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been offered a gas kiln....

updated fri 8 oct 04

 

Jonathan Kirkendall on wed 6 oct 04


Hi all,

I was at a street fair on Sunday and a woman offered me a downdraft gas
kiln that's been in her backyard for 20 years. She thinks it's a
California kiln, but not sure. I"m going to look at it tomorrow, and
would appreciate any input in terms of questions to ask, things to look
for, etc.

While I currently fire cone six oxidation, I cut my pottery teeth on
cone 10 reduction, and have fired a California kiln within the past few
years, so it's not completely new to me.

I'm taking my digital camera and will take some shots of it.

Any suggestions?

Jonathan in DC

Claire Beck on wed 6 oct 04


Jonathan,
I am far from knowledgeable when it comes to kilns,(or, for that matter,
glazes, or clay, or...) but this information might be helpful to you if you
decide to acquire the kiln. I'll abridge. While shopping for a new kiln to
replace my (ruined-by-the-gas-company) California kiln, I was told that the
design of the California kiln required unusually high pressure; the high
pressure requirement resulted in an increased danger of line rupture and
injury. I plan to try to have my lines replaced by sturdier ones, in hopes
that I can continue to use the kiln (as a bisque kiln).

New kiln is here, btw, and, thanks to the generous help of _Those Who Know
How_ on Clayart, has a nice new home and will go into operation as soon as
the SAT tutoring season calms down a bit.

--Claire


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Donald G. Goldsobel on thu 7 oct 04


I hate to use the word "absurd" but I think it applies here. The pressure in
a natural gas line in a residential setting is very low. The thought that
the black or galvanized pie would rupture under these pressures is not a
reasonable expectation. The pressure is measured in ounces, not hundreds of
pounds. Such lines and joints are used to carry water at pressures over a
hundred pounds. I think someone has misstated the facts to you.

Donald
----- Original Message -----
From: "Claire Beck"
To:
Sent: Wednesday, October 06, 2004 1:15 PM
Subject: Re: been offered a gas kiln....


> Jonathan,
> I am far from knowledgeable when it comes to kilns,(or, for that matter,
> glazes, or clay, or...) but this information might be helpful to you if
you
> decide to acquire the kiln. I'll abridge. While shopping for a new kiln
to
> replace my (ruined-by-the-gas-company) California kiln, I was told that
the
> design of the California kiln required unusually high pressure; the high
> pressure requirement resulted in an increased danger of line rupture and
> injury. I plan to try to have my lines replaced by sturdier ones, in
hopes
> that I can continue to use the kiln (as a bisque kiln).
>
> New kiln is here, btw, and, thanks to the generous help of _Those Who
Know
> How_ on Clayart, has a nice new home and will go into operation as soon as
> the SAT tutoring season calms down a bit.
>
> --Claire
>
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
> ----
>
>
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