mel jacobson on mon 13 nov 06
kurt and i have tried a rather wide range
of fiber and boards for kilns.
the one thing that we know for sure.
the fiber board has very low heat retention, and
it breaks like mad.
and, we don't like the collapse of a roof of a flat top
at 2355F.
you would need at least a four inch thick piece of
board (we call it M board)....and it would have to
be held in place...can't have the wind blow it off.
thick M board would be rather pricey and then
not close to a permanent solution. you would need at
least two as backups.
we like brick...will always like brick for roofs.
kurt made a fold up M board kiln that had tabs like
a doll house. he folded it all up in the back of
his truck, and set it
up in about twenty minutes. like a tent.
we called it the `cardboard kiln`.
worked fine, but fell apart in no time flat.
no structure.
think of the R value of any structure. one inch
of board is not equal to one inch of fiber.
feriz delkic makes his fiber roofs at least 12 inches thick.
and they are supported with 1/4 inch expanded metal and wires running
through the entire structure. they are really well made.
M board makes some very fun, quick raku kilns...sort of
educational and easy, great demo kilns. but, for permanent structure
that is safe...use brick. the disaster on the other side is too icky
to imagine to save ten bucks.
mel
from: mel/minnetonka.mn.usa
website: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/
Clayart page link: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/clayart.html
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