Sandy Meadors on tue 27 jan 04
Hi
I am trying to decide if I want to spend the money for a new kiln. I am not
handy with repairs and my kiln has broken bricks at the bottom from moving
it and dropping it. So the bottom is not securely flush with the stand. I
have a round Crusader. I would like to get a kiln with computer controls so
I can learn how to do soak, slow fireups and slow cooling. My kiln was on
my back porch for many years and the controls are rusty and crusty. It
still will fire, but I'm not sure how safe it will be in my garage where it
has never been fired since we moved. I don't have a vent and I have been
reading about how necessary a vent is to get good glaze color. I have
access to an electric kiln at our local collage where I am doing glaze
testing and some clay work for now. I do want to start working at home,
though. I am a retired art teacher who wants to get into my own work in
clay and do some art fairs and see if I have what it takes to succeed. I am
60, and not extremely healthy. So working in clay is not a necessity
financially, since I am retired with a pension. (And I earned every penny
of it-believe me) Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed teaching, but not the
politics and crap one has to deal with. I do miss the kids though.
But..here's the deal. Should I bite the bullet and have someone help me fix
my old kiln and add a vent, or buy a new one? I probably shouldn't spend
the money, but that hasn't stopped me before. Will there be deals at NCECA?
I live in Indy, so shipping wouldn't be a problem for a display model. Is
this a good idea? I really love working with clay. And Beatrice Wood and
Lucie Rie are my heroes. So I don't think I'm too old to get going with
clay. I taken done a lot of clay in classes over the years, but never
really buckled down and spent a lot of quality time on it. But I do so
enjoy it when I do.
Advice anyone?
Sandy Meadors
syrylyn@iq.quik.com
http://syrylynrainbowdragon.tripod.com/arts.html
"Magic Happens"
william schran on tue 27 jan 04
Sandy wrote:> Should I bite the bullet and have someone help me fix
my old kiln and add a vent, or buy a new one?
Well it all depends on what you plan to do with the kiln -
temperature you want to fire to and the capabilities of the kiln.
I remember having a Crusader kiln back in graduate school - used it
for crystalline glaze firings to cone 10 - so I think it's capable of
doing just about anything you want.
Think of it like a car - do you get rid of a car that needs some
repairs or do I buy a new one? If the old kiln is going to cost
several hundred dollars to fix and a new kiln is going to cost a
thousand bucks - well maybe the old kiln will do just fine.
Get someone who does kiln repairs to take a look to see what it'll
cost to fix (might be able to place a hi temp fiber board between
floor and stand and not have to replace floor brick) before setting
your heart on a new kiln. Don't forget, you may have to buy new kiln
furniture also.
Bill
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