Earl Brunner on fri 26 jul 02
Rob, it might convert to a nice raku kiln, I would be careful trying to
take higher than it's original electrical rating. Often, the brick
rating is a factor with kilns that have limits like this.
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 Rob Van Rens
Sent: Friday, July 26, 2002 7:20 AM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: converting a kiln
Okay, here's my question.
I have acquired a kiln (actually, I think it was abandoned in my
driveway
late one night by a friend). It is a small kiln. It is an old kiln.
It is
a heavily used kiln. It is not, however, a working kiln.
It is, in fact, a top-loading square economy kiln, max firing temp 2000
degrees, etc. The wiring has been chewed by something, the controller
is
missing, and the elements are completely shot.
What I'm wondering is this...is it feasible to convert this small
electric
kiln to a propane-fired gas kiln? Keep in mind the inside is slightly
less
than a cubic foot, so I'm think about something that will run off of a
40#
cylinder.
I've been quoted $130 for the parts neccessary to restore the kiln to
electric. The kiln repair guy said that the firebrick is in good shape,
and
the outside housing is in good shape. Could a conversion be effected for
about this price?
Rob Van Rens on fri 26 jul 02
Okay, here's my question.
I have acquired a kiln (actually, I think it was abandoned in my driveway
late one night by a friend). It is a small kiln. It is an old kiln. It is
a heavily used kiln. It is not, however, a working kiln.
It is, in fact, a top-loading square economy kiln, max firing temp 2000
degrees, etc. The wiring has been chewed by something, the controller is
missing, and the elements are completely shot.
What I'm wondering is this...is it feasible to convert this small electric
kiln to a propane-fired gas kiln? Keep in mind the inside is slightly less
than a cubic foot, so I'm think about something that will run off of a 40#
cylinder.
I've been quoted $130 for the parts neccessary to restore the kiln to
electric. The kiln repair guy said that the firebrick is in good shape, and
the outside housing is in good shape. Could a conversion be effected for
about this price?
I'm not even sure where to begin looking for information regarding this
proccess, so any help would be quite welcome.
Thanks, and I appreciate it very much.
Robert Van Rens, Workshop Coordinator
Otto Kroeger Associates
703-591-6284, x110 Phone
703-591-8338 Fax
www.typetalk.com
John Post on fri 26 jul 02
Hi Robert,
Heres what I would do if I wanted to make your small electric into a propane
fired kiln.
Call Marc Ward at Ward Burner and get him to send you his raku burner setup
minus the burner.
What you will be getting is a regulator and the hose hook up for the propane
tank. Then from Frey Scientific get a small propane burner, they have one
that they call a high temp burner that will run on bottle gas (propane).
Use a band clamp to attach the small burner to the hose. The cost of these
two items together will be around $150.
Then drill a small hole through the floor of the kiln, and a larger hole at
the top. The propane burner goes underneath the kiln and a piece of kiln
shelf can be used as a damper.
I fired a 2 cubic foot kiln with a similar setup for raku and hit 1850
degrees easily, I'm sure higher temps are possible.
Even though this setup has a regulator, there is no safety shutoff so the
kiln must be monitored through the entire firing.
These directions are a tad brief, but I just wanted to give you an overview
of the process. Steve Branfman's Book "Raku A Practical Approach" has some
thorough directions on how to convert an electric kiln to a gas kiln. (Ward
Burner's number is in Ceramic's Monthly, and you can find Frey Scientific on
the web.)
Cheers,
John Post
Robert Wrote:
It is, in fact, a top-loading square economy kiln, max firing temp 2000
degrees, etc. The wiring has been chewed by something, the controller is
missing, and the elements are completely shot.
What I'm wondering is this...is it feasible to convert this small electric
kiln to a propane-fired gas kiln? Keep in mind the inside is slightly less
than a cubic foot, so I'm think about something that will run off of a 40#
cylinder.
I've been quoted $130 for the parts neccessary to restore the kiln to
electric. The kiln repair guy said that the firebrick is in good shape, and
the outside housing is in good shape. Could a conversion be effected for
about this price?
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