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Electric Kiln Outside Environment?


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Hello, I live in Arizona, and it gets really hot here. It also rains a lot in the summer when we have monsoons. So my question would be, how should I cover my kiln from the elements? That is, the 110+ degree heat and the rain and wind from monsoons. I've been trying to think of a way, because I'd need something sturdy and leakproof because it needs to withstand storms, but I also need it to have adequate ventilation and less conduction of heat. I was going to put the kiln on my back cement patio, and the kiln isn't very large. I don't really know how much it takes to protect an electric kiln outside, but I figure I don't want it to get wet, and I believe there's a limit to the amount of heat it can take on the digital controller. I would of course be planning to unplug it and cover it during storms, but the less water the better, and shade would still be important. So how do I make an adequate environment for this kiln to live in?

Thanks!

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IMHO you used two terms that do not mix, electric and outdoors. Electric kilns are not meant for outdoor use. The potters I know that use gas kilns outdoors have them in protected areas. Roof and two or three protected sides. Your best bet is to ask the manufacturer.

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Buy one of those prefab sheds that dot back yards all across America.

 

 

Or, if it is really "isn't very large", get a Rubbermaid trash container, and put it over the kiln when not in use. Keep it there with a kiln shelf. Or two, depending upon the sizes of your 'monsoons'.

 

A third option, since you can unplug it, is to put it on wheels, and only take it outside when you fire it. (checking with Accuweather first, of course)tongue.gif

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If you wouldn't keep your computer there, you shouldn't keep your kiln there. The problem with just covering it when you're not using it is that a storm could roll in while the kiln is still hot, and you wouldn't be able to cover it. Plus keeping it covered could also cause condensation and corrosion under the cover. I don't recommend kilns be put on wheels, as it's a sure way to damage the bricks, especially the floor. It may even be a code violation. Find a permanent indoor location for it.

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Hello Arizona......

 

My electric kiln is in our garage, that would be my suggestion, don't put it outside, if you don't have a garage, build one and turn it into your firing, pottery room. I live in Montana and our winters go below 0 and nothing of value is outside, everything has a building or three sided structure with a roof (boats, ATV, trailer). I think it best not to move it everytime you fire, less chance anything bad happening, you know, "Murphy's Law"......Hope you find a good solution and best of luck....stay cool!

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10 inches

I would still consider a roof and some shed walls in yard-When its 105 degrees at night the garage may be a bit warm with the kiln going

Remember the electrical connection needs to be up to code and safe in either location.

Mark</div>

 

Go with the 18 inches in below post-I have a heat resist material on wall .

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  • 1 year later...

Does this corrosion thing happen on a vented kiln Neil?

 

Here's what I know:

We have had reports of cars parked in the driveway right where the kiln vent came out of the house, and the cars getting covered with all the fume matter that comes out the vent. It stands to reason that an unvented kiln in a garage would do the same things to cars parked there, since the fumes would be filling the garage. The downdraft vents do a very good job of expelling the fumes, so I would think that it is probably okay to keep cars in the garage with a vented kiln.

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I have fired two downdraft, vented to outdoors, kilns in the garage with two parked cars for over twenty years and have not noticed any issues. I have however messed up the paint on my car by accidentally leaving splatters of clay on it after a day of throwing in the garage. Did not notice them and later, when I tried to wash it off, the surface stayed cloudy and dis colored. Really glad it was my car.

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  • 2 months later...

Probably best to first check with the local building code folks.  When we moved to Dare County, NC in 1988 we had our builder add a 220 plug underneath our house (house was on 12' tall stilts and 3 miles from the ocean).  My plan was to have my electric kiln outside, under the house on a concrete platform..  When the building inspector came the day before we were to close on the house, he told me it did not meet the local code.  He said that since the kiln exterior got very hot, it was unsafe to have it out in the open where a child or pet could brush up against it.  I also expect the salt air would have been very bad on it as well since we soon learned that our gas BBQ grill elements rusted out within 12 months in that environment!

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  • 1 month later...

My little Paragon Caldera test kiln with Orton digital controller faulted out on controller over temperature when fired outdoors in full sun with no wind. It worked OK afterwards, but I subsequently moved it into the garage, where I also have less wire distance to the breaker panel, so more power at the outlet.

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In our climate Norms kiln would be toast. It can rain 40-60 inches a year here and a little cover and a few blue tarps are not going to cut that amount of rain. My guess is thats a DRY climate with no snow as well. 

It all depends where you live.

Mark

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Funny Neil said that if you would not keep your computer in it you should not keep your kiln in it.  My classroom had my kiln in it, but the computer techies would not install a kiln in the room. Dust.

A few years ago ditto, but now kiln in clasroom, no kids or computers in that room, I guess a lot of centres and studios have separate rooms as kiln rooms, minimal dust. With computerised kilns, about to buy one, I would not be putting it outside, the plastics for wiring etc may not be of the standard required for outdoor usage, and I don't want to be the one doing the trial. I ignorantly did this for a satellite dish which had a non uv stable plastic cover on an integral part, a couple of years later up for a new satellite dish as cost of repair was more that the cost of a new dish, hopefully with the correct cover for the above part.   SO think where the manufacturer was dreaming of your kiln being placed. As for the satellite dish manufacturer, wasn't thinking/caring??

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Norm I like your( my strategy for keeping our kiln dry in the rain is to have it firing at the time)

it would not work here but it sounds good there.West Hollywood sounds better in 1910 than now at least for me.

I spent my 1st 15 years in Long Beach-to many people had to leave.Never looked back-I am betting Hotel Hollywood is long gone.

mark

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  • 2 years later...

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