John Post on mon 3 jul 00
>have a good gas person make your connection if you do not have
>experience....who knows, mark ward may be selling the burners before
>long, ready to attach to a small tank.
I got all the parts (except the actual burner)for my gas/electric from Marc
Ward.
I purchased a small tirrill propane burner from Frey scientific. I used a
small band clamp to attach it to the regulator and hose I got from Marc.
It is essentially his raku regulator setup minus the big raku burner. I
have a picture of it on my web page for those who are interested.
I think that venting this type of kiln is very important. A space that is
semi-outdoors would be the best in my opinion. I was firing mine in a
garage that was not finished off and had no ceiling. The gases just went
up and escaped out the roof vents....and I had a large two car garage door
wide open.
I changed part of the garage into a more permanent studio by drywalling it.
It still has good ventilation, 3 large windows, two doors and an exhaust
fan right behind the kiln. But I can say that I have noticed some carbon
buildup (soot) on the drywall ceiling after 10 or so firings. Plus you can
actually feel the drywall getting warm to hot above the kiln.
I think that using this kiln indoors with standard 8 foot ceilings is not a
good idea. I'm moving mine over to the unfinished side of the garage so I
can go back to my old method for firing it.
As far as plugging up the holes when the firing is over, I use a firebrick
over the top flue and wedge a firebrick peephole plug into the bottom
burner port... I'm not a big fan of kaowool.
I'm now wishing I had prepared my kiln as thoroughly as Mel did his. I
sprayed the kiln with ITC 100 and the elements were dipped it the 213, but
I didn't do any of the topcoats once the elements were in place. Save
Mel's e-mail directions via Nils if you are goig to make one of these.
They are a little more step by step than those in Nils book.
John Post
Sterling Heights, Michigan USA
e-mail waverock@c3net.net
Website http://www.c3net.net/waverock
John Post
Sterling Heights, Michigan USA
e-mail waverock@c3net.net
Website http://www.c3net.net/waverock
mel jacobson on tue 4 jul 00
the point of the entire thing is combining a small amount
of gas in your electric kiln...not to fire the entire thing
with gas...then you have a gas kiln....and many are not
going that route..they have electric, and we want to help
them use reduction in an electric kiln....that is the point.
it has been almost impossible to reduce in an electric
kiln until this technology came about.
yes, there are reduction electrics in japan...but, the product
that comes from them far exceeds the cost of new coils....and
the coils that are replaced is just a form of doing business.
the small amount of gas and carbon that comes from this kiln
is not much more than using a kitchen range of gas. the normal
venting that one should use for an electric kiln indoors should be
fine...of course some do not vent at all, and that is very harmful
and dangerous. we advocate very good venting for all kilns...all
kilns.
we fire this kiln in the 8 foot doorway of our barn, with the door wide
open...i would not fire it in my living room.
the small gas tank that we use for a grill will fire this kiln many times.
they are safe, used all the time, all over america....cost about 9 bucks
to turn in and get a new one full.
we are clear that you should have a quality hose about 10 feet long..
if you have good connections it should not be unsafe in a garage or
studio kiln space. we do not advocate using this in your basement
or bedroom....
have a good gas person make your connection if you do not have
experience....who knows, mark ward may be selling the burners before
long, ready to attach to a small tank.
the problem for nils and i and others is that we have built hundreds
of kilns, burners, gas systems...and it is rather second nature to us.
the fear comes from the lack of experience....get good sound advice
from a gas person, then use good sense...and this kiln can serve
one for many years.
i still hold firm on my prediction that this kiln could easily fire
300 times....cone 10, if the application of itc products is done
correctly, and the kiln is sound. hell, if it went a hundred firings
to cone 10...it would still be a bargain...
i have always been a strong advocate of multi fuel kilns...and i know
that the purists hate the thought...but, this is 2000, not 1902....we
have wonderful things happening that will make potters stronger,
not weaker.
many of our clayarters are basement potters...have full time jobs,
and still love clay and pots....we have to serve them too...they
have to have alternatives to cone 6 electric, and this my help change
things for them. it is not for everyone, but those that give it a try
and have success, well they will be thankful...for others, well, so
be it.
it is like the story of the arch vs. the flat top...if you like arches
and can do them, well great, do it.
the flat top is easy, takes less time, only straight brick, costs less
and has a minimum of welding...so we use it...we like it..and those
that have tried often feel the same way. but, without question, if
your mind is made up about things, well, you probably won't change.
my job is being a teacher, look at new things, try them...explore.
nils is always throwing me projects to try at hay creek...got some
great folks there that see through b.s. real fast. we kick things
hard, try things....then talk about them, argue...but, if it works
we run with it.
we think this gas/lectric has a good chance of changing how we fire.
it is new, needs a great deal more work and study...but, we are
not going to stop working on it. as i have said many times...my
association with the delkic` is as friend. they do not pay me. i admire
what they have going, and it works for us..i don't want to sell
anything...let others do that.
i am very excited about the friends out there that are building this
gas/lectric kiln...jason in tennessee, bob anderson in wisconsin...
and now some clayarters. like the salt kiln, we will report results
and let you know what is going on. i have some articles that
will be coming out at some point when we know more.
the baby train is a great little kiln. it works. kurt had some
wonderful council with tony c. we did some simple construction
changes, got really good dry wood and bingo...kiln that works.
12 hours to cone 11 flat. next time we will hold it back, add about
six hours to the firing, let some more time add wood effects....
but, our goal was not 40 hours...our goal was to make cone 11 in
a very efficient, easy firing manner...we did that.
i have been blessed with great friends that are willing to try
new things, then share the results with all. it is the sharing
of ideas, then having new folks add to the adventure with new
thoughts and corrections. it is the way the crafts have been
taught forever. we want to keep that going.
it is easy to just live in the past, and preach that it is the only
way. sorry, i don't buy that...never will. the future of clay is
in great hands if we keep exploring.
mel
FROM MINNETONKA, MINNESOTA, USA
http://www.pclink.com/melpots (website)
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