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clamshell kiln

updated fri 28 sep 01

 

Klyf Brown on wed 26 sep 01


Does anyone have any experience with a "clamshell" kiln. The one I
saw on a website was a portable Raku kiln. It seems like a good idea,
except for the ofset chimney. I am in the process of deciding on a
style of kiln in the three foot cube size area.
Any feedback would be appreciated
Klyf Brown in New Mexico

Karen Ami on thu 27 sep 01


I have owned a Clamshell Kiln for about 6 months. I am very very pleased with
the design. It is portable (I got casters with mine), and I am easily able to
fire solo. I wanted to be able to open the kiln by myself as well as move the
kiln around my property. I spent a lot of time before deciding on this kiln
and I would recommend it .

Karen Ami
amiba@aol.com
Mudhouse Farm

Jeremy McLeod on thu 27 sep 01


> Does anyone have any experience with a "clamshell" kiln?

I've been part of several raku firings using one that's about 30" on a side.
It's made some aspects of that controlled chaos of pulling ware from kiln
to reduction chamber easier. With careful loading of kiln (thinking of
the order in which things need to be pulled) and careful placement of
the kiln itself (relative to the reduction chambers), the "clamshell" concept
makes things flow well.

Having said that, the price tag on such an item purchased commercially
is higher than this cheapskate wants to bear. I've scrounged materials
from various thrift shops and purchased the ceramic fibre. So far a
cube that I'll have to lift off vertically is costing me far less than the
$800-1000 nut I've seen on commercial "clamshells".

Jeremy McLeod

Klyf Brown on thu 27 sep 01


Jeremy,
Thank you. I should have mentioned that I will be building this myself.
So, it is the design and the way it functions that I am interested in. I
have always built my own kilns. To me building the kiln is as much a
part of the firing as the firing itself. Any true pyromaniac would agree.
Thanks,
Klyf in the desert without a controlled fire.

9/27/01 9:09:38 AM, Jeremy McLeod
wrote:

>> Does anyone have any experience with a "clamshell" kiln?
>
>I've been part of several raku firings using one that's about 30" on a
side.
>It's made some aspects of that controlled chaos of pulling ware from
kiln
>to reduction chamber easier. With careful loading of kiln (thinking of
>the order in which things need to be pulled) and careful placement of
>the kiln itself (relative to the reduction chambers), the "clamshell"
concept
>makes things flow well.
>
>Having said that, the price tag on such an item purchased
commercially
>is higher than this cheapskate wants to bear. I've scrounged
materials
>from various thrift shops and purchased the ceramic fibre. So far a
>cube that I'll have to lift off vertically is costing me far less than the
>$800-1000 nut I've seen on commercial "clamshells".
>
>Jeremy McLeod
>
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