Kilnin' Myshelf

sorce

sorce

Nonsense Rascal
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Berwyn, Il
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Or Shelving my kiln!

Got some more shelves today and did a practice stack outside of the kiln.

20171120_183610.jpg

Them new shelves kinda came with this....
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Kiln sitter,(auto shut off) is broke, but seems good otherwise...
Kinda hoping it DOESN'T work so I can convert it to gas!
Unfortunately the elements are clean as hell so it'll Probly fire well.

20171120_174734.jpg

So rather than spend $120 on new shelves to fire Shtacked FULL...

I spent $100.

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With 2 low,med,high knobs, it's no computer control, but gives me a different firing schedule capability, which should give me some different glaze effect than the other, which has 5 On/Off Switches.

Besides....
You know I'm Old School...
Peep my cones! New and old.20171120_185016.jpg

No no....
Peep the Matches that came in the parts box!20171120_185245.jpg

Lit my square with one!

I really really really wanna show you this pot I made for Vance...

It's running deep...
No chains, no hooks, no meat racks, no rockers...
It's ON!

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Sweet Source. Been here a while did not know you did pottery. Good luck with your new kiln! Cool chop.
 
AZbonsai said:
Sweet Source. Been here a while did not know you did pottery. Good luck with your new kiln! Cool chop.
Click to expand...

Technically I haven't fired anything yet so I just do formed clay so far!
A bad flood and I'm screwed!

Thank you.

Sorce
 
Bonsai Nut said:
How much does it cost for you to fire one of those?
Click to expand...

Comed says 7.149 cents a Kw hour.

They're both 7200w ÷1000 7.2

7.2 x hours fired 16 x .07 kwhr

Should have it less than $10 a fire.

But that's a formula I found and Internet information.

Sorce
 
bleumeon said:
Awesome @sorce . Looking forward to seeing what you make.
Click to expand...

You too!

I think about you everytime I'm wedging!

I never realized how many different increments of wet I can get my finger.

What kind of kiln did you or are you getting?

@Stickroot how much propane do you use for a gas fire?
Cone 10?

Sorce
 
sorce said:
You too!

I think about you everytime I'm wedging!

I never realized how many different increments of wet I can get my finger.

What kind of kiln did you or are you getting?

@Stickroot how much propane do you use for a gas fire?
Cone 10?

Sorce
Click to expand...
Haven't fired anything yet but it's just a simple small wood fired kiln. Only big enough to fire one pot at a time but on the plus side it will be faster and easier to heat up.

I didn't want to shed out dough for real insulating bricks so I took dry stall pumice and put it in the middle of double walled sides. Pumice is very porous glass after all which makes it an excellent insulator. Hopefully it gets hot enough but if not I'll add some of this insulation into the walls: https://www.amazon.com/Ceramic-Insu...0603&sr=1-5&keywords=ceramic+fiber+insulation
 
Okay....my very limited kiln understanding....I had no idea there were actually objects called cones. I thought that was just a firing expression tied to heat and time....a jargon of the business. Cool...Cones do exist!
 
Now before you start, get or make a ball mill.
Good Day
Anthony

* Can you dig and refine your own clay --------earthenware ?
 
Bonsai Nut said:
have us. We are now over $
Click to expand...

The dude I got that from is in a zone where Noon to 6pm is "peak" and it costs $30. He fires at night when the cost is $8.
You mean Illinois doesn't suck the most in A price catagory? (Passed out woke up!)

Tieball said:
.I had no idea there were actually objects called cones.
Click to expand...

Lol! I found some giant ass white cones and I was like WTF? Till I realized they where parts I thought were missing....the peephole plugs! Happy dance!

Anthony said:
Now before you start, get or make a ball mill.
Good Day
Anthony

* Can you dig and refine your own clay --------earthenware ?
Click to expand...

Ball mill/pug mill?
When I get permanent!

I am sooooooo looking forward to processing my own clay.

The place where I dig my treasures out of that old firepit from the early 1900's by the river....
Mad clay underneath.

Clay, Ash, Glass....
That'll be some wicked product!
Yes!

Sorce
 
Sorce,

if you are hoping to save money ---------- I can show you how ----------- but you
will need a ball mill.

Think of this ------------ cone 08 ----------------- stoneware type clay, 3 to 5 %
porous.

If you fire to only 08, the savings .............................

Additionally glazes as low as cone 021

But you must have a ball mill.
Good Day
Anthony

* Find out if your dug clay is an earthenware.
No need to waste energy on a stoneware type.
 
Anthony said:
ball mill
Click to expand...

OK I looked it up, now you have me!

So a 55gl drum?

If I do process local clay...
I was hoping to do it sans machinery, as if there was no such thing, you know, to relive the good times!

Sorce
 
Sorce,

the way we have a zero cost for pottery is like this -

[1] Go out to the canefield for earthenware clay - dig or just pick up large lumps.
Go to the northern part of the island for stoneware and white clay for use in
porcelain.

[2] Study pottery science - books.

[3] Have several plastic half barrels , dry clay to bone, smash and drop into
water, wait an hour and take a stick, rotate.

[4] Pass slurry through several mesh strainers -------- if needed we can go to
325 mesh or 600 for really fine work.

[5] Take old pants legs and stitch one side shut, add a metal circle to the other
side to and hang.

[6] Settle slurry may need white vinegar , remove water and pour clay slip into
pants legs, leave to drip dry.

Takes about a day and you can have a few hundred pounds of clay.

Ball mill is about the size of a gallon paint tin.
You can make one, just look for a diagram.Google.

You will still need to put together six blocks to make a test kiln, for
making glazes.

The high cost in pottery is buying pre-packaged stuff.

You need to read more at first and then try.

Borrow this from the library -

The potter's dictionary of Materials and Techniques - Frank and Janet Hamer

When you have digested that let me, know and I will give you another
title to read.
Good Day
Anthony
 
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