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alpine kilns--for linda

updated wed 2 mar 11

 

Nils Lou on tue 1 mar 11


alpine kilns can be fussy to fool with, but once you get them figured =3D
out
they are sweet. I have a 24 cube alpine here at linfield college that I=3D2=
0
inherited 25 years ago. First thing I did was to remove the curved =3D
baffles.
then I installed a flame rod safety and a new burner (power). next I =3D
closed
all the holes and laid a one inch thick blanket of ceramic fiber, about =3D
6 inches wide
down the length of the flame trench and up the back about 7 inches. this =
=3D
is more to=3D20
break up the flame than to insulate.=3D20
we have 6 inches of WCP available, but we set it at about 2.8, or just =3D
under 3 inches.
the dampers are set 1-3/4 inches apart roughly. to fire the kiln the =3D
burners are lit at
1/2 inch or so pressure and after 30 minutes turned up to max (2.8). no =3D
adjustment is=3D20
required for the rest of the firing. no damper changed or burner =3D
pressure. almost exactly
seven hours later we achieve C10 at 3 o'clock with a medium reduction =3D
throughout and=3D20
even temp as well. automatic. shutdown, close dampers !

nils lou, professor of art
http://nilslou.blogspot.com
www.tinyurl.com/bpc5nm
503.883.2274
"Play is the essence of creativity", and
"What is not brought forward into consciousness....
we later call Fate", Carl Jung