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advice from kilnbuilders requested

updated sun 26 sep 99

 

Ronan ORourke on mon 20 sep 99

------------------
My problem is a flu which is full of gaps. Is there something I can =
trowel
over to fill them, ITC, clay alumina mix?

This is my first kiln hence reclaimed bricks and an unwillingness to =
cement
anything in place, I can envisage plenty of rebuilds=21 The kiln is a small
coffin type affair made of HTI, the flu is 10' high and comprised of
diatomaceous brick.

I would prefer to avoid using a commercial product due to expense (this
project went over budget so long ago I'm suprised I still worry) so any =
recipes
or advice would be gratefully received.

TIA
Ronan,
in rainy Worcestershire, bursting to get the first firing in my first kiln =
on
its way.

Burt Cohen on tue 21 sep 99

Hi Ronan-I think you may have more then one problem. The one you ask about
being less serious. Gap in your flue or chimney need to be filled otherwise
you will not induce a draft. You can use any number of high temperature
mortars or you can make one up with fireclay and 40-50% grog or sand. I
am concerned about your use of diatomaceous brick. In my experience this is
almost always used as a backup insulating brick-it is not meant to go on the
hot face where it will spall and or disintegrate depending on the amount of
heat it contacts. In a flue this can be a problem because you may not see
the effects of the heat on the interior unless you look down the chimney.
Burt Cohen
Northfire Pottery
Armstrong BC Canada

-----Original Message-----
From: Ronan ORourke
To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
Date: Monday, September 20, 1999 9:57 AM
Subject: advice from kilnbuilders requested


----------------------------Original message----------------------------
------------------
My problem is a flu which is full of gaps. Is there something I can
trowel
over to fill them, ITC, clay alumina mix?

This is my first kiln hence reclaimed bricks and an unwillingness to
cement
anything in place, I can envisage plenty of rebuilds! The kiln is a small
coffin type affair made of HTI, the flu is 10' high and comprised of
diatomaceous brick.

I would prefer to avoid using a commercial product due to expense (this
project went over budget so long ago I'm suprised I still worry) so any
recipes
or advice would be gratefully received.

TIA
Ronan,
in rainy Worcestershire, bursting to get the first firing in my first kiln
on
its way.

John K Dellow on tue 21 sep 99

Just get your clay slops & add sand to make a gritty mix. Using a
heavy duty rubber glove rub this mix on the wetted bricks . This
should be a cheap way to seal them.

Ronan ORourke wrote:
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> ------------------
> My problem is a flu which is full of gaps. Is there something I can trowe
> over to fill them, ITC, clay alumina mix?
>
> This is my first kiln hence reclaimed bricks and an unwillingness to cemen
> anything in place, I can envisage plenty of rebuilds! The kiln is a small
> coffin type affair made of HTI, the flu is 10' high and comprised of
> diatomaceous brick.
>
> I would prefer to avoid using a commercial product due to expense (this
> project went over budget so long ago I'm suprised I still worry) so any recip
> or advice would be gratefully received.
>
> TIA
> Ronan,
> in rainy Worcestershire, bursting to get the first firing in my first kiln on
> its way.

--

John Dellow "the flower pot man"
Home Page http://www.welcome.to/jkdellow

Marcia Selsor on wed 22 sep 99

I agree with John except if this is outside. Then you may want to use a
cement base to it won't wash away. Mix concrete with fire clay, grog or
sand. 1/4 concrete is plenty.
Marcia in Montana

John K Dellow wrote:
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Just get your clay slops & add sand to make a gritty mix. Using a
> heavy duty rubber glove rub this mix on the wetted bricks . This
> should be a cheap way to seal them.
>
> Ronan ORourke wrote:
> >
> > ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> > ------------------
> > My problem is a flu which is full of gaps. Is there something I can tro
> > over to fill them, ITC, clay alumina mix?
> >
> > This is my first kiln hence reclaimed bricks and an unwillingness to cem
> > anything in place, I can envisage plenty of rebuilds! The kiln is a small
> > coffin type affair made of HTI, the flu is 10' high and comprised of
> > diatomaceous brick.
> >
> > I would prefer to avoid using a commercial product due to expense (this
> > project went over budget so long ago I'm suprised I still worry) so any rec
> > or advice would be gratefully received.
> >
> > TIA
> > Ronan,
> > in rainy Worcestershire, bursting to get the first firing in my first kiln
> > its way.
>
> --
>
> John Dellow "the flower pot man"
> Home Page http://www.welcome.to/jkdellow

--
Marcia Selsor
selsor@imt.net
http://www.imt.net/~mjbmls
http://www.imt.net/~mjbmls/spain99.html
http://www.silverhawk.com/ex99/selsor/welcome.html

Ronan ORourke on fri 24 sep 99

------------------
Thanks to all who replied.
Decided to go with slops and sand as I had both to hand.
Thanks also for the warning about diatomaceous brick. The flu box and the =
first
four foot of the the stack is HIT so hopefully I might get away with it, at
least if I don't I'll know about it as its not to difficult to get a look =
down
the stack.
Firing her up tomorrow so wish me luck.

Ronan
Nursing blisters from splitting wood.

John K Dellow on sat 25 sep 99

Ronan ,
you will have no problem with the diatoms. I built my 12
cu.ft. Olsen Fast Fire with diatoms in the ware chamber & the
chimney. Used insulating bricks for the arch & 1" of fibre backup
around the ware chamber.
So far have had 5 firings to C12 . I used a daub of sand & fire
clay as a coating on the diatoms inside the ware chamber. Would
not do that again , because the daub is spalling. It stuffed a
14" planter in the last firing. Other wise the diatoms are
holding up ok . Definitely no prob in the chimney.
Earlier this year I pulled down my 120cu.ft terracotta kiln
after 200 firings . I use a chequed floor and all the bricks
under the chequer and the flue and chimney were diatoms. None of
these showed any spalling.
I also used diatoms in the fire channels , these were stuffed on
the hot side.
Good luck with you kiln.


Ronan ORourke wrote:
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> ------------------
> Thanks to all who replied.
> Decided to go with slops and sand as I had both to hand.
> Thanks also for the warning about diatomaceous brick. The flu box and the fir
> four foot of the the stack is HIT so hopefully I might get away with it, at
> least if I don't I'll know about it as its not to difficult to get a look down
> the stack.
> Firing her up tomorrow so wish me luck.
>
> Ronan
> Nursing blisters from splitting wood.

--

John Dellow "the flower pot man"
Home Page http://www.welcome.to/jkdellow