LOWELL BAKER on mon 28 jan 02
The first burner that I built was powered by a Kirby vacuum cleaner
blower. It worked great and would take a 15 foot kiln to any
temperature you wish. I would get Raku temperatures in five
minutes. That burner was made of the old vacuum, plastic pipe,a
short piece of exhaust pipe and about ten yards of duct tape. Ran
like a champ. Maybe that is where you should start.
The reason I don't continue to use the Kirby blower in small kilns is
the motor is not made to run all day. You can achieve the same
effect of the smaller blower by simply reducing the size of the exit
tubing. This however must be done with strict consideration to the
size and consistancy of your sawdust or you will get clogs. You
might also consider driving the blower with a 1720 rpm. motor. I
have not tried that variation because I have been so satisfied with
the faster motor. I believe I will try a slower motor on my
sawdust/salt kiln to slow the firing down some. I think Manny
Hernandez is using the slower blowers on the kilns he builds for
Potters for Peace.
I have placed a timed switch in the system that turns on and off
both the blower and the feed systems, but this is very hard on the
motors and has reduced their life to only five or six years. I am
finding that the best way to control the heat output of the burner is
to reduce the size of the output pipe.
The burner I will show at NCECA is quite a bit different from the
one I sent to Nils for his book. I happen to like my latest version
best, but they both work well. My preference for the latest version
is that it sorts out the trash that is found in most sawdust better.
Lowell
Roger Korn on mon 28 jan 02
Hi Lowell,
I can't afford the KC hotel$, so I'm missing NCECA this year. Any chance of getting
info on your new burner via email or snailmail?
Thanks,
Roger
LOWELL BAKER wrote:
> The first burner that I built was powered by a Kirby vacuum cleaner
> blower. It worked great and would take a 15 foot kiln to any
> temperature you wish. I would get Raku temperatures in five
> minutes. That burner was made of the old vacuum, plastic pipe,a
> short piece of exhaust pipe and about ten yards of duct tape. Ran
> like a champ. Maybe that is where you should start.
>
> The reason I don't continue to use the Kirby blower in small kilns is
> the motor is not made to run all day. You can achieve the same
> effect of the smaller blower by simply reducing the size of the exit
> tubing. This however must be done with strict consideration to the
> size and consistancy of your sawdust or you will get clogs. You
> might also consider driving the blower with a 1720 rpm. motor. I
> have not tried that variation because I have been so satisfied with
> the faster motor. I believe I will try a slower motor on my
> sawdust/salt kiln to slow the firing down some. I think Manny
> Hernandez is using the slower blowers on the kilns he builds for
> Potters for Peace.
>
> I have placed a timed switch in the system that turns on and off
> both the blower and the feed systems, but this is very hard on the
> motors and has reduced their life to only five or six years. I am
> finding that the best way to control the heat output of the burner is
> to reduce the size of the output pipe.
>
> The burner I will show at NCECA is quite a bit different from the
> one I sent to Nils for his book. I happen to like my latest version
> best, but they both work well. My preference for the latest version
> is that it sorts out the trash that is found in most sawdust better.
>
> Lowell
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> 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.
--
Roger Korn
McKay Creek Ceramics
In AZ: PO Box 463
4215 Culpepper Ranch Rd
Rimrock, AZ 86335
928-567-5699 <-
In OR: PO Box 436
31330 NW Pacific Ave.
North Plains, OR 97133
503-647-5464
Marcia Selsor on mon 28 jan 02
Dear Lowell,
I am curious about the smoke from the sawdust. I would love to try this
system but my studio is in the industrial area bordered by low income
housing- all is in city limits. Is there much belching of smoke?
Thanks, Marcia
LOWELL BAKER wrote:
>
> The first burner that I built was powered by a Kirby vacuum cleaner
> blower. It worked great and would take a 15 foot kiln to any
> temperature you wish. I would get Raku temperatures in five
> minutes. That burner was made of the old vacuum, plastic pipe,a
> short piece of exhaust pipe and about ten yards of duct tape. Ran
> like a champ. Maybe that is where you should start.
>
> The reason I don't continue to use the Kirby blower in small kilns is
> the motor is not made to run all day. You can achieve the same
> effect of the smaller blower by simply reducing the size of the exit
> tubing. This however must be done with strict consideration to the
> size and consistancy of your sawdust or you will get clogs. You
> might also consider driving the blower with a 1720 rpm. motor. I
> have not tried that variation because I have been so satisfied with
> the faster motor. I believe I will try a slower motor on my
> sawdust/salt kiln to slow the firing down some. I think Manny
> Hernandez is using the slower blowers on the kilns he builds for
> Potters for Peace.
>
> I have placed a timed switch in the system that turns on and off
> both the blower and the feed systems, but this is very hard on the
> motors and has reduced their life to only five or six years. I am
> finding that the best way to control the heat output of the burner is
> to reduce the size of the output pipe.
>
> The burner I will show at NCECA is quite a bit different from the
> one I sent to Nils for his book. I happen to like my latest version
> best, but they both work well. My preference for the latest version
> is that it sorts out the trash that is found in most sawdust better.
>
> Lowell
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> 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.
--
Marcia Selsor
selsor@imt.net
http://www.imt.net/~mjbmls
http://www.imt.net/~mjbmls/Tuscany2002.html
LOWELL BAKER on mon 28 jan 02
Yep. When I have the new drawings done I will lwt teh list know.
lowell
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