yams23 Posted February 8, 2023 Report Share Posted February 8, 2023 (edited) Anyone know of a kiln in the US that is at least 6' in diameter? I'm thinking universities, maybe? Closer to Seattle, WA is ideal! Edited February 8, 2023 by yams23 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Min Posted February 8, 2023 Report Share Posted February 8, 2023 Hi and welcome to the forum. Whereabouts are you looking for a large kiln? Country? Location? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pres Posted February 8, 2023 Report Share Posted February 8, 2023 I moved the topic here as it is where it belongs, hope it doesn't cause any inconvenience @yams23 best, Pres Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yams23 Posted February 8, 2023 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2023 @Min In the US or Canada, preferably closer to Seattle, WA. Any leads appreciated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yams23 Posted February 8, 2023 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2023 @Pres I'm not looking to buy this kiln. More looking for a studio that exists where a 6ft diameter art piece could be fired. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pres Posted February 8, 2023 Report Share Posted February 8, 2023 @yams23Moved it back, sorry for the inconvenience. best, Pres Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callie Beller Diesel Posted February 8, 2023 Report Share Posted February 8, 2023 (edited) @yams23 are you thinking you want some form of regular studio membership, a workshop/residency type situation for a small run of pieces, or a kiln-for-hire for a one off? A 6 foot diameter kiln is a tall order, pun not intended but I’m owning it anyways. I can’t even think of industrial settings where a gas kiln would be 6’ wide, even if there are some gas car or conveyor belt kilns that go that deep. There are technical issues in heating a space that large, and the shape of the space plays a big role. The 2 better solutions I can think of are to either find the largest kiln available to you and build your pieces to fit that, perhaps in modules that can be assembled later. Alternately, if the piece doesn’t need to be fired to a particularly hot temperature, you could possibly build a fibre kiln around it and fire the piece in situ. Edited February 8, 2023 by Callie Beller Diesel Edited to add a thought. Rae Reich, Babs and Pres 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pres Posted February 8, 2023 Report Share Posted February 8, 2023 I know that some colleges with MFA programs had them in the 70's, as there was one at PSU where photos were taken with a table and chairs inside with people sitting around. Long time ago, and strange fond memory. best, Pres Rae Reich 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callie Beller Diesel Posted February 8, 2023 Report Share Posted February 8, 2023 Just for reference, the Archie Bray has their kiln firing costs listed here, and their largest gas kiln, the Bailey that has a stacking volume of 110 cu ft has a stacking space measuring 48” x 60” x 66”. Closer to 5 feet than 6. Montana isn’t super close to Seattle, but it’s not an unreasonable distance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted February 8, 2023 Report Share Posted February 8, 2023 The only kilns I've ever seen that can fit something that is 6 feet in diameter are wood burning kilns, or a custom built industrial 100 cubic foot electric. I've seen car kilns that are 6' long, but not in width. Large kilns are typically built in rectangles, not squares or circles. Have you already made the piece? You're going to have to enroll in a class or join a studio in order to use their kiln, especially since you'll probably need to use their studio to build it since transporting something that large isn't a good idea. In addition to having a kiln that large, they'll need to have the equipment to move the piece in and out of the kiln. Your other option is to build your own temporary kiln around the piece. Rae Reich 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldlady Posted February 9, 2023 Report Share Posted February 9, 2023 sorry, i do know of a shallow, 18 inches high or so, (i did not measure it) round electric kiln that was made by the manufacturer to a sculptor's design. he sold it later to a group who made ceramic crosses and had a very large customer base. the sorry part is that it is just about as far from seattle as you can get, st petersburg florida. you are near skutt, ask about a custom design. just be sure you will need it for a long time and have a place to put it. Rae Reich 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pres Posted February 9, 2023 Report Share Posted February 9, 2023 There are alternative kilns that are build around a piece and fired, but they are fuel burning and limited in range. best, Pres Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babs Posted February 9, 2023 Report Share Posted February 9, 2023 Make your work in sections and join afterwards an option? Design process 101 : got to plan right through to the end, aaaameeeeen! A mantra of mine Pres and Rae Reich 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yams23 Posted February 9, 2023 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2023 Catching up here. Sorry, new to the community and I didn't have my notifications set up correctly. I appreciate all the responses!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yams23 Posted February 9, 2023 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2023 (edited) @Callie Beller Diesel@neilestrick thanks for all the info! I'm actually asking on behalf of my mentor who has made 4 ft large crystalline glazed wall plates (fine art) and dreams of taking it further. Trying to help him out. He's helped me so much! So to answer your question, I know he would be willing to rent an entire kiln. I also know that the kiln would need to get up to at least 2300° and be able to hold/soak for the crystalline process. Edited February 9, 2023 by yams23 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yams23 Posted February 9, 2023 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2023 @oldladyThanks for letting me know! Do you know where that is/who would be the contact? Funny thing is I'm coincidentally going to be in st. Petersburg in a couple weeks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yams23 Posted February 9, 2023 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2023 On 2/8/2023 at 8:10 AM, Pres said: I know that some colleges with MFA programs had them in the 70's, as there was one at PSU where photos were taken with a table and chairs inside with people sitting around. Long time ago, and strange fond memory. best, Pres @pres - do you happen to know which colleges? Even though it's been a while, I'm willing to investigate any lead! Is PSU Penn State? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldlady Posted February 10, 2023 Report Share Posted February 10, 2023 yes, i know where it was but ownership of the building may have changed. i will make a couple of calls tomorrow and get you the best number to call. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pres Posted February 10, 2023 Report Share Posted February 10, 2023 Yes it is Penn State, main campus. I haven't been in the facilities since the late 70's's so I have no idea what they have in kilns and studio space. best, Pres Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yams23 Posted February 10, 2023 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2023 3 hours ago, oldlady said: yes, i know where it was but ownership of the building may have changed. i will make a couple of calls tomorrow and get you the best number to call. @oldlady thank you so much! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yams23 Posted February 10, 2023 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2023 3 hours ago, Pres said: Yes it is Penn State, main campus. I haven't been in the facilities since the late 70's's so I have no idea what they have in kilns and studio space. best, Pres @Pres- thanks so much! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldlady Posted February 11, 2023 Report Share Posted February 11, 2023 the kiln was located in a shared studio called Brick Street Studio in st petersburg. it is in the warehouse arts district and there are other pottery centers there. i cannot find a phone number for brick street so i tried the Morean Center for clay. formerly known as the Train Station. it is only 2 blocks from brick street. there is a third one on first street south at 20th called the Clay Center. i left a message at the Morean but nobody has called back. same thing at the Clay center. i will keep trying but you might do a search and get better results. the area is full of potters. the train station has a history of fantastic workshops using many of their fuel burning kilns. it is an ever-growing area for artists of all kinds. the city is supportive. Hulk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldlady Posted February 11, 2023 Report Share Posted February 11, 2023 i checked the map and found that the building has changed names. i last saw it before covid so it may have been like so many other business during that time. it is now called Creative Art Studios At 400. the address is 426 23rd st south. the Morean address is 420 22nd st south. i do not see a website with info but i am a total computer idiot so do your own search from here to get the details. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yams23 Posted February 11, 2023 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2023 @oldlady- thank you, thank you, thank you! It's appreciated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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