Dave and Janet Evans on thu 13 jul 00
Even the best of us have to move, like it or not, heavy equipment or =
not. I purchased a used kiln (14 cu. ft, IFB w/ fiber top and door) and =
moved it on a rented trailer. Between the lack of good shocks on the =
trailer and the crew of seven friends trying to manhandle close to a =
ton, I had a wall collapse. After brickwork and a new fiber lining I =
wanted to keep the sucker in one piece when (inevitably, and in short =
order) I had to move it again. The rented house it was located at sold, =
so I had to move it again. I dug some space out of the ground at each =
of the bottom corners and attached some really massive casters. Use =
casters rated for at least half the weight of your kiln, and attach with =
really strong bolts (hardness 8). I also added a couple of welds to =
each, but these act more like stress indicators than attachment points. =
While your at it add some good thick handholds around the kiln to make =
it easier to position and move. Getting it to it's next location was =
far easier. I was able to push the thing to its pick-up spot by myself. =
This time I rented a big truck with a powered lift-gate (check the lift =
capacity). Get all the insurance you can for this kind of thing, Even =
if you are covered by your insurance (check), you are usually not =
covered for lost revenue during repair time if something happens (big$). =
Judicious use of a come-along or cable puller, a few boards, some load =
straps and clamps to keep the casters from spinning, and the kiln went =
up and into the truck without much difficulty. Try to be very safe and =
careful when moving thousand and more pound objects, they are expensive, =
and so are your toes and limbs. At the new location the kiln lived in =
the garage, and we would simply wheel it out on the driveway, jack up =
with a little car jack and level it out with cinder blocks bricks and =
metal shims. Once cool, back inside it went. After 6 months at this =
rented hose, that house sold as well. Off to storage for a couple of =
months, and now just got done moving it to its new home in the large =
backyard of my good claybud and his extra understanding and artistic =
wife at the house they just purchased. I hope this it's final resting =
place, and I'll be able to level it out and position it permanently, =
BUT I'LL KEEP THE CASTERS!!!
rickmahaffey on fri 14 jul 00
Dave and Janet,
The casters are a great idea! The times I moved kilns (several) I used plywood braced with 2 by 4's to support the side walls, and thin plywood or masonite (hardboard) and 2 by 4's to brace the arch. Worked like a charm. Never lost a brick, even with a hard landing off a forklift (6" drop, big noise).
Rick Mahaffey
Tacoma Community College
Tacoma, Washington, USA
| |
|
