Sandi Finney on mon 20 jan 03
After a few years of leasing an off site gas kiln, I've decided to attempt
to build one here at my small studio this spring. I'm just beginning my
research and will have some help - I'm a novice at this.
I live in an urban area - my house and studio set back from the street
about 200 feet. My lot is heavily wooded.
Initially I thought I could somehow tie into the city gas lines coming
into my house, but now I'm being told by some that I will have to tie this
kiln gas line directly from the city line at the street - a larger line is
needed? The setback and trees make digging a new line impossible.
I'm hoping that there are some alternatives (outside of electric kilns
and/or blowing up my home) Any suggestions?
Sandi Finney
Hole Pottery
Indianapolis
James Bledsoe on mon 20 jan 03
the question is. where is your meter? true you need a larger line but
only from the meter to the kiln. the gas company will gladly install a new
higher capacity meter and regulator on the line you already have. On the
street side of your regulator you most likely have in the neighborhood of 80
psi and you only are going to use 7 water column inches pressure , 27.7 wci
= 1psi. you will need a large dia. pipe to run from the meter to the kiln
if the meter is in the street or some long distance from your house then
those who tell you a new pipe is in the works may be correct. For more
general info I would get a copy of The kiln Book by Frederick Olsen.
jim
----- Original Message -----
From: "Sandi Finney"
To:
Sent: Monday, January 20, 2003 10:55 AM
Subject: Building a gas kiln need help
> After a few years of leasing an off site gas kiln, I've decided to attempt
> to build one here at my small studio this spring. I'm just beginning my
> research and will have some help - I'm a novice at this.
>
> I live in an urban area - my house and studio set back from the street
> about 200 feet. My lot is heavily wooded.
>
> Initially I thought I could somehow tie into the city gas lines coming
> into my house, but now I'm being told by some that I will have to tie this
> kiln gas line directly from the city line at the street - a larger line is
> needed? The setback and trees make digging a new line impossible.
>
> I'm hoping that there are some alternatives (outside of electric kilns
> and/or blowing up my home) Any suggestions?
>
> Sandi Finney
> Hole Pottery
> Indianapolis
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
__
> 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.
Roger Korn on mon 20 jan 03
Ask your utility company to put a 2 psi (55 inch water column) pressure
regulator on your meter. You will have to supply 8wci (water column
inch) regulators for your household appliances, but the 2psi should
allow you to fire a 300,000 btu/hr gas kiln. The extra regulators are
cheaper than running 1 1/2 inch pipe in from the street.
Roger
Sandi Finney wrote:
>After a few years of leasing an off site gas kiln, I've decided to attempt
>to build one here at my small studio this spring. I'm just beginning my
>research and will have some help - I'm a novice at this.
>
>I live in an urban area - my house and studio set back from the street
>about 200 feet. My lot is heavily wooded.
>
>Initially I thought I could somehow tie into the city gas lines coming
>into my house, but now I'm being told by some that I will have to tie this
>kiln gas line directly from the city line at the street - a larger line is
>needed? The setback and trees make digging a new line impossible.
>
>I'm hoping that there are some alternatives (outside of electric kilns
>and/or blowing up my home) Any suggestions?
>
>Sandi Finney
>Hole Pottery
>Indianapolis
>
>______________________________________________________________________________
>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.
>
--
Roger Korn
McKay Creek Ceramics
In AZ: PO Box 463
4215 Culpepper Ranch Rd
Rimrock, AZ 86335
928-567-5699 <-
In OR: PO Box 436
31330 NW Pacific Ave.
North Plains, OR 97133
503-647-5464
Les Haworth on mon 20 jan 03
Sandi, You should go to your local gas company and talk with a Salesman or
Technician. Make it your job that day to make a new friend at the gas
company. If you explain your problems and what your trying to achieve to
that person, they may be willing to help you out. It's not that difficult to
increase the gas pressure. Sometimes they have to change the regulator but
on the other hand, they will be selling you more gas and they shouldn't
charge you too much for the change. After all it's still their regulator.
(In most county's) For your kiln building pleasure, please read "The Kiln
Book" by Fred Olsen. Good luck in your endeavors.
Lester R. Haworth III
Sales and Technical Support
Laguna Clay Co.
14400 Lomitas ave
City of Industry, CA 91746
(626)330-0631 ext. 229
les@lagunaclay.com
www.lagunaclay.com
If you can dream it, you can do it! ~~ Walt Disney
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG]On Behalf Of Sandi Finney
Sent: Monday, January 20, 2003 10:55 AM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Building a gas kiln need help
After a few years of leasing an off site gas kiln, I've decided to attempt
to build one here at my small studio this spring. I'm just beginning my
research and will have some help - I'm a novice at this.
