Lorraine Pierce on fri 3 jan 03
Mel I have the opportunity to build an Oregon Flat Top next summer in =
Maine on the island of Vinalhaven. The only LP gas arrives by boat in =
100 pound cylinders. Can I hook them up in tandem and fuel this 11 cu ft =
kiln that way? If so how many would I need for a ^10 reduction firing? =
Have you any experience with this kiln fired with kerosene or oil? I =
have Nils book, and have also posted him at the university. I will be =
grateful for any help in the right direction! Thank you, Lori Pierce in =
New Port Richey, Fl.
Nick Molatore on sun 5 jan 03
I built a kiln that is basically the Oregon Flat Top from Nils' book. =
It takes about 15 gallons of propane to fire to cone 10 in about 5 1/2 =
to 6 hours. The chimney is only about 7 feet tall. I use two small =
burners (GAMR750 raku burners). You can get these with a adjustable =
regulator and hose for about $100 each from pottery suppliers. I was =
able to save some $ by getting the hose and regulator separately from a =
propane distributor, and just buying the burners for about 35.00 each. =
I did make one change from the design in book. I first had the burners =
arranged like in the book, with both burners in the back (by the flue), =
pointed towards the front (opposite the flue opening). This resulted in =
a cold area on the top back. I moved one of the burner to the front, =
pointed towards the back. This creates a circular flow through the =
kiln. I also had to make bag walls out of shelves (bricks a too thick) =
that go about 1/2 way up. Without these, the kiln was hot on the bottom =
and cold on top. With this configuration, I get very even firing. =20
Each burner is connected to its own 15 gallon propane tank. I get two =
firings from full tanks. When the tanks are nearly empty on the second =
fire, I have to put the tanks in a trough of water about 1 foot deep =
because the tanks freeze and the pressure drops. I have a couple of 5 =
gallon tank just in case the big tank empty before the fire is done. I =
have had to use these a few times. The entire kiln, bricks, steel, =
burners and tanks, was made for about $750.00
My firing schedule is:
1 hour on very low to make sure everything is dried out. Burners set a =
low as possible but still drawing air (blue flame instead of yellow)
Turn up to 3 PSI on both the burners up to cone 010, flue wide open, =
about 2 hours
Turn up to 9 PSI on both the burners up to cone 10, flue adjusted to =
moderate reduction (flame coming out peep hole that is about 1/3 up from =
the bottom)
This is a pretty fast firing and so obviously everything is bisque =
fired. I even bisque my cone plaques (they only have 9,10,11, I use a =
pyrometer to determine when to put the kiln into reduction)
I have fired it about 20 times over the past year and it is a great =
little kiln!
-Nick
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Mel I have the opportunity to build an Oregon Flat Top next summer in =
Maine on the island of Vinalhaven. The only LP gas arrives by boat in =
100 pound cylinders. Can I hook them up in tandem and fuel this 11 cu ft =
kiln that way? If so how many would I need for a ^10 reduction firing? =
Have you any experience with this kiln fired with kerosene or oil? I =
have Nils book, and have also posted him at the university. I will be =
grateful for any help in the right direction! Thank you, Lori Pierce in =
New Port Richey, Fl.
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