Search the Community

Hello everyone, I am writing this post due to hope of meeting with someone who may help me to build a downdraft gas fired kiln. I have the book of Frederick Olsen's Kiln Book and in my opinion it has enough information to design a kiln but it may take a lot of time when I start doing that. I only start making ceramics and will be very appreciated ıf I can find someone to give me a hand.. That's why I just want to ask people on here and maybe somebody would like to share a kiln plan (preferentially 1m3) which had been tested before. Thank you in advance!

I have 150 K26 soft bricks that have been drilled through with about a 5/8-inch hole on the broad side of the brick. I want to fill the holes and then reuse these bricks. Does anyone have a recommendation on what type of material/product to use? I have looked online and see that there are fillers intended for repairing small kilns, but these products are packaged in small amounts - too small - and by the time I'd buy it I'd have spent more than I'd be saving by salvaging the bricks I have. The bricks are to be used for a lid for a wood fire train kiln. The first design is failing and has to be rebuilt.

Week 41 A kiln design that contains the walls and the arch in one curve is the________________ kiln. Sprung arch Bound arch Catenary arch Barrel arch Domes and Crowns differ from sprung arches in that an arch describes a portion of a cylinder, while a dome or crown describes a portion of a _____________. parabola sphere hyperbola cone One Principle of kiln design the author states is that the chimney is approximately one-fourth to one-fifth of the ____________________ diameter. chamber damper door total inlet An _______________________ kiln is an example of a _________________ type kiln. Down-draft anagama cross-draft updraft This weeks Pottery Quiz of the Week questions come from: The Kiln Book, second edition, Frederick L. Olsen, c. 1983, Chilton Book Company/Radnor, PA Note from Pres: In the 80's as a new art teacher, new to ceramics, I considered building my own kiln. Alas, it did not happen, but I read a lot of books on kiln building, firing, and repairs. Some of which I have used over the years, some not. However, for anyone starting with kiln construction this book is a gem. There may be newer techniques out there today, but he does cover Fiber construction, alternative fuels, and multi chambered kilns. Answer Key: 3. Catenary arch-from the text.Pp. 35 2. Sphere—from the text Pp.36 1. chamber-from the text Pp61 Principle 6 2. anagama, 3. cross-draft-Crossdraft kilns originated in the Orient. The exact location and time is impossible to determine, but it is probably safe to assume that China, Korea, and Japan simultaneously developed similar crossdraft kilns known as bank or hole kilns. The hole kilns were in use during the Asuka period in Japan, the Sui period in China, and the Silla period in Korea. In Japan they were called Anagama, ana meaning hole or cavity and gama meaning kiln.

Does anyone know where to purchase the 1 sq in wire mesh that is the frame for this kiln? I don't think i've seen it at any of the hardware stores around where I live.They seem to just have wider grid mesh. Is there some sort of specialty store that sells sturdy wire mesh? (Not chicken wire). I am going to build this kiln as soon as I get this mesh! I have the burner and some of the bricks, I know where to get the ceramic fibre & the ni-chrome wire- I just have to find a source for the mesh.

I am considering purchasing an Olsen kiln kit. I have scoured the internet and found no negative reports on them. I have fired a small updraft to cone 10 for years, so feel that I have solid experience in firing an updraft, and buying a kit means that the design and calculations have already been done, so it should be a slam dunk. Buy it, put it together and fire pots...right? Anyone care to weigh in on this? Thank you!! Pat

Some people asked me to keep some updates here on out progress. So...... here are a couple of shots of the first two days of the build: Day One Day Two More to come in this thread. Check back every day or so if you are interested. best, .................john

Kiln Building Intensive For students who want a hands-on experience to learn more about kiln design and building, this is the class for you. Master kiln builder John Baymore will lead this intensive course beginning with two evening lectures about kiln theory, design, and construction. The class then switches gears, as the students then spend two full days building a gas fired kiln in the NHIA Manchester kiln room. Bring work gloves and a respirator and prepare to get your hands dirty! Prerequisite: Basic clay skills. Limit: 10 Manchester Campus Professor John Baymore MCER077 Thu & Fri, Sep. 25 & 26 / 6 – 9 pm; Sat & Sun, Sep. 27 28 / 9 am – 6 pm 4 Days / Thu. + Fri. Amherst/Williams 204; Sat. + Sun. Amherst/Williams 001 Tuition: $176 FOR MORE INFORMATION OR QUESTIONS: Chris Archer (603) 836.2561 carcher@nhia.edu TO REGISTER FOR A CLASS: Rhiannon Mimms (603) 836.2564 CERegistration@nhia.edu LOCATIONS: Manchester Campus New Hampshire Institute of Art 148 Concord Street, Manchester, NH 03104-4858 www.nhia.

Kilns: Why and How Sharon Art Center Campus of New Hampshire Institute of Art Professor John Baymore This one day seminar-type workshop will provide participants with a fundamental understanding of ceramic kilns and firing operations that they can bring back to their own studio operations. The presented material will cover underlying concepts that drive kiln function and operation, and how that information relates to designing, constructing, and firing them. This module will also assist participants in evaluating commercial units for potential purchase. Presentations will touch on gas, wood, and electric fired kilns, giving a diverse audience some practical tools. Useful handouts and a copy of one kiln plan will be provided to all participants. Prerequisite: Intermediate ceramics skills. Limit: 15 Sat, July 12 / 9 am – 4 pm / 1 Day SCER073 / Tuition: $80 TO REGISTER: (603) 836-2564 MANCHESTER CAMPUS: IN PERSON: Mon – Fri, 8:15 am – 4:30 pm Fuller Hall, 156 Hanover St. BY EMAIL: CERegistration@nhia.edu BY MAIL: New Hampshire Institute of Art, Continuing Education Office, 148 Concord Street, Manchester, NH 03104-4858 BY FAX: (603) 641-1832 SHARON ARTS CENTER CAMPUS: IN PERSON: Mon – Fri, 9 am – 3 pm BY EMAIL: register@sharonarts.org BY MAIL: Sharon Arts Center, 457 NH Route 123, Sharon, NH 03458-9014 SCHOLARSHIPS: A limited number of scholarship funds are available to adults, youth and teens based on financial need. Scholarships are awarded on a first come, first serve basis. An application form and deadline information is available on our website at www.nhia.edu/ce or www.sharonarts.org. http://www.nhia.edu/assets/Uploads/PDFs/CE--CT/NHIA5866x9CEsum14web.pdf

I live in north Thailand and and would like to build a kiln that will fire up to cone 6 (if possible). In the past I have done large rice husk kilns but would like to expand my work. I do not have many options for building materials. Some of the materials I do have are brick clay (very rough), normal bricks, rice grass and husks, cement, and sand. I may be able to find fire brick in the big cities. Fuel options are propane gas (will have to order blowers which is possible), wood (but hard to find in Thailand), and I have heard of using used cooking oil which in abundance here. I would like the kiln to be at least 13 cubic foot in size, I throw large bottles. Any plans or suggestions would be very welcome. Thank you! Michael