Dave Finkelnburg on fri 12 oct 01
Janet,
I think it was Mel Jacobson who offered this advice...never, ever, light
the burners on a gas kiln with the door closed. It is not possible to
produce an explosion with the kiln open.
Glad you are thinking about kiln safety!
Dave Finkelnburg in Idaho
L. P. Skeen on fri 12 oct 01
> Janet Kaiser wrote:
>
> > Just been talking to a potter who managed to blow his
> > kiln up yesterday! > >
> > Anyway, he was candling around 100C and went for a cup
> > of tea. Came back and saw a burner had gone out. He did
> > not check the other burner... Struck a match and...
> > BOOOOM!!!
When I was in college we had 2 "homebuilt" kilns and 2 large Alpine
updrafts, which could be hard to light because the automatic burners had
been removed and replaced with individual blower/burner units. The
"dampers" were scrap kiln shelves. To set this visual up for you, all 4
kilns were located in a concrete kiln house that looked somewhat like
Chernobyl - very tall beaker shaped thing. The kiln house is about 50 feet
maybe from the pottery studio, which has plexiglass windows and is in the
basement of a classroom building.
I have a seriously healthy respect for fire, and suspect that I might have
been burned at the stake or something in a former life. Lighting a gas kiln
is realllllllllly hard for me to do just because of that "healthy respect".
Unfortunately, another person in the studio didn't have the same attitude
towards kilns or firing in general. One night we were in the kiln house and
this other person was trying to light the big Alpine with newspaper and
matches. The setup is such that the gas valve is on the side rear of the
kiln, and you have to light one burner and then go light the 2nd one. Well,
"Jane" couldn't get the thing to light. She tried cramming newspaper in the
burner port and lighting that, but no dice; it wouldn't stay lit. Finally,
she had tried everything we could think of and the kiln was full of gas. I
told her to open the door and let the gas out. O no, it'll be fine. The
next thing that happened was like an Arnold Schwarzenwhazzit movie; I saw
what was about to happen and couldn't stop it. Jane lit a piece of paper
and moved toward the kiln with it. I shouted something like DON"T DO THAT!
and started for the door just as another girl walked in from outside. I
wrapped myself over the girl who'd just come in JUST as Jane put the paper
to the burner port and just about blew the damn door off the kiln. The
explosion was such that the kiln shelf that was being used as a damper was
blown across the room, and those plexiglass windows in the pottery were
bowed INTO the pottery - thank gods that plexiglass doesn't break. People
in upstairs classrooms were leaning out the windows asking if we were all
alright........and the only actual damage was the removal of Jane's
eyebrows.
I never fired with that woman again.
L
Janet Kaiser on fri 12 oct 01
Just been talking to a potter who managed to blow his
kiln up yesterday! He built it himself. Brick. Arched.
Gas fired. Two burners. Because he is poor, no housing
around the kiln, but at least he was sensible and built
it outside and not in his house!
Anyway, he was candling around 100C and went for a cup
of tea. Came back and saw a burner had gone out. He did
not check the other burner... Struck a match and...
BOOOOM!!!
The kiln was full of gas... Both burners had been blown
out. And being outside on a breezy day, of course he
did not smell the gas. Thankfully he was not injured,
but he lost the chimney and part of the arch collapsed.
Amazing part was he only had two pots chip - not even
break!
I am worried he thinks this is his induction as a
potter and he'll be OK now... Seems to be very gung-ho
about the whole incident. And that worries me.
But having read clay art this evening that worry palls
into insignificance...
Tony said: >>I luv a woman with a hearty hahaha.
whiskey, ciggies and hangin out in blues bars....<<
Then Rush said: >>I second that emotion (sic)<<
So now I am REALLY worried... If a laugh like a
demented seal is a "hearty hahaha" and counts, this
could be me... Dear god! I think I will give up singing
the Blues... As the least line of resistance!
