James Bledsoe on sun 1 dec 02
i think that what you have described is like trying to change the sheets
with out taking the blankets off
> My Minnesota Flat Top is due to be rebuilt after years of firing. I need
to
> get a couple of more firings before I tear down and rebuild. Aproximate
20
> some bricks have dropped and broke in half in the center of the roof. The
> upper half of the bricks remain and seem secure. The remaining bricks are
> irregular in shape. The rows had been mortared and I hope to avoid
removing
> the whole 2 rows of brick. The question is how can I do a repair. Any
ideas.
>
>
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Paul Herman on sun 1 dec 02
Greetings to all kiln builders,
Specifically, to Cindy:
You ask:
The question is how can I do a repair. Any ideas.
Here's an Idea. First, tear down that ridiculous flat roof and build a
real arch to replace it. Use arch brick, or file/saw down your
straights. It's easy. Of course a flat top is gonna fall down. Just look
at it.
I recently got a letter from a friend reporting crumbling and failure of
one of those flat top kilns.
he said:
"Minnesotta flat top which she just had more arch put in as it was
collapsing."
When I asked, he informed me she had put up a sprung arch to replace it.
I thought "Good move!"
Now why would someone want a flat top when they could have an arch?
Think about the Roman aqueducts or Arches National Monument. They stood
the test of gravity, and time.
It seems to me that when a brick arch heats up, it expands and swells
upward, and contracts downward upon cooling. When a flat top heats up,
it expands sideways, mostly on the hot face, and contracts likewise.
Gravity takes its toll. To me, the design seems inherently weak.
Curved structures are stronger than flat ones. Think of a piece of metal
conduit or an eggshell. Flames like to go through curves, not corners.
C'mon, someone defend those hokey damn things. The bricks crack off and
drop out of them. Why build a kiln that is susceptible to roof failure?
Because it's different?
Standing up for the arch,
Paul Herman
Great Basin Pottery
423-725 Scott Road
Doyle, California 96109 US
potter@psln.com
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>From: Cindy
> My Minnesota Flat Top is due to be rebuilt after years of firing. I need to
> get a couple of more firings before I tear down and rebuild. Aproximate 20
> some bricks have dropped and broke in half in the center of the roof. The
> upper half of the bricks remain and seem secure. The remaining bricks are
> irregular in shape. The rows had been mortared and I hope to avoid removing
> the whole 2 rows of brick. The question is how can I do a repair. Any ideas.
Cindy on sun 1 dec 02
My Minnesota Flat Top is due to be rebuilt after years of firing. I need to
get a couple of more firings before I tear down and rebuild. Aproximate 20
some bricks have dropped and broke in half in the center of the roof. The
upper half of the bricks remain and seem secure. The remaining bricks are
irregular in shape. The rows had been mortared and I hope to avoid removing
the whole 2 rows of brick. The question is how can I do a repair. Any ideas.
Tjo62@AOL.COM on mon 2 dec 02
My flat top keeps dropping bricks from the roof too. I intend to build an
arch this spring. However, I wanted one more firing before my holiday sale.
So, I put in the original wooden roof board and proped it up. Then I used a
jack to push up the center just a bit. Next, I loosened all the corner bolts
and jacked up the center some more. I could then drop (sometimes hammer) new
bricks into the holes where some of my bricks had fallen through. Last, I
retightened all the corner bolts and took out jack, props, and roof board. I
was able to get the last firing in. But it is still going to get an arch
come spring. Tonya in Louisville, KY
Dannon Rhudy on mon 2 dec 02
......... Of course a flat top is gonna fall down. > I recently got a letter
from
a friend reporting crumbling and failure of one of those flat top
kilns......
I've fired a flat top for a number of years, now, and have
had no problems with it. No bricks fall out (except for the time
the maintenance man walked across the top of it, but that is
another story).
Flat tops need to be re-tightened from time to time, check it
with a torque wrench periodically - once a year or so.
If I DID need to fix a flat top or any other kiln top, I'd take
it down and do it over. Stop-gap measures often end up being
costly in the long run. May as well do it
right - no point in risking your whole firing.
regards
Dannon Rhudy
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