Ingeborg Foco on thu 19 oct 00
Dear Virginia,
I owned a California Kiln and purchased it new ---I don't remember now how
long ago that was. In my opinion, it was not a very good kiln. I know they
did a lot of advertising in CM and many people thought they were the cats
meeaau. Many people said they were wonderful and reduced without any
effort. I personally wanted to be the one to decide if and when to reduce.
I had major problems operating it and I remember many costly long distance
phone calls to California to get support. (In those days it cost a lot to
make a long distance phone call and no one seemed to have 800 numbers)
It never really worked very well. Primarily I think because the "venturi
burners "were really not true venturi burners. The low pressure diaphragm
gauge that was sold with the kiln was so sensitive and had such close
tolerances that it would blow if the pressure exceeded one ounce. (one
burner had no orifice when it arrived unbenounced to me and that blew one
gauge ) At $50 per gauge it was very frustrating. I don't remember how many
of those I purchased. To Many! There came a point where they were tired of
talking to me (because they really had no answers) and I of course felt
hopeless and gave up.
I did get pots out of it. Had to. Each $ profit I saved towards my next
kiln. After I had enough $ saved I had a new burner system designed by
someone who understood kilns and burners. These were true venturi burners
and obviously cost quite a bit more than what came with the kiln. The kiln
worked a lot better with that modification. I also found a place that sold
gauges that had a higher working range before blowing the diaphragm.
That was my experience. If it is in good shape and if you can get it very
cheaply (I personally would not pay much for it) then it can work. However,
I would beef up the burner system which is not an inexpensive thing to do.
I would also maybe add on to the chimney., It came with no chimney just two
tiles to damper the kiln. That might make it work better.
I hope I didn't "damper" your enthusiasm too much.
Sincerely,
Ingeborg
ifoco@teleport.com
Larspiaz@AOL.COM on thu 19 oct 00
Is anyone on the list familiar with the California Kiln gas kilns?
I am aware that this company is no longer in existence.
I have been offered a small gas kiln made by that firm which looks pretty
good.
I would like to here from anyone who has used one
Thanks
Virginia
June Perry on thu 19 oct 00
Dear Virginia:
I recently gave away a small California gas kiln that I had for about 25
years. Mainly, I used it for raku and bisque with occasional clean up glaze
firings. For me it was difficult to get good cone 10 reduction until I got an
oxyprobe. The most minute adjustment of the damper would make the difference
between oxidation and good reduction.
Things definitely improved with the oxyprobe as well as a layer of fiber on
the floor and another layer of insulating brick just laid on the outside of
the lid.
It would definitely benefit from some ITC100 as well.
Regards,
June
Anne Hunt on fri 20 oct 00
Hi, Virginia --
The little kiln that I just sold was a CKC. The person who sold it to me
said that it went to ^10. After numerous attempts to get past ^1, I called
Jim Bailey who said that, in essence, it was a "P.O.S." kiln, if you get my
drift: poorly built, poorly insulated, etc.
I did use it for three years (it was about 20 years old when I bought it)
to reliably bisque to ^06. The positive note was that I definitely learned
how to put "english" on a gas kiln; it did, however, require checking every
15" to 30" to make sure it hadn't stalled out. And I stayed with it until I
had the funds for something else.
anne & the cats
Ingeborg Foco on fri 20 oct 00
I forgot to mention that firing this kiln to ^10 was not difficult at all
once the pressure/orifice problems were solved. It was very difficult to
hold back at the beginning. However, I could if I wanted to fire to 10
rapidly. I have my firing charts filed away and can check to see how long
it actually took if you are interested
When I had my shuttle kiln built I removed my expensive burner system (that
was the plan when it was designed) and I gave the California Kiln to the
first person who wanted to take it away.
Ingeborg
Marcia Selsor on fri 20 oct 00
I bought a used one from Powell Community College about 14 years ago.
Donated it to the University and used it as a large rake kiln with four
burners. First I lined it with fiber fax, but after a decade or so, I
tore that out and sprayed ITC on the interior. It is one brick thick and
poorly insulated. The ITC helped. Great raku kiln.
Marcia Selsor
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Marcia Selsor
selsor@imt.net
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