Ken Nowicki on fri 15 oct 04
In a message dated 10/14/04, mel wrote:
the gas/electric kiln would never work without itc.
howard axner has it on all the kilns he sells. perhaps
the best electrics around. L&L is working right now with
a hybrid. most of you have seen ken's posts.
it will be a marvelous kiln. feriz is giving ken the itc.
it is a gift that i asked feriz to make. people working hard
to do something brand new.
Mel is correct. The gas/electric reduction 'hybrid" kiln wouldn't be possible
without the use of ITC, especially on the elements. They would disintegrate
in no time without it. At least, that is my understanding after doing my own
research before "taking the leap" to build my own 'hybrid' with L&L.
It is a very exciting project for me. I've been working towards it since
NCECA last March. I will try my best to document the project and submit an article
for publication so I can share this information with the potting community
once all is said and done.
Personally, I think this is important stuff for studio potters... especially
for those that don't have the space or means to install a gas reduction kiln
in or outside their small studios... many of us have basement studios, or
garage studios... live in residential areas, etc. Nothing wrong at all with firing
electric kilns as is either... this just opens up more possibilities is all.
One thing my Dad instilled in me from a very early age, he said "If you're
going to take the time to do something, do it right the first time... that way
you won't have to go back and do it again later". I rarely do anything
half-assed, yet sometimes this backfires... as it takes me longer than most to
complete a project (drives my wife nuts too!)... yet in the end... my results are
usually something I'm quite proud of. Some call this trait 'meticulous',
'perfectionist', or worse... 'anal retentive'... I prefer to call it "thorough"
. Either way, this cone 10 reduction gas/electric "hybrid" kiln will be no
exception. I'm investing a great deal of time and money into this kiln to make it
the best that I can. It will have plenty of "bells and whistles" too... you
will read more about that later in the article. And... when all is said
and done... I just pray that it fires the way I hope it does... as there is
some unchartered ground here in it's design... and it will require some
extensive testing and fine-tuning, I'm sure.
Mel is confident it will work fine. God bless him. He has been my pillar of
support, cheerleader, and personal consultant through this entire project from
"day one" when I first discussed my "idea" with him last March in
Indianapolis. Speaking of which, I had no idea about Mel's discussion with Feriz, as far
as asking Feriz to donate the ITC to my project until I read about it here on
Clayart yesterday. What a guy. Damn.
For the record, I am paying for the ITC on this project. It was my intention
from the beginning. However, Feriz kindly offered to give me a generous
discount of 50% off retail for this particular project. He didn't need to do that.
He doesn't really need my business. I am 'small potatoes' to the stuff he sells
to huge gigantic corporations around the globe. He is a very kind man, and I
sense he shares the sense of excitement I feel about this kiln project. I am
grateful for getting the opportunity to get to know him... I only regret that I
didn't get to meet his lovely wife, Alice, before she passed away in recent
years.
For now... all that remains is scheduling a time frame to build this thing at
L&L's factory. All the necessary parts have been ordered, materials gathered
(mostly)... and Steve Lewicki and I need to coordinate our schedules so that
we can plan a time to do the construction. We had planned on doing it back
during the week of the Republican Nat'l Convention, but Steve had last minute pl
ans to be in Europe, so it was canceled. Now, my wife has several business trips
planned out of the country herself, and that has complicated things... as I
need to be here to cover for her while she is gone. We'll find a time. Get it
done. It'll happen. Great things take time, no? :-)
Best regards,
- Ken
Kenneth J. Nowicki
Port Washington, NY
RakuArtist@aol.com
Charter Member/Potters Council
| |
|