Seriously though, having had one explosion in a gas
kiln which is sited outdoors, I am worried about our
friend... Has anyone any tips about safety? He said
that he cannot afford to build a shed or cover and
"they burn down anyway". I suppose he has heard of the
many accidents over the years. I certainly hope he will
think twice about re-igniting a burner without checking
the gas in the future and avoid an explosion like this
one, but any additional advice would be appreciated...
Thanks
Janet Kaiser - I have blown our candle out tonight. One
month has gone by and the memorial services for the
victims of September 11th in the USA have been held.
Now the killing has started in Afghanistan and warnings
of more terror attacks have been made, I am deeply
troubled. May God forgive us all.
The Chapel of Art . Capel Celfyddyd
HOME OF THE INTERNATIONAL POTTERS' PATH
Criccieth LL52 0EA, GB-Wales Tel: (01766) 523570
E-mail: postbox@the-coa.org.uk
WEBSITE: http://www.the-coa.org.uk
vince pitelka on fri 12 oct 01
Here are my two favorite exploding kiln incidents. They are offered in the
interests of safety education.
My good friend Mike Selfridge runs a community college ceramics program in
Crescent City, California, up by on the coast by the Oregon border. One day
a student named Doris came and asked if he had some matches. He did not
know that she had already turned on the gas. She proceeded to light a
newspaper twist and insert it into the burner port of the outdoor kiln.
Fortunately it was a sprung arch kiln, so the steel frame prevented the
walls from expanding outwards. Instead, the arch, shelves, furniture, and
pots rose straight upwards, and then descended into a magnificent pile of
rubble. Hard lesson to learn.
An old friend Steve Hyman built a salt kiln up on Fickle Hill above Arcata,
California. He only laid two flat courses (5" total) of hardbrick over a
freshly poured concrete slab. Just after he reached salting temperature the
slab let go (trapped moisture). He had salted once, and thankfully everone
was standing back at a good distance to avoid breathing the fumes. The
explosion lifted the catenary arch straight up, and for a fraction of a
second you could all see the pots, shelves, and furniture suspended in mid
air, and then it all collapsed into a pile of red-hot debris. The ruins
continued to spit and pop for some time, so everyone stood back at a good
distance. To Steve's credit, his first response was "This calls for more
beer." The bricks were free, the lost pots were chalked up to experience,
and thank god no one was injured. One has to retain one's sense of humor in
such situations.
- Vince
Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Crafts
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
Home - vpitelka@dtccom.net
615/597-5376
Work - wpitelka@tntech.edu
615/597-6801 ext. 111, fax 615/597-6803
http://www.craftcenter.tntech.edu/
Earl Brunner on fri 12 oct 01
Janet,
Obviously having some kind of pilot/safety shut off system would be
optimal. However since he doesn't have it, he needs to be more
vigilant. If one is out, he needs to check before trying to re-light.
He may not make that mistake again, (unless he damaged his head in the
explosion).
I'm a little concerned that you seem to think that if his kiln had been
enclosed it might have been safer. In the sense that perhaps it might
have been protected from the wind, you might be right, and perhaps if it
was an enclosed space he might have smelled the gas...
However, if he didn't, the resultant explosion in an enclosed space
would be more severe than out in the open where some of the gas was no
doubt dissipated.
Janet Kaiser wrote:
> Just been talking to a potter who managed to blow his
> kiln up yesterday! He built it himself. Brick. Arched.
> Gas fired. Two burners. Because he is poor, no housing
> around the kiln, but at least he was sensible and built
> it outside and not in his house!
>
> Anyway, he was candling around 100C and went for a cup
> of tea. Came back and saw a burner had gone out. He did
> not check the other burner... Struck a match and...
> BOOOOM!!!
>
> The kiln was full of gas... Both burners had been blown
> out. And being outside on a breezy day, of course he
> did not smell the gas. Thankfully he was not injured,
> but he lost the chimney and part of the arch collapsed.
