacturers instructions. Agree to
install an additional smoke detector and promise to stay in the building
when the kiln is being fired if you need to. Then give them all mugs;-)
Good luck.
-- Evan in W. Richland WA where it is sunny and well into irrigation
season.
Judy Kanigel wrote:
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>
> Hi all,
> Had a great time at NCECA, enjoyed many of the sessions, and especially
> liked seeing friends that live far away.
> I'm hoping Clayarters can help me with a problem. I have a Skutt 1027
> electric kiln that I fired for several years in my garage/studio with no
> problems.
> Then, a few months ago we moved to a three unit condominium in another
> state. Big problem: The other two families are worried that a kiln in the
> basement would be dangerous.
> I would like to set up my kiln, properly installed and vented in a shared
> space in the basement. The floor is concrete, the walls a safe distance
> away are stone and I would have the kiln set up by a licensed electrician
> who makes his living installing and repairing kilns.
> Any suggestions as to how to help my new neighbors feel comfortable with a
> kiln in the house would be more than appreciated.
> TIA,
> Judy in Cambridge where yesterday was a day for shorts and today it snowed!
NakedClay@aol.com on thu 13 apr 00
Hi Judy!
I have some thoughts, which might serve you well:
How about letting your neighbors make something out of clay, and fire it for
them? This way, they can become familiar with the process, and may be less
alarmed about the "big hot thing" in the basement.
Remind your neighbors that the furnace which heats the building also is a
"big hot thing." Gas furnaces have a flame, while your electric kiln does
not. Water heaters are also "big hot things." Sometimes comparing a kiln to
something people are more knowledgeable about will help calm their thoughts.
Milton NakedClay@AOL.COM
Stephen Mills on thu 13 apr 00
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>> Any suggestions as to how to help my new neighbors feel comfortable with a
>> kiln in the house would be more than appreciated.
>> TIA,
>> Judy in Cambridge where yesterday was a day for shorts and today it
>snowed!
>
To add to what has already been written on this
Over here in the UK when I asked my local Fire Officer to inspect my new
Gas Truck Kiln a few years ago he said as he left, and I quote "I don't
worry about Pottery Kilns, they are made to CONTAIN heat, it's the
A......s with Oxy-Acetylene Bottles that scare me s...less!
Steve
--
Steve Mills
Bath
UK
home e-mail: stevemills@mudslinger.demon.co.uk
work e-mail: stevemills@bathpotters.demon.co.uk
own website: http://www.mudslinger.demon.co.uk
BPS website: http://www.bathpotters.demon.co.uk
Tel: **44 (0)1225 311699
Fax: **44 (0)870 0526466
ferenc jakab on fri 14 apr 00
> How about letting your neighbors make something out of clay, and fire it
for
> them? This way, they can become familiar with the process, and may be less
> alarmed about the "big hot thing" in the basement.
>
> Remind your neighbors that the furnace which heats the building also is a
> "big hot thing." Gas furnaces have a flame, while your electric kiln does
> not. Water heaters are also "big hot things." Sometimes comparing a kiln
to
> something people are more knowledgeable about will help calm their
thoughts.
>
Heating furnaces and hot water systems regularly explode. I've yet to meet
an ELECTRIC kiln which will do this even if it melts down inside. In fact
the melted down kiln I have I converted to gas and it is still a good kiln.
(I didn't do the melting, have you ever seen chocolate terracotta?)
Feri
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