mel jacobson on thu 4 oct 01
salt kilns, and the destruction of same is a
very old topic.
whenever i am asked about salt kilns my first
reaction is:
why use it?
now, that is a personal bias...i don't like salt pots too much.
i like glaze.
in fact, most of the pots fired in the salt kiln at the farm
are pre/glazed.
salt destroys kilns.
is messy.
makes tons of fog.
makes neighbors cranky.
our art center teachers are lobbying big time for
salt and wood fired kilns. we are building our new
center about 500 yards from a very exclusive...senior
condo grouping. and i mean millionaire types. i can
just see the first firing...a cloud of vapor going across
patios set with martinis....cough, sputter....`helen, i know
they are trying to kill us.`
about 50 of them coming at the center with rakes and sticks.
police cars and fire trucks pulling up to the art center.
i just don't understand the pay back...salt kilns in urban areas.
stupid to me.
lots of ways to make pots...nice pots.
but, `mel, you just don't get it...everyone is doing soda...how
can i get into the next show?`
i always reply....`make good pots, you will get it any show.`
salt destroys kilns.
hard brick is the best, but the cost of firing is horrific.
schools, colleges, places that do not have meters on their
kilns find this no problem. colleges should teach salt.
it is a part of our history.
pete's idea of a homemade coating is great. he knows what
he is doing. but, many homemade coatings just spall off
and get all over the pots. then what do you do? and, don't
be spreading homemade coatings on old dirty brick, or a kiln
that has been salted even once. it won't stay.
to build salt kilns in sight of homes and people is stupid.
it is just a war, ready to break out.
itc works, but as tony has pointed out...expensive as hell.
you had better have a profit loss statement handy.
fibre works in salt kilns, if it is saturated with itc. we know and
can prove that works...i have that kiln.
but, that is also very cost heavy.
in my opinion, folks should look at salt as an alternative. a small
salt or soda kiln...maybe 15 cubic feet. experimental pots.
hard brick...and well insulated with blankets of kaowool.
we have dozens of great salt firing potters out there... making
great stuff. some working at a commercial level...they love the
work, the firing and have no problems. they understand the process
and have built in the costs and firing schedules necessary...good
on them.
itc is not a panacea to salt kilns. as nils stated yesterday...it
does not totally protect soft brick....it is a short term fix.
fibre works, but is expensive.
hard brick as we know works. but, hard brick kilns are
old technology. it would be hard for me to go back to
that kind of kiln.
my final advice.
wait.
the salt and soda craze will be gone in a year.
just like making houses and boats so you can get
in a show....or copper matt raku...or ugly figures.
it just runs in circles.
make good pots, solid, well crafted. make things that
folks can use. sell them.
making pots for you....well that is fun. i do it all the time.
just don't switch your entire pottery to salt.....wait it out.
(not talking sculpture here, or art stuff. pots)
so, no defined answers to kilns falling apart from salt firing.
or, the metal stacks and braces rotting away in three years.
it just happens. we have lost three stacks at the farm. just
rot away in front of our eyes. even the kaowool sleeves.
just do.
science, what a concept.
mel
From:
Minnetonka, Minnesota, U.S.A.
web site: http://www.pclink.com/melpots
Hank Murrow on fri 5 oct 01
Mayor Mel wrote in part;
>whenever i am asked about salt kilns my first
>reaction is:
>why use it?
***Hank says; Because it gives such a beautiful surface, and it is
fun to work with the clay surface as the active glaze-forming ingredient.
Also a challenge learning new ways to stack and tumblestack (just as with
wood).
>salt destroys kilns.
****Well, it wants too, but you can design around that; see below.
>makes neighbors cranky.
***Ruthanne Tudball has neighbors next door, but her soda fires
don't bother them at all. Just use soda, and avoid the whole chlorine issue.
>i just don't understand the pay back...salt kilns in urban areas.
>stupid to me.
***See above.
>hard brick is the best, but the cost of firing is horrific.
>fibre works in salt kilns, if it is saturated with itc.
***Now What To DO?.......Why not cast high-alumina panels,
re-inforced with RibTec Stainless Steel fibers, and back that up with 6-8"
of ceramic fiber insulation. Greencast can be cast into 3/4" sections. Read
high resistance to corrosive attack + very low thermal mass, and won't
crack. Result = low fuel cost + long life + replaceable panels (you have
the mold). Jim Laub and I are doing it this winter at his place (deep in
the city). We'll keep you posted concerning results for the kiln, and
results for the ware.
a small
>salt or soda kiln...maybe 15 cubic feet. experimental pots.
hardbrick...and well insulated with blankets of kaowool.
***See, Mel, you 'almost' anticipated my thoughts. We gotta stop
meeting like this........
Ian just left for Las Vegas, Ruth Butler was in Eugene for the day, studio
sale Saturday...Clayfest next weekend, 70 Potters in Search of a Buck. Life
is Good.
Cheers, Hank
Fay & Ralph Loewenthal on sun 7 oct 01
Dear all, Mel is of course correct, as always. Here in this
neck of the woods we are not allowed to fire salt / soda
in an urban environment. This is where unknowing potters=20
are selling bowls glazed with lead based earthernware=20
glazes. The bureaucrats worry about the air and ecology,
but know nothing about glazes and there is absolutely no
check here that they are food safe. I wish that here was a
Monona Rossel here. Watch out for those salt / soda fumes
they can be quite nasty to you and your neighbours. All the
best from Ralph in Cape Town
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