> Amazing part was he only had two pots chip - not even
> break!
>
> I am worried he thinks this is his induction as a
> potter and he'll be OK now... Seems to be very gung-ho
> about the whole incident. And that worries me.
>
> Seriously though, having had one explosion in a gas
> kiln which is sited outdoors, I am worried about our
> friend... Has anyone any tips about safety? He said
> that he cannot afford to build a shed or cover and
> "they burn down anyway". I suppose he has heard of the
> many accidents over the years. I certainly hope he will
> think twice about re-igniting a burner without checking
> the gas in the future and avoid an explosion like this
> one, but any additional advice would be appreciated...
>
> Thanks
>
> Janet Kaiser
--
Earl Brunner
http://coyote.accessnv.com/bruec/
bruec@anv.net
Tommy Humphries on sat 13 oct 01
Reminds me of an incident here in town a few years back...
The local foundry was melting down some old scrap steel, when the old
furnace shed caught on fire. The foundry owner was going to let the shed
burn on down, so he could rebuild, since there was no danger to any
surrounding buildings...had done this many times in the past.
BUT... the fire chief would have none of it and came rushing in with a
tanker truck and started a 1.5" hose on the surrounding area. The foundry
owner was pitching a purple fit at the Chief, when the first trickle of
water ran in under the hearth of that blast furnace, going on to 3000 deg. +
Do you have any idea of the rate of expansion of superheated steam?
The bricks in that hearth were banded with 1/4" thick steel straps, every
10" up the sides.
It went off like a bomb...
Threw bricks over 1/4 mile away...luckily no one was seriously injured.
Found some of those steel bands, they were stretched to paper thin where
they gave way.
Hard lesson learned for a fire chief.
Tommy
----- Original Message -----
From: "vince pitelka"
To:
Sent: Friday, October 12, 2001 10:10 PM
Subject: Re: Exploding kiln incident
> Here are my two favorite exploding kiln incidents. They are offered in
the
> interests of safety education.
>
>
> An old friend Steve Hyman built a salt kiln up on Fickle Hill above
Arcata,
> California. He only laid two flat courses (5" total) of hardbrick over a
> freshly poured concrete slab. Just after he reached salting temperature
the
> slab let go (trapped moisture). He had salted once, and thankfully
everone
> was standing back at a good distance to avoid breathing the fumes. The
> explosion lifted the catenary arch straight up, and for a fraction of a
> second you could all see the pots, shelves, and furniture suspended in mid
> air, and then it all collapsed into a pile of red-hot debris. The ruins
> continued to spit and pop for some time, so everyone stood back at a good
> distance. To Steve's credit, his first response was "This calls for more
> beer." The bricks were free, the lost pots were chalked up to experience,
> and thank god no one was injured. One has to retain one's sense of humor
in
> such situations.
> - Vince
>
> Vince Pitelka
> Appalachian Center for Crafts
> Tennessee Technological University
> 1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
> Home - vpitelka@dtccom.net
> 615/597-5376
> Work - wpitelka@tntech.edu
> 615/597-6801 ext. 111, fax 615/597-6803
> http://www.craftcenter.tntech.edu/
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
__
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
>
heloisareis on sun 14 oct 01
Hi !
First of all, sorry for my mistakes in English ... I'm a Brazilian cerami=
st.
I've just subscribed to Clayart and I am very happy in seeing that I alre=
ady
have a friend here!Janet from the Chapel of Arts!
My experience in gas firing ( more than 10 years) says that safety is
connected to these factors:
1. the site of the kiln must be open and very airy but not with current=
s
of air and not windy;
2. there must be a considerable distance between the kiln burners and the
gas source - minimum 3 meters ;
3. use of a pilot to make the pre- heating;
4. to be sure that there is no gas accumulated in the kiln before lightin=
g
the fire.
