Lori Leary on wed 29 aug 01
Hi,
Having a ready and inexpensive source of coal (anthracite type), I am
pondering the possibilities of a coal fueled kiln. I've checked the
archives, but cannot find anything conclusive. Any
comments or directions to appropriate posts in the
archives?
Thanks,
Lori L.
laleary@earthlink.net
Mountain Top, PA
iandol on thu 30 aug 01
Dear Lori Leary,
I doubt if you will get anything out of the clayart archives on this =
topic though there may be something in the ACS files relating to the =
heavy clay industries use of coal.
Anthracite will prove to be an excellent fuel with a high calorific =
value and little obnoxious gaseous effluent. You will need a high stack =
to get a good draught with good seals on the dampers. One problem will =
be getting fire bars for the grate which will withstand the heat. Light =
gauge locomotive rails are useful and can sometimes be found at scrap =
merchants. Consult B. Leach for information about kiln design since you =
will be working from first principles to construct your kiln. I made the =
mistake of making the firebox small and also restricted the grate area =
which prevented getting top temperatures.
There may be something in the museum archives in countries which used =
coal to fire clay products. My suggestion would be to write to the =
curators at the Industrial Museum in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, =
U.K.
Lori Leary on tue 4 sep 01
Thanks to Marcia, Dannon, Dave, Ron, Tom,
Cheryl and Ivor such kind public and private posts about
coal fired kilns and possible sources of info. I also found
some info in my tattered and well used copy of Steven
B's "Raku: A Practical Approach". II am looking forward to
experimenting. But I will have to put that on the *back burner* for now
while I focus on getting my regular studio set up. (have not been able to
start back working yet and I'm getting sorta
cranky).
Best to all,
Lori*
laleary@earthlink.net
Mountaintop, PA
*not used to wearing sweaters
in September
Michael Mandaville on sun 7 oct 01
On Wed, 29 Aug 2001 08:05:37 -0400, Lori Leary
wrote:
>Hi,
>
>Having a ready and inexpensive source of coal (anthracite type), I am
>pondering the possibilities of a coal fueled kiln. I've checked the
>archives, but cannot find anything conclusive. Any
>comments or directions to appropriate posts in the
>archives?
>
>
>
>Thanks,
>
>Lori L.
>
>laleary@earthlink.net
>
>Mountain Top, PA
Hello, Lori.
I also have a ready and inexpensive source of coal, namely charcoal
briquettes, which are coal, sodium silicate and clay, and I plan on
crushing them in a stamp mill, rolling them in a ball mill, and mixing them
with my firebrick clay when I build my kiln, which I will also be firing
with charcoal briquettes.
Since you haven't read anything conclusive yet, I'll give you the final
word: Potters were firing with coal for thousands of years before gas or
electricity were even discovered. In fact, if you look at it this way,
coal makes all of the other fuels look downright experimental! Tradition
is very much on our side, Lori. You can take that to the bank!
Michael Mandaville
The United States of Texas
Isao & Don on mon 8 oct 01
I do not know of refs in the archives..Moravian Tile, Pa., which we
visited many years past makes tile and uses soft coal often packed in
saggars. Should be able to find some information in your PC and/or in the
local library. I know therre is,at least one book dealing with Moravian .
There are also books on architectural tile dealing with coal-firing.
Unfortunatly, most books deal with finished products and some silly Art
talk, and never discuss the nitty-gritty of process. Isao & don
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