JoHanna Haines on sat 4 may 02
Hello!
I have a question (or 2 or 3) and was hoping some of you could advise me.
I am in the process of picking out my first kiln and am wondering about the
possiblilty of it being housed outside my studio. My husband will build its
own hut~ roof, walls, door.
My questions are :
1. will the cold temps of Montana winters affect the computer of the kiln
2. would I still have to vent the kiln being that it would be outside
3. if not, will the atmosphere in the kiln be affected by not venting
I do have room in the studio if that would be better overall, but was hoping
to do the firings outside.
Thanks for you help. I appreciate this group and the information that I
gleen from it.
JoHanna
Working Potter on sat 4 may 02
I do not know about the electronics aspect but make sure it is offf the
ground,of course.The vent question in a kiln removed from a work or living
space I think would be more to get the moisture released [during firing
from
water in the body and glazes would be best released from the environment]
to
avoid long term rusting of any steel parts.Also the shed's wood dries
over
time if the heat level gets real high if the roof or walls are close to the
source. which becomes an ignition source after time.With the cold you have
there, a small openable access to the outside would solve those
concerns.Here
ridge vent style roof would do the trick, a tiny flap vent or even a small
cheap window but there may be other things in your climate to think about as
well.My 2 cents.
''Misty''
Ditmar on sat 4 may 02
Only a thought in case you haven't decided on / or bought your kiln
yet........
If you're housing it outdoors and firing through the winter, get one built
with an extra insulation layer to make it more efficient. Given the
temperature differential there, it will pay for itself in power savings in
the long run. Don't know what brands you're looking at, but I start with a
stock model from Seattle Pottery Supply ( 800-522-1975 ) and have them
build it with options I choose. Prices are competitive and you get exactly
what you want / need. I mention SPS since they're relatively close to you.
Ditmar
----- Original Message -----
From: "JoHanna Haines"
To:
Sent: Saturday, May 04, 2002 4:29 AM
Subject: outdoor electric kiln?
> Hello!
>
> I have a question (or 2 or 3) and was hoping some of you could advise me.
>
> I am in the process of picking out my first kiln and am wondering about
the
> possiblilty of it being housed outside my studio. My husband will build
its
> own hut~ roof, walls, door.
> My questions are :
> 1. will the cold temps of Montana winters affect the computer of the
kiln
>
> 2. would I still have to vent the kiln being that it would be outside
>
> 3. if not, will the atmosphere in the kiln be affected by not venting
>
> I do have room in the studio if that would be better overall, but was
hoping
> to do the firings outside.
>
> Thanks for you help. I appreciate this group and the information that I
> gleen from it.
>
> JoHanna
>
>
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>
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>
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melpots@pclink.com.
>
Earl Brunner on sat 4 may 02
Extra insulation may not be a bad idea, but I'm not sure that the
"temperature differential" would make much difference, a hundred degrees
is a hundred degrees. We as humans are most conscious of the hundred or
so that constitute the range that we normally live in and tend to
compare all other temperatures to that "norm". If the kiln stays dry,
and is not subjected to the additional problems that can come with
freezing and thawing water, then whether it's 100 degrees outside or 0
degrees shouldn't make much difference. We fire at the top end normally
between 1800 and 2400 degrees, cooling from that down to 100 or to 0
really isn't that much different.
Earl Brunner
mailto:bruec@anv.net
http://coyote.accessnv.com/bruec
-----Original Message-----
From: Ceramic Arts Discussion List [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On
Behalf Of Ditmar
Sent: Saturday, May 04, 2002 10:43 AM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Re: outdoor electric kiln?
Only a thought in case you haven't decided on / or bought your kiln
yet........
If you're housing it outdoors and firing through the winter, get one
built
with an extra insulation layer to make it more efficient. Given the
temperature differential there, it will pay for itself in power savings
in
the long run. Don't know what brands you're looking at, but I start with
a
stock model from Seattle Pottery Supply ( 800-522-1975 ) and have them
build it with options I choose. Prices are competitive and you get
exactly
what you want / need. I mention SPS since they're relatively close to
you.
Ditmar
Matt MacIntire on sat 4 may 02
JoHanna,
I've had an electric kiln out on my porch for several years with no ill
effects. =20
I live in Maryland, so it doesn't get as cold here as it does in
Montana. I don't think the cold would effect anything except heat loss
while firing. Another 100 degree difference between inside the kiln and
the air outside would make the kiln lose heat faster, but I wouldn't
think it would keep it from reaching temperature. I've fired when
temperatures were below freezing, but never when it's been below zero.
It just doesn't get that cold here. =20
My kiln has only a kiln sitter, without any elctronic controller. I
would think that the controller electronics would be completely
uneffected by the cold. The only think the cold might effect might be
the calibration of the pyrometer...?? Perhaps someone else will
comment on that. You'd probably be using cones anyway.
For myself, I was more concerned about corrosion from the moist air than
about the cold. I have the kiln in a location where it is sheltered by
walls on two sides, but open on the other two. In this location it can
NEVER rain directly onto the kiln, no matter how hard it blows. Damp
air can certainly get to the kiln, but this hasn't been a problem so
far.
Venting is a non-issue. The smoke and fumes just drift out through the
screens. I don't have any active ventilation system - just the breeze.
good luck
Matt
Carol Tripp on sun 5 may 02
Hi JoHanna,
The controller on my kiln is good from 32-125F (0-52C). It's a Dynatrol on
an L&L but I think that it is the standard controller that's on lots of
other kilns but using different names. If you know the kiln and controller
you want, why not inquire directly with the kiln manufacturer? It's in
their interest to be full of info and advice about how you could use their
products.
I live in Dubai and it's extremes of heat and humidity I watch out for. My
kiln is on the back porch, open on one side and in the direct sun all
morning. I bring my controller inside at the end of May; 40C and 100%
humidity and I don't want to be outside on the porch either.
As for venting, I do. I read alot in the Archives and the consensus of
opinion was that even if the kiln is outside and there is no danger of
anyone breathing the firing fumes, it is better to vent than not.
Best regards,
Carol
I am trying to remember what a wind chill feels like. I know what a hot
sandstorm is like...
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GrampaG@AOL.COM on mon 6 may 02
Hello JoHanna,
My kiln has never been fired indoors. It has been outside for almost four
years. The big issue is moisture/condensation. About the electronics,
there's
usually a temperature range for operation in all electronic gadgets. My
guess, and it's only a guess, is that if you can get the kiln started, a
warming up period would overcome the condensation issue. Cracking of the
boards might be something to think about. Perhaps a warming light could help
you out.
The outside temperature isn't as important to the firing because the
environmental temperature is such a small fraction of the firing range. If
you are concerned about too rapid cooling, that might be controlled by kiln
programming, or by a thermal blanket during the cooling phase.
My lid's hinge screws, hinges and handle rusted out early on and dumped some
gratuitous iron oxide onto a couple of pieces so I replaced them with
Stainless and that was that. The link chain that restrains the lid is going
to be replaced with Stainless wire soon.
My kiln is housed in a home made aluminum barrel with hooded vents in the
top, and abundant clearance on all sides, more than enough so the kiln
sitter
can fly off without obstruction. The aluminum is sheathed in a loose heavy
duty plastic dress that keeps the unit completely dry. I fire without the
sheathed barrel in place, and only put it on when the firing is complete,
leave it on overnight during cooldown, take it off in the morning to empty
the kiln, and put it back in place until the next firing.
The kiln may not live as long as I'd like, but then again I might not
either.
Bob Goode
Morristown, New Jersey
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