Lily Krakowski on wed 19 mar 03
Arnold's reminder about overfiring kilns made me think about novices.
There is this fierce excitement about getting a a kiln of one's own.
Actually a kiln is the central investment as all the other stuff is SO much
cheaper, and, except for clay, can be done without or home made.
In the excitement, cautions are thrown to the wind. Zoning codes, fire
codes,electrical/building codes are ignored and a sort of overexcited
Isadora Duncan dance begins...oh so lovely and graceful but also--forgive
me--a bit foolish.
If I were asked (I have not been) an electric kiln is more like a cat, and a
fuel-burner more like a dog. An electric kiln, like a cat, demands little,
and can be left unsupervised for short times. More importantly it can be
turned up or off by people who are not potters. A fuel-burner is more like
a dog. It is very demanding, requires constant supervision while firing,
needs highly knowledgable people to manage it, barks and bites fiercely if
unhappy.
Electric kilns --to the best of my knowledge--rarely have problems with what
I simply will call The Authorities. Fuel-burners may require variances and
permits. Electric and fuel-burning kilns are NOT the same in the sense that
one can glide from the one to the other as soon as one has money and space.
(" I was limited to this little puss, now I can get a Rotweiler!")
Having said that, please, think and research a lot first, and move
cautiously.
Lili Krakowski
P.O. Box #1
Constableville, N.Y.
(315) 942-5916/ 397-2389
Be of good courage....
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