And of course be extremely aware to possible gas leakings.
When all these factors have beeing observed and are OK, there is a l=
ot
of safety in gas firing!
Glad to meet all the list!
Heloisa
"Peace!"
http://www.atelierheloisareis.art.br
-----Mensagem Original-----
De: Tommy Humphries
Para:
Enviada em: s=E1bado, 13 de outubro de 2001 21:14
Assunto: Re: Exploding kiln incident
> Reminds me of an incident here in town a few years back...
>
> The local foundry was melting down some old scrap steel, when the old
> furnace shed caught on fire. The foundry owner was going to let the she=
d
> burn on down, so he could rebuild, since there was no danger to any
> surrounding buildings...had done this many times in the past.
>
> BUT... the fire chief would have none of it and came rushing in with a
> tanker truck and started a 1.5" hose on the surrounding area. The found=
ry
> owner was pitching a purple fit at the Chief, when the first trickle of
> water ran in under the hearth of that blast furnace, going on to 3000 d=
eg.
+
>
> Do you have any idea of the rate of expansion of superheated steam?
>
> The bricks in that hearth were banded with 1/4" thick steel straps, eve=
ry
> 10" up the sides.
>
> It went off like a bomb...
>
> Threw bricks over 1/4 mile away...luckily no one was seriously injured.
>
> Found some of those steel bands, they were stretched to paper thin wher=
e
> they gave way.
>
> Hard lesson learned for a fire chief.
>
> Tommy
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "vince pitelka"
> To:
> Sent: Friday, October 12, 2001 10:10 PM
> Subject: Re: Exploding kiln incident
>
>
> > Here are my two favorite exploding kiln incidents. They are offered =
in
> the
> > interests of safety education.
> >
> >
> > An old friend Steve Hyman built a salt kiln up on Fickle Hill above
> Arcata,
> > California. He only laid two flat courses (5" total) of hardbrick ov=
er
a
> > freshly poured concrete slab. Just after he reached salting temperat=
ure
> the
> > slab let go (trapped moisture). He had salted once, and thankfully
> everone
> > was standing back at a good distance to avoid breathing the fumes. T=
he
> > explosion lifted the catenary arch straight up, and for a fraction of=
a
> > second you could all see the pots, shelves, and furniture suspended i=
n
mid
> > air, and then it all collapsed into a pile of red-hot debris. The ru=
ins
> > continued to spit and pop for some time, so everyone stood back at a
good
> > distance. To Steve's credit, his first response was "This calls for
more
> > beer." The bricks were free, the lost pots were chalked up to
experience,
> > and thank god no one was injured. One has to retain one's sense of
humor
> in
> > such situations.
> > - Vince
> >
> > Vince Pitelka
> > Appalachian Center for Crafts
> > Tennessee Technological University
> > 1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
> > Home - vpitelka@dtccom.net
> > 615/597-5376
> > Work - wpitelka@tntech.edu
> > 615/597-6801 ext. 111, fax 615/597-6803
> > http://www.craftcenter.tntech.edu/
> >
> >
>
_________________________________________________________________________=
___
> __
> > Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
> >
> > You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> > settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
> >
> > Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
> melpots@pclink.com.
> >
>
>
_________________________________________________________________________=
___
__
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
Janet Kaiser on tue 16 oct 01
Many thanks for all the advice to pass on to our errant
friend. As I have told several off-list, he is actually
a Dr. of Chemistry so we should all be thankful he has
swapped to making pots and in not in control of some
chemical engineering company! I suspect he was not at
all suited to scientific methodology - even his glaze
making is slap-dash!
Janet Kaiser
The Chapel of Art . Capel Celfyddyd
HOME OF THE INTERNATIONAL POTTERS' PATH
Criccieth LL52 0EA, GB-Wales Tel: (01766) 523570
E-mail: postbox@the-coa.org.uk
WEBSITE: http://www.the-coa.org.uk
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