Helen Bates on sat 10 nov 01
Hi,
I'm thinking of buying a 7 cubic foot Paragon kiln, used. Apparently
it wasn't fired very often, and not at all for the past 5 years. It's
very clean, and has only a couple of hairline cracks in the middle one
of the three sections. I haven't been able to see it heat up, as the
direct connection box has been disconnected from the fuse panel. The
elements are all well-tucked into their slots, and they "look ok",
whatever good that does me. The wiring to the 3 switches is
cloth-covered, but it looks ok, and the plugs look fine.
I'm told the kiln was used mainly for earthenware and never fired
above cone 6 in any case, although I can't verify this. (It was
originally owned by a studio the potter was connected with in Toronto
5 or so years ago.) It has a kiln sitter, and 3 full and 4 half kiln
shelves, and some posts will be included. The lid has a steel plate
over the fire bricks. As I indicated above, it is a sectional kiln.
I regret to say that I didn't think to record the model number.
Aside from whether the kiln works, and having to find someone who can
do the electrical work (I do have a 200 amp service, and there seem to
be slots in the breaker panel for more circuits), I'm wondering how
far to go in ventilating the kiln?
Specifically, if I put it in the furnace-room, where there is plenty
of space, can I just open the window there and leave the furnace on,
or should I open a second window elsewhere for a cross-draft, or
should I turn the furnace off altogether and have the two windows
open?
I have fans I could use to blow the air out the one window and bring
it in from the other, of I could get a fan put right in the window, I
think, fairly easily.
Of course, it would be nice to have a real venting system, but that
would have to come later. If firing the kiln in the basement isn't a
good idea, I could possibly use our garage, though it's attached to
the house, or I could use the garden shed, perhaps, if the clearance
above the kiln (with stand it must be 40 inches high and the rafters
of the building are maybe 70" or 72" high.)
I think I'd like to have the kiln in the basement for now, because
that's where the wheel and my other clay stuff is...
What do people think?
Thanks for any comments,
Helen
--
========================================================================
Helen Bates
mailto:nell@quintenet.com
Web - http://www.geocities.com/nelbanell/HelensClayPicks.html
Bill Amsterlaw's link to my Clayart Posts -
http://amsterlaw.com/nell/
========================================================================
John Baymore on sun 11 nov 01
I'm told the kiln was used mainly for earthenware and never fired
above cone 6 in any case, although I can't verify this. (It was
originally owned by a studio the potter was connected with in Toronto
5 or so years ago.)
=
Helen,
One thing that I advise people thinking of buying a used electric kiln to=
do it to go to the hardware store and buy a lead test kit. Do a lead tes=
t
on the refractories of the kiln. Test maybe one spot near the top of the=
kiln and one near the bottom. If it tests positive....... you don't want=
the kiln (unless you are using lead bearing products yourself).
Lead vaporizes out of glazes, and deposits on/in the kiln refractories an=
d
on the shelves and posts. Every time you fire even with no lead bearing
glazes in it anymore, the lead is getting into the kiln atmosphere again,=
and will re-deposit on the wares that are in it. Lead fume from a
kiln..... being particularly fine respirable particles...... is a really
nasty problem.
Yes...... with each firing there is a little less lead because it gets ou=
t
of the kiln with vented (and unvented) gases, and deposits into the new
load of wares...... but the decrease in level present each time is small.=
..
and will continue for a long time (theoretically forever).
It's use for "earthenware" and having been used in a somewhat communal
setting makes it particularly "suspect". Also, the older the unit, the
more suspect it becomes, both from the possible number of times lead glaz=
es
were fired in it as well as the fact that lead glaze use was more prevale=
nt
a goodly time ago.
As to other venting issues...... vent, vent, vent .
Best,
..............................john
John Baymore
River Bend Pottery
22 Riverbend Way
Wilton, NH 03086 USA
603-654-2752 (s)
800-900-1110 (s)
JohnBaymore.com
JBaymore@compuserve.com
John.Baymore@GSD-CO.com
"Earth, Water, and Fire Noborigama Woodfiring Workshop 2002 Dates TBA"
CINDI ANDERSON on mon 12 nov 01
I definitely would not fire in the basement or the garage (if attached) without a
"real" vent system. A fan isn't going to do it. You need a real vent and a hose
that goes to the outside. Try it once and you will see. It will smell terrible,
and that's only what you can smeel. Other fumes you can't smell.
Cindi
-
Helen Bates wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Aside from whether the kiln works, and having to find someone who can
> do the electrical work (I do have a 200 amp service, and there seem to
> be slots in the breaker panel for more circuits), I'm wondering how
> far to go in ventilating the kiln?
>
> Specifically, if I put it in the furnace-room, where there is plenty
> of space, can I just open the window there and leave the furnace on,
> or should I open a second window elsewhere for a cross-draft, or
> should I turn the furnace off altogether and have the two windows
> open?
>
> I have fans I could use to blow the air out the one window and bring
> it in from the other, of I could get a fan put right in the window, I
> think, fairly easily.
>
> Of course, it would be nice to have a real venting system, but that
> would have to come later. If firing the kiln in the basement isn't a
> good idea, I could possibly use our garage, though it's attached to
> the house, or I could use the garden shed, perhaps, if the clearance
> above the kiln (with stand it must be 40 inches high and the rafters
> of the building are maybe 70" or 72" high.)
>
> I think I'd like to have the kiln in the basement for now, because
> that's where the wheel and my other clay stuff is...
>
> Helen
> --
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