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Diy Kiln Vent


MichaelP

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If your smelling stuff, then your vent isn't working properly. That is 100% for sure. Unless you have some type of window crack, the seal is bad or something where it could be blowing back in. What John said about negative pressure is the key, if your vent is sucking enough, then nothing should go out of the kiln cracks because more is being sucked in with force than going out. 

 

I had to tweak my box several times before I got rid of any smells. I had it too low, then went too high, now its just right... Took me several firings to get it right.

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Uh oh........now I am worried. My kiln is about to be wired up, with a vent kit installed. The kiln is on a large back porch that was previously just screened in (large panels of screening in wood framing) and is now covered from the inside with super heavy duty vinyl sheeting-the kind that outdoor restaurant patios use.  I will have cement board under the kiln and it will be in a corner position placed about 24" from the metal trailer wall and the outside "wall" (screen covered with the all-weather plastic sheeting). There is a door that can be left open as well. Do I need to worry about the vinyl sheeting around the porch? I can move the kiln to the middle of the space if I have to. The "room" is about 14 x 16. 

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Guest JBaymore

At certain points in the firings ... depending on WHAT you are firing....... there are materials that require oxygen to be present.  If it is not present in sufficient volume... then those reactions do not take place properly.  So at the time WHEN those reactions are happening.... you need enough airflow to supply all that is needed.  At certain times...... certain fumes / gases are being created... at those times you need to have enough flow to capture all of them and exhaust them.

 

At other times pretty much nothing is getting generated or is requiring oxygen ..... and at those times... any airflow is only having the function to convectively help with heat transfer.  Since electric kilns are mainly radiative transfer devices...... this flow is of minimal use.

 

A huge percentage of issues that show up in the finish firing (glaze firing) actually are caused by issues happening in the BISQUE firing that are causing them.  People just think they are finish firing problems... because they show up then.

 

The "stink" mentioned is likely sulphur dioxide leaking out of the kiln.  Certainly not good for you...... but by the time is it in the seriously lethal range... it will drive you out of the kiln room/studio. 

 

But it can be a "marker" telling you that other things you CAN'T smell are getting out into the room too.

 

best,

 

.................john

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