Hank Murrow on tue 13 apr 04
Dear Pam;
Greeting from sunny Eugene! The main difference with propane is that it
is heavier than air. If there is a leak, it is imperative that a way be
found to let the leaking gas flow outside the building instead of
'pooling' in the structure. At Penland, in the glass studios, they cast
a trench in the floor under the furnaces (8" deep) which drained to the
outside. Worked great. Just imagine your propane is wtaer, and follow
the trail to see if it pools anywhere inside. If it does, modify the
building to let it drain.
Cheers, Hank in Eugene, where in Oregon are you?
www.murrow.biz/hank
On Apr 13, 2004, at 6:19 PM, Pamela Regentin wrote:
> I've been cruising through the archives doing research for my kiln
> building adventure. I'm feeling extremely overwhelmed and inadequate
> for this task of constructing a downdraft propane fueled fire
> contraption but after twenty years as a potter, my own reduction kiln
> is my dearest, fondest desire...
>
> The first step in making my dream come true was a place to put the
> thing. My husband built a beautiful new barn and last year added a
> wing to it for my glazing studio/kiln room. I am now questioning the
> wisdom of having the kiln in the barn. I would like some input on what
> experienced people think of having a propane kiln in a room attached
> to a two story barn. The tank would be outside behind the building.
> The room has concrete floors, high ceiling (8-12ft. lean-to type) with
> metal roof. We were going to put cement board on the wood walls around
> the kiln, with at least three feet of clearance of course. Is it
> unwise to have the kiln in the building? Of course we could build a
> shelter outside for it but I was certainly looking forward to firing
> in the relative coziness of this room during our nine months of rainy
> Oregon weather!
Pamela Regentin on tue 13 apr 04
I've been cruising through the archives doing research for my kiln building adventure. I'm feeling extremely overwhelmed and inadequate for this task of constructing a downdraft propane fueled fire contraption but after twenty years as a potter, my own reduction kiln is my dearest, fondest desire...
The first step in making my dream come true was a place to put the thing. My husband built a beautiful new barn and last year added a wing to it for my glazing studio/kiln room. I am now questioning the wisdom of having the kiln in the barn. I would like some input on what experienced people think of having a propane kiln in a room attached to a two story barn. The tank would be outside behind the building. The room has concrete floors, high ceiling (8-12ft. lean-to type) with metal roof. We were going to put cement board on the wood walls around the kiln, with at least three feet of clearance of course. Is it unwise to have the kiln in the building? Of course we could build a shelter outside for it but I was certainly looking forward to firing in the relative coziness of this room during our nine months of rainy Oregon weather!
Another question is about the door: it seems that the recommendation is for a car kiln if you don't like to brick up doors (I don't). What are the difficulties of having a hinged door?
I'm so overwhelmed with coming up for a design and materials list. I can't find anything and I don't feel like I can do it all myself. Does anyone know where I can get a design for a "standard" downdraft, sprung arch built for the depth of two or three 12x24" shelves? I saw that there is a video that shows the building of such a kiln including plans and materials list. It sounds like a great help to me. Does anyone know if it's worth the time and money? It's with Graham Sheehan and at potteryvideos.com.
Thank you for any advice!
Pam
"But now, O Lord, thou art our father;
we are the clay, and thou our potter;
and we all are the work of thy hand."
---------------------------------
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Kathi LeSueur on wed 14 apr 04
clayvessel2@YAHOO.COM wrote:
>I've been cruising through the archives doing research for my kiln building adventure. I'm feeling extremely overwhelmed and inadequate for this task of constructing a downdraft propane fueled fire contraption but after twenty years as a potter, my own reduction kiln is my dearest, fondest desire...
>
>
>
>
I suggest you get a copy of the CM article I.B. Remsen wrote last year
on the "Abernathy kiln". It's one of the easiest kilns to build and fire
that you can find. I've used a variation of it for 30 years. There are
lots of kilns of this design in the Ann Arbor, MI area.
Kathi
Gary Navarre on wed 14 apr 04
> I've been cruising through the archives doing research for my kiln
> building adventure. I'm feeling extremely overwhelmed and inadequate for
> this task of constructing a downdraft propane fueled fire contraption but
> after twenty years as a potter, my own reduction kiln is my dearest,
> fondest desire...
>
> The first step in making my dream come true was a place to put the thing.
> My husband built a beautiful new barn and last year added a wing to it for
> my glazing studio/kiln room. I am now questioning the wisdom of having the
> kiln in the barn. I would like some input on what experienced people think
> of having a propane kiln in a room attached to a two story barn. The tank
> would be outside behind the building. The room has concrete floors, high
> ceiling (8-12ft. lean-to type) with metal roof. We were going to put
> cement board on the wood walls around the kiln, with at least three feet
> of clearance of course. Is it unwise to have the kiln in the building? Of
> course we could build a shelter outside for it but I was certainly looking
> forward to firing in the relative coziness of this room during our nine
> months of rainy Oregon weather!
>
> Another question is about the door: it seems that the recommendation is
> for a car kiln if you don't like to brick up doors (I don't). What are the
> difficulties of having a hinged door?
>
> I'm so overwhelmed with coming up for a design and materials list. I
> can't find anything and I don't feel like I can do it all myself. Does
> anyone know where I can get a design for a "standard" downdraft, sprung
> arch built for the depth of two or three 12x24" shelves? I saw that there
> is a video that shows the building of such a kiln including plans and
> materials list. It sounds like a great help to me. Does anyone know if
> it's worth the time and money? It's with Graham Sheehan and at
> potteryvideos.com.
>
> Thank you for any advice!
> Pam
>
>
> "But now, O Lord, thou art our father;
> we are the clay, and thou our potter;
> and we all are the work of thy hand."
>
> ---------------------------------
> Do you Yahoo!?
> Yahoo! Tax Center - File online by April 15th
>
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Pamela,
G. from da U.P.. Danial Rhodes, "Kilns,Design,construction,and
operation." That helped me start learning everything I needed to know to
build the kilns I needed.I choose wood as my fuel however all practical
fuels are covered.
Indoors is safe,just use your head. I recall a gas kiln I got hooked up
with in Detroit after leaving Venice around 1970. The guy that built it
was going to "Arts & Crafts"(Center for Creative Studies) and the kiln
was at 7 mile and Mack Ave.. His father was in the heating and cooling
business and let Bob help.He got the bright idea we would save on brick
if we vented through the heating ducting.Somehow the thought of 2300
degrees and galvanize did not appeal to me and after a lot of haggling I
convinced him to put the stack through the roof where it belonged. I
needed to go to class at Eastern Mich. so I took off for a few days.He
was also a wiz at construction. I got back just after the fireing
started.About the time it got to 1500 he/we found out it is a good idea
to have a generous opening for a stack in a wood and tar flat roof. We
had to shut it down and get out the garden hoses. The next day I made
the opening big enough. Needless to say I soon bought a 10speed and took
off to Traverse City to draw pictures and pick fruit.
If you got a metal roof just make certain you have at least 3 feet
clearence to your trusses and use flashing to vent yet keep out the
weather.Hope to see your new pots soon.
Gary Navarre
Navarre Pottery
Norway, Mich.
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