buckeye Posted November 22, 2011 Report Share Posted November 22, 2011 So some of you might know from other posts but I started throwing about a year ago and my friend has been firing for me. He bought a kiln a few years ago and also was one of the factors of me getting into pottery. Recently I have been looking hard fo a kiln and havent been able to find much. Either to small, to old, TO MUCH.. so I have been patiently waiting for the right deal. My friend said he didnt mind firing for me but he works full time and I knew it was taking up his time plus he lives about 20 minuites away and every trip there with unfired pots I was lucky if only one broke. My friend kept telling me to take his, the only time he uses it is when he is firing my stuff so as much as I hated doing it I finally took him up on it. I had to put a new breaker in my box, run wiring, move and re-organize some stuff but I finally got it done today! I started loading the kiln and was ready to put my first shelf in when I realized I left the shelves at his house! Oh well, getting the shelves from him is the easy part and I am ready to go besides that, cant wait to start firing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JBaymore Posted November 22, 2011 Report Share Posted November 22, 2011 Congratulations! Having your own kiln of any type is a great milestone in the life of being a potter. best, ..............john Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benhim Posted November 22, 2011 Report Share Posted November 22, 2011 Congratulations! Having your own kiln of any type is a great milestone in the life of being a potter. best, ..............john hey alright man, good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Campbell Posted November 22, 2011 Report Share Posted November 22, 2011 Now the real fun begins!! Enjoy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
claclana Posted November 23, 2011 Report Share Posted November 23, 2011 Cool!! firing your work is so exciting! I am using an old kiln but recently bought from Craig'slist a bigger one! can't wait start using it, but as always, lots of twickings have to come first: breaker, makiing the room, leveling, etc etc, we all know about those things, don't we!? finding solutions before starting is just a small part of it...but there is the satisfaction waiting!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynny Posted November 23, 2011 Report Share Posted November 23, 2011 Hi Buckeye. what wonderful news!! Huge congratulations this is an exciting time- my first kiln was a small top loader, very very old and no instructions- all for $300. A fun learning curve followed where every kiln opening taught me another lesson. i'm now onto my 3rd second hand kiln and still hoping one day I will be able to get a 'new' one. Enjoy the journey cheers, Lyn ps thanks for the tips on resizing images, I'm sure i'm sorted now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckeye Posted November 23, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2011 thanks everyone! my first bisque firing is well on its way! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denice Posted November 23, 2011 Report Share Posted November 23, 2011 Good luck with your new kiln, I still use my first kiln a small used paragon, I have rebuilt it a couple of times over the past 30 years. I also have a large used Skutt and a new small test kiln. People are always calling me to sell me a used kiln but I am happy with the ones I have, if your not careful they tend to multiply. Denice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meisie Posted November 23, 2011 Report Share Posted November 23, 2011 Can you resist going in every 15 minutes and checking on it? I couldn't, I should have lost weight the first time I fired from running up and down the stairs checking on the kiln nearly the entire firing time. :-) Renee thanks everyone! my first bisque firing is well on its way! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckeye Posted November 23, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2011 Can you resist going in every 15 minutes and checking on it? I couldn't, I should have lost weight the first time I fired from running up and down the stairs checking on the kiln nearly the entire firing time. :-) Renee thanks everyone! my first bisque firing is well on its way! yea I was checking it every 15 minutes! so exciting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pres Posted November 24, 2011 Report Share Posted November 24, 2011 Can you resist going in every 15 minutes and checking on it? I couldn't, I should have lost weight the first time I fired from running up and down the stairs checking on the kiln nearly the entire firing time. :-) Renee thanks everyone! my first bisque firing is well on its way! yea I was checking it every 15 minutes! so exciting! Great news, buckeye. Firing your own kiln give you a much greater sense of control, and really increases the "Christmas morning" effect. Actually, I was firing a bisque load yesterday myself. Load of dip pots, mugs, and large jars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckeye Posted November 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 25, 2011 Can you resist going in every 15 minutes and checking on it? I couldn't, I should have lost weight the first time I fired from running up and down the stairs checking on the kiln nearly the entire firing time. :-) Renee thanks everyone! my first bisque firing is well on its way! yea I was checking it every 15 minutes! so exciting! Great news, buckeye. Firing your own kiln give you a much greater sense of control, and really increases the "Christmas morning" effect. Actually, I was firing a bisque load yesterday myself. Load of dip pots, mugs, and large jars. Hey pres you wouldnt believe how excited I am! it is a great feeling and I am so excited, feels like a huge step for me and a lot of freedom. I hope this doest emberass you but I looked on your blog and all I can say is WOW!! YOUR MUGS ARE ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE! everything you have pictured is absolutely amazing but lately I have really been working hard on making mugs, getting the right sizes, shapes and handles and I just absolutely loved yours and reallly gives me something to work towards! Lately I have really been concentrating on one type of pot at a time (in my short time working with clay I was seldom throwing two of anything at a time, just winging it) and I have been researching and studying SO many mugs lately and it seems like the more I look at the more I find SOMETHING wrong with just about everyone I came across until I seen yours. Lately there have been posts like "what potter would you like to meet", "what potter would you like to have over for thanksgiving" and after seeing your mugs and other work I pick you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcia Selsor Posted November 25, 2011 Report Share Posted November 25, 2011 Good luck with the bisque. I hope it is unloaded by now. Next is glazing! You're on your way! Marcia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slipped Posted November 30, 2011 Report Share Posted November 30, 2011 I'm in the same boat, and it's a good one for a change! After about a 10 year hiatus of raising small children, I have recently set up my own studio, along with a willing but very inexperienced partner in crime. I was an apprentice at a local studio during college so I have experience, but had no space, and her parents had an unused block store building, that was even on a separate power bill, so this venture began. I've been collecting pieces over the years (wheel, etc, etc) and bought a kiln on craigslist about a year ago for $250. It's a huge 28" excalibur single phase with an orton auto fire. The very nice people I got it from got it as part of a package of kilns, and did not have the ability to hook it up and test it (so came with no knowledge as to if it even worked at all), and it was just too big for them, so for $250 I figured it was worth the gamble. Well, needless to say, we installed a 60 amp breaker, wired it in, and the test fire and first first bisque went fabulously! All elements worked great except in the floor (not to bad!), and the controller is fab!! (a luxury I am unaccustomed to) Our first glaze firing is in progress as I write, I'm too thrilled as well. Congrats on your firing successes!! I'll try to let you know how this one turns out when we open tomorrow, it's totally christmas morning!! Stacy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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