nathanhinshaw

Hello all, I'm wondering if any of you know if Sibelco clay bodies are carried domestically (North America)? I've got emails out to the company but have yet to hear back and internet searches aren't seeming to turn anything up. Also if anyone knows of a similar body to the Sibelco WMS 2002GG available from the usual suspects that would be super helpful. Thanks!

Hello all, I was wondering if anyone has had experience with the Paragon TnF82? I've come across one that seems to have been infrequently fired and is good shape. It has the DTC 1000 Touch and Fire controller. I'd be running it on a 240v/30amp line which seems to be okay. I'd primarily be using it as a bisque kiln to start but, likely doing some cone 4-6 firings down the line. Any thoughts or experiences with this kiln would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

So I ended up passing on this for a few reasons. Ultimately it came down to money but that was driven by the heating element layout for this kiln. The center of the kiln has substantial (at least based on it's overall size) zone with no elements creating an kiln that's larger than it should be for the power it can deliver. I'm still on the hunt myself, but would say based on my research and the very sage advice of people on this forum (thanks Neil!), that unless you've got a monster of a deal on the kiln it's not a long haul investment.

Hi Neil, thanks for the reply and your comments. Based on what I've found for kilns sharing this model number (not the "P" specifically but other FX-23s) it will fire to ^10 (Max. No. of Cone / Max. Temperature 10 / 2350 ºF). Amperage on the panel is 100, 30 on the breaker--how does all that strike you?

Quick follow up: I've just gotten an image of the kiln and it seems like it might be a little worse for wear, but I'm not totally sure. I'll attach an image but there is some cracking on the floor and some of the coils look a bit loose. I'd appreciate any advice the community has about the state, questions to ask or issues to look for, and any impact on price or reliability those things might have.

Hello all, I'm looking at purchasing a used Cress FX-23 P electric kiln and wondering if anyone has experience with this model? It's just shy of $500 which seems a fair price(?). I'm planning to use it primarily as a bisque kiln, perhaps with a few ^6 fires thrown in for fun. It seems like a sound buy from a company that is still active but if anyone has experiences (good or bad) I'm all ears. Also if anyone can spot check me on this: I had a 240v outlet installed sometime ago for an electric dryer and I'm thinking we can re-purpose that for the kiln (it's asking for 220v and 25amps on the face-plate)--seem sound? Thanks!

Thanks for the notes all. Seems like the best bet is to just call anyone and everyone that might deal with bricks. Good to know. I've got a list of suppliers to call but wanted to see if anyone knew of a better back channel before reaching out. I've been up and down Google, I was hoping to supplement those results with some insight from the community. Your initial read was correct Marcia, my preference would be to (hopefully) save a little money and re-purpose fire brick rather than buying new.

You could also look into Hardie Board instead of drywall as that would definitely stand up better, though you'd want to make sure and support it well. I've always been partial to heavier weight canvas, but that aligns with how I used tables in the studio (minimally).

Hello all, I'm wondering if anyone has recommendations about where to source firebricks around Chicago (I'm willing to travel). I've been keeping an eye on Craigslist but it seems the offerings right now begin and end with landscaping bricks. Peeking around construction sites is yielding pretty much the same results. If I'm not firing Stoneware would those be fine? Are there types of businesses, services people have had luck contacting to source brick? Any help / insight / suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks @aperhapshand! I was looking at Chicago Ceramic Supply but since their online store was down I wasn't sure how deep their inventory went. I completly forgot about Great Lakes!

Hello all, I was wondering if anyone had a recommendation for a Midwest (I'm in Chicago) supplier for clay / glazes. I'd been pricing Axner but the shipping is a little steep. I'm happy to drive a bit if there's a shop near by. Thanks, Nathan

Thanks @TJR, that's a good idea, I've been out harvesting some bark for that can get burned down and used for just such a purpose!

Neil: My goal is to produce semi-functional wares: vases, bowels, etc. Denice: thanks for those suggestions, there are some interesting ideas there. Mark: I think you might be on the right track, my heart is with the process and end result of the wood fire which but how to achieve those ends is still a bit iffy, that's why I'd thought about something like raku as an option. Going gas keeps popping up though.

Thanks for the comments all. A little more background: I own my property and have a backyard space that is not shared. I've noticed some backyard burning, and have had my smoker out--so there is some room to play around. In my previous research there were regulations around the amount of smoke and the need for spark dampers to control brick ovens and firepits. The municiple code allows “the burning of fuels for legitimate campfire, recreational and cooking purposes,â€[...] so I'm still thinking that small kiln without heavy reduction could be doable, if anyone has experimented with something like that? Thanks!

Hello All, I'm in the process of setting up my studio for the first time in many years, and the first time where I'm not in a rural setting with access to a high fire wood kiln. I'm wondering if anyone has advice for a low profile solution to firing in a city setting? I'm thinking Raku might be the way to go, but am open to ideas, kiln designs, or general advice. I'm partial to firings with a fair amount for unpredicability in the finished result--most of my experience has been in the cone 10+ range so I'm trying to find a happy medium between a week long anagama, and a cone 06 oxidation firing. Too much smoke and space are issues, otherwise I'm game to get my hands dirty and build, buy, or tweak something I can fire frequently. Thanks! Nathan