search  current discussion  categories  materials - copper 

mft 21 cu. ft. (10 cu. ft. setting space)

updated sat 24 feb 01

 

Stephen Grimmer on thu 22 feb 01


Kurt and Scott,
I'm still here (rather, here again), and so is the kiln. It fires like a
charm. My email is now grimmer@midwest.net or sgrimmer@siu.edu
Here's the inventory from the original plans, which will leave you with a
nice pile of bricks afterwards to keep your door in good shape.

1,111 Insulating Fire Brick.
84 Hard Brick Straight
4 HB Bat
4 HB split.
Add 5% to above for
breakage and cutting errors.
So, order
1,167 IFB
88 Straight HB
5 HB Bat
5 HB Split.
For Flame Tuning Device
6 HB Straight
2 HB Split
--
Stephen Grimmer
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale


12 Shelves, 12 x 24 x 3/4.
52 Cement Blocks, 7.5x7.5x15

I can send you a set of the plans in MacDraw format if you wish, or as a
PICT file via email.

Steve


> From: Kurt Wild
SNIP
>
> My MFT is adapted from Nils' plans in his book The Art of Firing. Since
> building my kiln in 1993 I was given a set of plans for an MFT that is
> very similar to mine. Those plans were drawn by Steve Grimmer. The email
> address I have on the August, 1997 dated plans for Steve
> is A phone number is also shown: )(618) 997-8304
>
SNAP
>
> Kurt Wild
> 1000 E. Cascade Ave.
> River Falls, WI 54022
> USA
> phone: 715-425-5715
> Kurt.L.Wild@uwrf.edu
> http://wwwpp.uwrf.edu/~kw77

Kurt Wild on thu 22 feb 01


My MFT is adapted from Nils' plans in his book The Art of Firing. Since
building my kiln in 1993 I was given a set of plans for an MFT that is
very similar to mine. Those plans were drawn by Steve Grimmer. The email
address I have on the August, 1997 dated plans for Steve
is A phone number is also shown: )(618) 997-8304

My kiln uses the exact double-venturi flue box as shown in Nils' book even
though my kin is much smaller. The roof corner brackets are also as
indicated in the book. My kiln is all K23 soft brick except the floor,
flue and base of stack. Measurements are (inside dimensions) 36" deep,
31-1/2" wide, 32-1/2" high. If I were to build again I would add two more
courses (5") to the height. Reason being is that my first shelf is 3-1/4"
off the floor and that cuts down setting space too much to suit me. I use
two 12" x 24" shelves with a 1-3/4" space between. Considering just
setting space the kiln is 10 cubic ft. Can't remember the name of the
shelves (Crystar? ) Now I think they cost about $125 each. I bought 12
which I think is a reasonable number to get for a kiln this size unless
there will tend to be a lot of small pots then get 14.

My door is 22-1/2" wide and placed on the side of the kiln (not opposite
the burners as is the case in Grimmer's kiln plans). I would recommend
Nil's burners as well. My friend Bob Fritz built his kiln identical to
mine and uses the Nils burners which due the job so well that he has to
hold them back.

My kiln is coated with ITC, which I recommend.

My stack is made from two 5 ft. sections of galvanized pipe ($5 per foot =
$50) lined with Kaowool sleeves at less than $10 each ($100).

I don't have the exact figures for my kiln but the following should be
adequate and they are based on about an additional 5% for breakage, cutting
and calculation errors.

K23 Insulating fire brick 1200
Hard brick straights 100 and 6 splits
12 or 14 shelves
Angle iron for corners, threaded rod, nuts & bolts.
60 - 8" concrete blocks
ITC 100 & ITC 296
Various kiln posts (shelf supports)

A final note - as suggested by another Clayarter, it might be a good idea
to plot the kiln on graph paper and figure out more exactly what you will
need. Then check local prices for brick etc. On the pother hand I would
guess that you could do the whole thing including shelves for slightly
less than $5,000.

Kurt Wild
1000 E. Cascade Ave.
River Falls, WI 54022
USA
phone: 715-425-5715
Kurt.L.Wild@uwrf.edu
http://wwwpp.uwrf.edu/~kw77