Lili Krakowski on thu 16 mar 06
(Sounds like an episode of "Lost")
In November 1981 CM Miska F Petersham, working at that time on Fiji Island,
had an article about A Castable Kiln.
He published three recipes.
Castable Kiln Body I
Alumina Hydrate 1
Coarse grog 4
Coarse Sawdust 3
Fireclay 4
Portland Cement 2
Vermiculite 2
All parts by volume
Castable Kiln Body II
Coarse Grog 2
Coarse Sawdust 2
Fireclay 2
Refractory Cement such as Sairset 1
Portland Cement 1
Vermiculite 2
All parts by volume. Petersham warns that the critical ingredient is the
Portland cement. Too little and the mix dries too slowly on the catenary
arch frame, too much and the castable sags at c., 10.
The stuff is mixed like cement.
Castable Insulation Body (Applied to outside of kiln:
Fireclay 4
Kentucky Ball Clay 2
Portland Cement 2
Sawdust 2
Vermiculite 3
Andrew Holden has this in his "The Self-Reliant Potter"
High Tempeature Insulating Bricks Fire to 1200 to 1300 degrees C.
China Clay 1 part
Sawdust 1 part
Mix with water. he uses homemade wooden molds
He adds that crushed old HTI bricks can be added. Shrinkage of bricks about
15%
He also adds taht "the potter Mike Dodd" built his kiln raw, "with a hot
face skin of unfired china clay, and sawdust bricks. He fired the bricks
when firing the kiln.
Outer Skin Insulating Blocks
Any ball clay 4.5 paarts
Coal cinders or coal ash 4.5 parts
Cement 1 part.
These are dried in the sun. He found wooden frames (molds) sanded, 6 x 9 x
18, and 9 x 9 x 4.5 the most convenient size.
His mortar is
Lime 10 parts
Sand 30 Parts
Cement 1 part.
This list for whoever asked, the other day, about making kiln building
materials.
Holden suggests mixing on a concrete floor or on a sheet of plastic
(assuming one does not have a mixer.) I have found that a largish
wheelbarrow works fine for concrete and should do for this. The barrow can
"go" to the building site to carry the dry materials, and then used to mix
the stuff in....
Lili Krakowski
Be of good courage
| |
|
