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olsen kiln kits

updated thu 19 feb 04

 

Badlands Pottery on tue 21 mar 00

I apologize in advance if this has already been discussed in the past, but
has anyone ever used, or is currently using one of the kiln kits sold by
Frederick Olsen? If so, can you give me any information as to how well you
like it, if it fires consistently, ease of firing, etc. Thanks. Lori
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Rosanne Cleveland-King on wed 22 mar 00

I have a 40 cu foot Olsen kit that is quite elderly, think we built it in 81
or 82. It has been through a move that was frightening, and is still
ticking along very, very nicely. Fires easily, with all of the original
parts, with the exception of the gauges.
Rosanne Cleveland-King
Mud Pies in Kentucky





Vintage Person; Aged to Perfection over 50 years!
Well worth the wait!

j.d.walker on wed 22 mar 00

Fire an Olsen 16 cu ft about once a week for the last 5 years, fires great
even top to bottom as long as you know what your doing.
Jeff
jdpotter@iland.net

----- Original Message -----
From: "Badlands Pottery"
To:
Sent: Tuesday, March 21, 2000 12:02 PM
Subject: Olsen Kiln Kits


> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> I apologize in advance if this has already been discussed in the past, but
> has anyone ever used, or is currently using one of the kiln kits sold by
> Frederick Olsen? If so, can you give me any information as to how well
you
> like it, if it fires consistently, ease of firing, etc. Thanks. Lori
> ______________________________________________________
> Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
>

Dale A. Neese on wed 22 mar 00

Lori,
I purchased an Olsen 24cu. ft. about 12 years ago. And built a 16cu ft. for
a friend. I would recommend it for anyone needing easy firing kiln. I fired
it twice in two weeks, 3 if you count a bisque. I think I have gotten the
hang of firing evenly. The kit comes with every thing you need. If you
haven't built a kiln before the instructions may seem kinda vague. Just
measure twice and cut once. I follow Fred's firing schedule and have made
some changes in the way I stack, flue openings and burners settings to give
good even results. If I ever build another kiln, next one will be a car
kiln. Those shelves keep getting heavier as I get older. Some of them are
24"X24". Not easily handled for stacking by one person.
I just recently sprayed in interior with ITC, good to go another 12 years.
Let me know if I answer any more of your questions.
Dale Tex

Gregory D Lamont on wed 22 mar 00

At 01:02 PM 3/21/00 -0500, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>I apologize in advance if this has already been discussed in the past, but
>has anyone ever used, or is currently using one of the kiln kits sold by
>Frederick Olsen? If so, can you give me any information as to how well you
>like it, if it fires consistently, ease of firing, etc. Thanks. Lori
>______________________________________________________
>Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

We have 2 Olsen kilns in the ceramics dept. at Iowa State (Go Cyclones!!)
--a 24 ft. and a 16 cu. ft. Both assembled fairly easily, fire very evenly
for an updraft style kiln and are very easy to fire. The 24 cu. ft. kiln
is about 5 years old and the 16 cu. ft. about a year younger. They are
used very hard, as might be expected in a strong university ceramics
program, and there are certain things that don't perhaps work as well as
they're supposed to (the fire ring that's supposed to light the burners
doesn't-the burners need to be lighted individually) but other than that
they're fine. Students firing them for the first time find they can
generally expect fine results if they follow the guidelines that have been
established over many firings.

Greg

E-mail address:
gdlamont@isunet.net

Pottery Web Page:
http://www.ourwebpage.net/greglamont/

Mailing address and Phone:
Greg Lamont
3011 Northwood Drive
Ames, IA 50010-4750
(515) 233-3442

stephen h on tue 17 feb 04


so i have checked the archives and have talked to people who have used them but i just thought that i would ask for any opinions on olsen kiln kits. i'm thinking of getting a 24,,,maybe the 36. anyway any opinions will be appreciated.
i plan on firing ^10 r

thanks
stephen h






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