Callum Donovan-Grujicich Posted May 19, 2020 Report Share Posted May 19, 2020 Hello, I am planning on moving and transporting a large porcelain sculpture. The sculpture is over one metre tall, but it will be cut in two to fit in the kiln. I can move the sculpture around on a cart, but I need to move it up and down stairs, into a car, and into a top-loading kiln. The sculpture is quite delicate, as the clay is only about two centimetres thick. What would be the best method for moving such a heavy and delicate piece of work? Thanks for your consideration, Callum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babs Posted May 20, 2020 Report Share Posted May 20, 2020 Possibly on a "rigid box/tray filled with the those packing"peanuts" and possibly bubble wrapped first. Cut before it leaves your studio. Check out a product called spooze in case.. folk add paper to it. Make sure all totally dry before kilnin if have to mend anything. Can make a crate within a crate like some folk mail stuff. Friuends mailed a totally iced 4 tier weddfing cake from auys to uk using box within a box and packing peanuts in both.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callum Donovan-Grujicich Posted May 20, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 20, 2020 39 minutes ago, Babs said: Possibly on a "rigid box/tray filled with the those packing"peanuts" and possibly bubble wrapped first. Cut before it leaves your studio. Check out a product called spooze in case.. folk add paper to it. Make sure all totally dry before kilnin if have to mend anything. Can make a crate within a crate like some folk mail stuff. Friuends mailed a totally iced 4 tier weddfing cake from auys to uk using box within a box and packing peanuts in both.. Yes, I agree with this method of transporting the sculpture. However, I do not know how to actually lift the sculpture properly and safely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted May 20, 2020 Report Share Posted May 20, 2020 Best to move it at the leather-hard stage, if it's not too late. It will be strongest then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callum Donovan-Grujicich Posted May 20, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 20, 2020 11 minutes ago, neilestrick said: Best to move it at the leather-hard stage, if it's not too late. It will be strongest then. Good idea, that makes sense. But my main question is: how do I actually lift such a heavy object? I mean, do I use some type of padded hoist or something like that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sorcery Posted May 20, 2020 Report Share Posted May 20, 2020 Pics! Sorce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted May 20, 2020 Report Share Posted May 20, 2020 Two people is easier than 4 but it may take 4. Lift and stairs not good. If boxed a appliance dolly could work on stairs Usually its best to make such a sculpure near a level door on ground floor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Min Posted May 20, 2020 Report Share Posted May 20, 2020 What's it sitting on right now? Can you put it on a pallet with a pole running through the pallet on either side to lift with. Have help to carry it like a litter down the stairs. Even getting a sling under it would help for when you lower it into the kiln, sling can be left in the kiln to burn off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babs Posted May 20, 2020 Report Share Posted May 20, 2020 Not being a smart ass but next time......process designed right to installation... Not much help there eh? Is it still leather hard? Halved wrapped in lots andlots of bubblewrap so when that section is lifted by 2 or 3 folk the pressure points of contact are spread couldx work. Pics would help replies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callum Donovan-Grujicich Posted May 21, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 21, 2020 54 minutes ago, Rockhopper said: I was thinking the same as Min - place it on a pallet (could be just a piece of plywood) so the weight is evenly distributed, and you're not applying pressure to just a couple of hand-sized areas when you lift. Might be helpful if you give us an idea of what "heavy" means... For some, that might be 25 pounds - for others, 40 or 50. I don’t really know how heavy it is, but I’m guessing about 100 pounds per half of the sculpture. And I understand now that it should be carried on a special pallet like you said, but how would I place it in a top-loading kiln without accidentally dropping it or putting the pallet in the kiln with it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sorcery Posted May 21, 2020 Report Share Posted May 21, 2020 Sarcasm... "Grab it from just below that wide section, it's a perfect place for the straps!" A cone, for instance, will have to be lifted from the bottom. A "T" can be lifted from under the -. Maybe there are 2cm long coils wrapped around the outside. Maybe it is square. Maybe it is round. "Sculpture" is a wee bit vague! I been texting pics to the Sorceress to resize em, I'll give you my number if you need someone to text them pics to! Sorce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callum Donovan-Grujicich Posted May 21, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 21, 2020 1 hour ago, Sorcery said: Sarcasm... "Grab it from just below that wide section, it's a perfect place for the straps!" A cone, for instance, will have to be lifted from the bottom. A "T" can be lifted from under the -. Maybe there are 2cm long coils wrapped around the outside. Maybe it is square. Maybe it is round. "Sculpture" is a wee bit vague! I been texting pics to the Sorceress to resize em, I'll give you my number if you need someone to text them pics to! Sorce It’s a large hollow cylinder with a face on one end and an internal support structure made of several smaller hollow cylinders extending to the base of the larger cylinder. The cylinder has a diameter of 58cm and a height of about 50cm. The walls are quite thin (about 2cm thick). Sorry about being vague. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babs Posted May 21, 2020 Report Share Posted May 21, 2020 A sketch...no one here interested in copying your sculpture. Top loading kiln. This gets betterer and betterer. Need a gantry or block and tackle with burnable sling for sure...check out how folk with top hat raku kilns winch up the kiln walls to expose the pots.. that in reverse sorta. