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kiln question / this forum

updated sat 13 apr 02

 

Kristin Schnelten on tue 9 apr 02


Yesterday I sent in a question re: electric kilns. I would like to put one
in my basement, but it is a wooden floor and I was wondering if anyone else
had done this, if anyone had any advice. (could I just put a layer of cinder
blocks beneath the kiln, etc.)

It did not get 'accepted' into the list, I am assuming because my first
paragraph contained a 'thanks' to 'all of the folks' who gave me advice on
starting out.

This all got me thinking about what an odd system this ListServ is -- it
just seems antiquated and tends to need a lot more human effort than is
necessary.

I am a member of another online community, centered around telemark skiing.
At this Web site (view it here:
http://www.telemarktalk.com/phpBB/viewforum.php?forum=1&992) folks post a
question or a story, and people post their replies to that post, right
underneath of it. It's all very well organized and it's easy to just not
read the posts that do not interest you. There is a moderator, who does
check in every day to make sure that there aren't any inappropriate posts.
In which case he simply removes them from the server.

It just seems that people are becoming upset when such and such post isn't
accepted, but why couldn't the list be structured like the one above? That
way, no one gets upset about having to read thread after thread of thanks,
smoke-firing in an electric kiln, etc. -- unless of course they want to.

Just a thought . . . .

(still wondering if I can put a large skutt kiln on the wood floor in my
basement).

Thanks! - Kristin



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Patrick Rowe on tue 9 apr 02


You need to get a heater pad from the hardware store. The kiln stand sits
on top of the heater pad and the kiln on the stand.

-----Original Message-----
From: Ceramic Arts Discussion List [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG]On
Behalf Of Kristin Schnelten
Sent: Tuesday, April 09, 2002 11:58 AM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Kiln Question / This Forum


Yesterday I sent in a question re: electric kilns. I would like to put one
in my basement, but it is a wooden floor and I was wondering if anyone else
had done this, if anyone had any advice. (could I just put a layer of cinder
blocks beneath the kiln, etc.)

It did not get 'accepted' into the list, I am assuming because my first
paragraph contained a 'thanks' to 'all of the folks' who gave me advice on
starting out.

This all got me thinking about what an odd system this ListServ is -- it
just seems antiquated and tends to need a lot more human effort than is
necessary.

I am a member of another online community, centered around telemark skiing.
At this Web site (view it here:
http://www.telemarktalk.com/phpBB/viewforum.php?forum=1&992) folks post a
question or a story, and people post their replies to that post, right
underneath of it. It's all very well organized and it's easy to just not
read the posts that do not interest you. There is a moderator, who does
check in every day to make sure that there aren't any inappropriate posts.
In which case he simply removes them from the server.

It just seems that people are becoming upset when such and such post isn't
accepted, but why couldn't the list be structured like the one above? That
way, no one gets upset about having to read thread after thread of thanks,
smoke-firing in an electric kiln, etc. -- unless of course they want to.

Just a thought . . . .

(still wondering if I can put a large skutt kiln on the wood floor in my
basement).

Thanks! - Kristin



_________________________________________________________________
Join the world’s largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail.
http://www.hotmail.com

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__
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Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
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The Sherman's on wed 10 apr 02


Don't know if you need to use brick- there are some very good commercial
insulating materials out there. I fire in my Skutt in a basement with a
wood floor over it (not sure if your wood floor is over or under the kiln).
I have a Celotex insulating sheet box I put up around the kiln while it is
firing with a cutout on top for a vent system to the outside. When I
started I set up thermometers around the kiln and baby sat it to find out
how hot the wood got. Max was 105 F next to the beams when firing to cone
6.5. Since heat rises it might work out for you to set the kiln on a sheet
if the floor itself is wood. Be prepared to cut the firing short and would
measure the temp directly under the flooring.
Marcey Sherman
Zephyr Pottery

-----Original Message-----
From: Ceramic Arts Discussion List [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG]On
Behalf Of Kristin Schnelten
Sent: Tuesday, April 09, 2002 11:58 AM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Kiln Question / This Forum


Yesterday I sent in a question re: electric kilns. I would like to put one
in my basement, but it is a wooden floor and I was wondering if anyone else
had done this, if anyone had any advice. (could I just put a layer of cinder
blocks beneath the kiln, etc.)

It did not get 'accepted' into the list, I am assuming because my first
paragraph contained a 'thanks' to 'all of the folks' who gave me advice on
starting out.

This all got me thinking about what an odd system this ListServ is -- it
just seems antiquated and tends to need a lot more human effort than is
necessary.

I am a member of another online community, centered around telemark skiing.
At this Web site (view it here:
http://www.telemarktalk.com/phpBB/viewforum.php?forum=1&992) folks post a
question or a story, and people post their replies to that post, right
underneath of it. It's all very well organized and it's easy to just not
read the posts that do not interest you. There is a moderator, who does
check in every day to make sure that there aren't any inappropriate posts.
In which case he simply removes them from the server.

It just seems that people are becoming upset when such and such post isn't
accepted, but why couldn't the list be structured like the one above? That
way, no one gets upset about having to read thread after thread of thanks,
smoke-firing in an electric kiln, etc. -- unless of course they want to.

Just a thought . . . .

(still wondering if I can put a large skutt kiln on the wood floor in my
basement).

Thanks! - Kristin



_________________________________________________________________
Join the world’s largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail.
http://www.hotmail.com

____________________________________________________________________________
__
Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org

You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/

Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.

william schran on thu 11 apr 02


Kristin - Simple answer to putting kiln on wood floor - NO! Perhaps a
sheet of cement board or fire resistant drywall & a layer of cinder
blocks laid sideways.
Bill

Patrick Rowe on thu 11 apr 02


You can buy a heater pad at the hardware store. As long as the kiln is
sitting on the manufacturer's stand on top of the heater pad you shouldn't
have any problem. I know potters who do this.
Patrick Rowe

-----Original Message-----
From: Ceramic Arts Discussion List [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG]On
Behalf Of william schran
Sent: Thursday, April 11, 2002 9:58 AM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Re: Kiln Question / This Forum


Kristin - Simple answer to putting kiln on wood floor - NO! Perhaps a
sheet of cement board or fire resistant drywall & a layer of cinder
blocks laid sideways.
Bill

____________________________________________________________________________
__
Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org

You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/

Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.

Stephen J Lewicki on fri 12 apr 02


I would say no - which is not to say you might not get away with it.
Monitoring temperatures is one issue - and that is certainly prudent.
However, there is another major issue - time. The heat of the kiln over
time will tend to dry out the wood and lower its spontaneous combustion
temperature until one day - boom! I know of a major million dollar fire
caused by a kiln improperly installed on a wood floor. Just insulating the
heat from the wood, I don't think, is enough. Maybe (and I am NOT an expert
on this issue - just putting in my two cents) it might work if you had
insulation and an air space under the insulation. I think perhaps you
should seek out the advice of a competent fire chief.

Stephen J Lewicki
President
L&L Kiln Mfg