I live in an urban area - my house and studio set back from the street
about 200 feet. My lot is heavily wooded.
Initially I thought I could somehow tie into the city gas lines coming
into my house, but now I'm being told by some that I will have to tie this
kiln gas line directly from the city line at the street - a larger line is
needed? The setback and trees make digging a new line impossible.
I'm hoping that there are some alternatives (outside of electric kilns
and/or blowing up my home) Any suggestions?
Sandi Finney
Hole Pottery
Indianapolis
____________________________________________________________________________
__
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.
Fredrick Paget on mon 20 jan 03
A few years ago I had a similar problem.
The kiln site was 125 feet from the gas meter with a half a dozen or so 90
degree bends. (Each bend is figured as equal to "x" number of feet of
straight pipe in pressure drop. If my memory is right "x "= 10 feet).
There was an existing 3/4 inch gas line running by the site that went to
my greenhouse heater. It was not possible to get enough gas through the 3/4
inch pipe to run the kiln. I did not want to dig and install a new line
because it would run under trees and a bamboo grove (tough roots up to an
inch in diameter) and under the house.
I was able to get the gas company to increase the pressure out of the meter
to one PSI (pounds per square inch) from the previous pressure commonly
used here of 1/4 PSI (also known as 7 inches water pressure). They also
offered 3 PSI but I did not need that much.
The gas company charged me $US500 for a new regulator and labor. I had to
go through an inspection process and pressure test of the piping. Also I
had to install 2 low pressure regulators at my own expense - one for the
house and one for the greenhouse - to lower the pressure back to 1/4 PSI.
The kiln works fine and through the existing 3/4 inch pipe, I can get 20
inches water pressure on the gauge at the kiln with all burners on full.
Fred Paget
>........I've decided to attempt
>to build (a kiln) here at my small studio this spring. .......
>I live in an urban area - my house and studio set back from the street
>about 200 feet. My lot is heavily wooded.
>Initially I thought I could somehow tie into the city gas lines coming
>into my house, but now I'm being told by some that I will have to tie this
>kiln gas line directly from the city line at the street - a larger line is
>needed? The setback and trees make digging a new line impossible.
>I'm hoping that there are some alternatives
>Sandi Finney
From Fred Paget, Marin County, California, USA
Marvpots@AOL.COM on mon 20 jan 03
Sandi:
Suggest you contact Donovan Palmquist in Minneapolis, operationg as Master
Kiln Builders--you can find his email and other details in any of the
Ceramics publications.
He's a specialist in kiln building and could probably help you a lot.
Good luck.
Marvin Flowerman
marvpots@aol.com
LindaBlossom on mon 20 jan 03
Sandi,
You could use propane instead of natural.
Linda
Ithaca, NY
>
> Initially I thought I could somehow tie into the city gas lines coming
> into my house, but now I'm being told by some that I will have to tie this
> kiln gas line directly from the city line at the street - a larger line is
> needed? The setback and trees make digging a new line impossible.
>
> I'm hoping that there are some alternatives (outside of electric kilns
> and/or blowing up my home) Any suggestions?
>
> Sandi Finney
> Hole Pottery
> Indianapolis
>
June Perry on tue 21 jan 03
You can use propane and hook up one or two large 500 gallon tanks or four
to six or so of smaller ones (the size that you usually see outside of some
houses which people use to power their gas ranges. The number needed will
depend on the BTU requirement for your kiln.
I saw this done in Mashiko Japan and it fired a a kiln that looked to be in
the 20-30 cubic foot range. You will have to have install manifolds on them
which your local propane dealer can set up for you.
Good luck!
Regards,
June Perry
http://www.angelfire.com/art2/shambhalapottery/index.html
Brookssburgess@AOL.COM on thu 23 jan 03
The size of the meter on typical house set up is limiting factor. However,
with the new flexible orange plastic pipe that the gas companies run these
days 200 feet and trees should be no problem. The pipe is buried with a
trenching machine that digs the hole (only about 6 inches wide) lays the pipe
and covers the trench. At my studio , I was charged about $200 bucks for them
to run the pipe and install large meter. The pipe goes under the road (they
can horizontal drill, didnt even have to dig up the asphalt) through my side
yard , under an existing fence before emerging at meter that I had them place
only 12 feet from my kiln shed. Put the meter as close as you can to kiln as
all piping on your side of the meter is your responsibility ($$$) and
distance of run from the meter will affect the flow of gas. (c.f.m.) Hope
this helps although if I had to do it again I think I would go with propane
and avoid monthly bills not to mention the stuff I had to go through to get
the needed approval .
Brooks Burgess
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