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sorcery Posted May 21, 2020 Report Share Posted May 21, 2020 9 hours ago, Callum Donovan-Grujicich said: internal support structure Nothing Horizontal huh? If you must rig the entire thing, you may have to slipknot the bottom, and half hitch the top. The more half hitches, the more pressure will be distributed. You may have to use pantyhose or special rope, but this should work. It will want to lean a little, but it should still go in, and it's easy to upright it! Best! Sorce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sorcery Posted May 21, 2020 Report Share Posted May 21, 2020 Maybe blow up some balloons inside it too, or inflate one of those large packing bags in it. Sorce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benzine Posted May 21, 2020 Report Share Posted May 21, 2020 Almost anytime, that myself or my students have made something large, I had them build it on a kiln shelf, or something else, that can just go in the kiln with it. That gave us something strong to grab on to, while we were moving them. As others have stated, showing us some reference photos, would allow everyone here to better help with the problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callum Donovan-Grujicich Posted May 21, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 21, 2020 Thank you all for your suggestions. However, the problem is that the sculpture is too heavy to lift by hand. What type of system or machinery could I use to lift it? I am now talking about the weight of the sculpture, because I don’t know how to lift it. I don’t think I can use a pulley system, because I will be firing the sculpture in a public gallery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sorcery Posted May 21, 2020 Report Share Posted May 21, 2020 Google Genie SLA 10. You can rent these. Sorce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted May 21, 2020 Report Share Posted May 21, 2020 Heres the real deal on firing large sculpure You plan on the firing 1st before making any clay item-you figure out all the steps 1st You figure out the firing- the kiln shelf system-and build it on a base that can be fired and a pallet to move it Second you then figure out if it will fit on a car in car kiln or do you need to make a fiber kiln around then extra large object. Meaning I have seen more than one fiber top hat kiln made that fits over said large object to fire it. If its an electric kiln you can take all the firing rings off and then stack them over said large object to fire after seting it on floor. the main idea is all this need to be thought out 1st noit after the fact. since it sounds like you did the opposite then you will have to reverse engineer all the steps. 100 lbs is not to heavy for two large guys to lift-hands are more easy on greenware than ropes or slings This learning curve will be brutal-just the nature of the beast-and it sounds like a beast-how about a photo so we can better reverse engineer what you are trying to move. Right now its pure guesswork goggle skyhook its a dream hook that moves anywhere still in the draam state of R&D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callum Donovan-Grujicich Posted May 21, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 21, 2020 3 hours ago, Mark C. said: Heres the real deal on firing large sculpure You plan on the firing 1st before making any clay item-you figure out all the steps 1st You figure out the firing- the kiln shelf system-and build it on a base that can be fired and a pallet to move it Second you then figure out if it will fit on a car in car kiln or do you need to make a fiber kiln around then extra large object. Meaning I have seen more than one fiber top hat kiln made that fits over said large object to fire it. If its an electric kiln you can take all the firing rings off and then stack them over said large object to fire after seting it on floor. the main idea is all this need to be thought out 1st noit after the fact. since it sound like you did the opposite then you will have to reverse engineer all the steps. 100 lbs is not to heavy for two large guys to lift-hands are more easy on greenware than ropes or slings This learning curve will be brutal-just the nature of the beast-and it sounds like a beast-how about a photo so we can better reverse engineer what you are trying to move. Right now its pure guesswork goggle skyhook its a dream hoog that moves anywhere still in the draam state of R&D Okay, I have something planned, but I would like some input or tips. My sculpture is on a strong but relatively thin particle board, and I am planning on drilling holes in each of the four corners of the board and tying ropes through the holes. The sculpture will then be carefully moved to a dolly and brought to the kiln. I will rent an engine hoist and attach the hook to the hoist. I will then hoist the sculpture up and lower it into the kiln. The ropes will be removed and the particle board will burn off in the kiln. Once the sculpture has been fired, it will be strong, so I will wrap it with straps and lift it down to the dolly using the engine hoist. Is this process feasible? Thank you for all of your support, Callum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babs Posted May 21, 2020 Report Share Posted May 21, 2020 1 metre x ? Not that big at all! In 2 pieces? Doable. Next time...... Follow the design process through tyo end before starting. I would be placing a board on top of sculpture and applying a bit of pressure. i.e. tie it to lower board for the lifting and moving process providing bottom board is rigid. Get the thing a short way off the floor and do above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted May 21, 2020 Report Share Posted May 21, 2020 Particle board is very weak so lifting from the corners may prove to be a bad idea-how much clay went into this piece? one box two boxes 18 boxes -that would be an eqsy way to knoiw the weight-what is the exact height and width of piece. Many engine lifts only go so high so getting it a kiln is beyond most of them height wise how much extra space around is the kiln? 2 inchs 8 inches? We do noit know enough yet. saying its heavy and large is not enough info what is the size-you may not know the weight but you can measure the diameter and height-same with the kiln-whats that size? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callum Donovan-Grujicich Posted May 22, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2020 52 minutes ago, Mark C. said: Particle board is very weak so lifting from the corners may prove to be a bad idea-how much clay went into this piece? one box two boxes 18 boxes -that would be an eqsy way to knoiw the weight-what is the exact height and width of piece. Many engine lifts only go so high so getting it a kiln is beyond most of them height wise how much extra space around is the kiln? 2 inchs 8 inches? We do noit know enough yet. saying its heavy and large is not enough info what is the size-you may not know the weight but you can measure the diameter and height-same with the kiln-whats that size? The sculpture is 58cm in diameter and, when halved, 50cm in height. I do not know how large the kiln is, but the sculpture should be able to fit with some extra space. I think 2 or 3 boxes of clay were used, so about 100 pounds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted May 22, 2020 Report Share Posted May 22, 2020 This all sounds do-able with some big guys-maybe the ropes for slowing the drop into a kiln. fire slower than you think by double what slow should be-that means a very very slowly-this kind of thing seems to always crack or blow up. Candle a day or two on low an dthen very slwly bring it up-slowly did I mention take it slow? If you are not the firing oprerson tell them this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babs Posted May 22, 2020 Report Share Posted May 22, 2020 Also make sure is placed on surface which allows it to slide smoothly over kiln shelf as it expands and shrinks during firing. Research that on these forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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