Doric T. Jemison-Ball ll on sat 23 aug 03
I have an gas top loading updraft baffle kiln I acquired for almost =
nothing that was originally fired with natural gas using a homemade Rube =
Goldberg device that while scary looking supposedly [according to the =
potter I bought it from] worked just fine. I've since relocated to an =
area without natural gas [Gualala, CA on the mendocino coast] and am =
trying to figure out a workable Propane solution.
The complicating factor is that the kiln is on wheels and has only six =
inches of clearance from the floor. It has eight 3" burner ports on the =
bottom. It weighs over 500 lbs [takes two people to roll it on heavy =
metal wheels] and isn't really practical to elevate.=20
External dimensions: 29"x29"x35.5 {+3" lid]=20
Internal dimensions: 24.5"x24.5"x34.5"-about 11 cu. ft.
Internal closed ware box: 19.5"x19.5"x19.5" about 5.25 cu. ft.
External walls are 4.5 in of either a really dense insulating brick or a =
really porous hard fire brick. According to the original owner, [who =
only used it for bisque and low fire, it was capable of being hi-fired. =
{I'd figure at least to the cone 4-6 mid-range stoneware] Given the =
ambiguity of what the brivk is, I'm using a rough calculation of 20,000 =
BTU/CF/HR which I hope is high, or a total of at least =
200,000-220,000BTU/HR.
With eight burners this comes out to about 25,000BTU/HR per burner. The =
problem is finding burners with this output that will fire under a kiln =
with a 6" floor clearance.
I've found some small utility burners [from Ransome =
http://www.meeder.com/cat58.pdf ] that look like they might work =
manifolded.
I've seen references to a "pot" burner [Olsen, "The Kiln Book"] but =
haven't been able to find the item anywhere searching the WEB. [It looks =
like a longish tube with like a round can the size of a small sterno can =
stuck on the end.]=20
Is anybody familiar with "pot burners" or any other alternative that =
might work.
Doric T. Jemison-Ball ll
Trollworks
P.O. Box 1647
Gualala, CA 95445=20
=20
In Northern California
=20
707-884-5067 Voice
707-884-5417 FAX
=20
buffalo@bbs-la.com
trollworks@bbs-la.com
Vince Pitelka on sat 23 aug 03
Doric -
I do not know about "Pot Burners" but why can't you simply elevate the kiln
a little higher? Marc Ward sells the GACO MR-750, which is a short
one-piece cast iron venturi burner. It is the popular burner on most raku
kilns, and is used in the small toploader gas kilns like the Olympics.
The only way you can stay within the height you specify is to use venturi
burners with a 90-degree bend right before the flame-retention tip. Seattle
Pottery Supply sells some nice small venturi burners that could work. You
would have to install the elbows yourself, but that is not difficult. The
small Ransomes would probably work, but they will be very expensive.
Good luck -
- Vince
Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Craft
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
Home - vpitelka@dtccom.net
615/597-5376
Office - wpitelka@tntech.edu
615/597-6801 x111, FAX 615/597-6803
http://iweb.tntech.edu/wpitelka/
Doric T. Jemison-Ball ll on sun 24 aug 03
Vince:
Thanks for the tip on Seattle Pottery Supply. I'm familiar with the MR-750
[I have a ZEN Raku kiln that uses one]
The kiln weighs a lot. I haven't weighed it, but it takes four people to
roll it on the steel wheels and it took a truck with a hydraulic lift to
move it into a truck [both times].
I did design a ramp to raise it up, and may go that route when I decide
where to locate it permanently.
My main concern with the Ransome utility burners is that to get the BTU
output necessary the little guys have to be fired at 10PSI or greater, and
I'd like to stay at the lower pressure that works with the MR-7500 at
27,000BTU/HR
Thanks again.
Doric T. Jemison-Ball ll
BBS-LA
14622 Ventura Blvd. #727
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
In Southern California
818-262-5367 CELL/Voice/Message
In Northern California
707-884-5067 Voice
707-884-5417 FAX
buffalo@bbs-la.com
www.bbs-la.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Vince Pitelka"
To:
Sent: Saturday, August 23, 2003 7:53 PM
Subject: Re: Pot burners?
> Doric -
> I do not know about "Pot Burners" but why can't you simply elevate the
kiln
> a little higher? Marc Ward sells the GACO MR-750, which is a short
> one-piece cast iron venturi burner. It is the popular burner on most raku
> kilns, and is used in the small toploader gas kilns like the Olympics.
>
> The only way you can stay within the height you specify is to use venturi
> burners with a 90-degree bend right before the flame-retention tip.
Seattle
> Pottery Supply sells some nice small venturi burners that could work. You
> would have to install the elbows yourself, but that is not difficult. The
> small Ransomes would probably work, but they will be very expensive.
> Good luck -
> - Vince
>
> Vince Pitelka
> Appalachian Center for Craft
> Tennessee Technological University
> 1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
> Home - vpitelka@dtccom.net
> 615/597-5376
> Office - wpitelka@tntech.edu
> 615/597-6801 x111, FAX 615/597-6803
> http://iweb.tntech.edu/wpitelka/
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
__
> 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.
>
wayneinkeywest on sun 24 aug 03
You can check these sources:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=41603
or
http://www.wardburner.com
for more information.
The Harbor Freight link is for a propane weed burner, which you describe.
Don't think it has the BTUH output you will require for a kiln, though in
combination(s) it might.
Have you considered adapting your nat.gas burner to propane? That might be
a less expensive alternative. Any qualified propane tech can do the
conversion for you.
Hope that helps,
Wayne in Key West
I've found some small utility burners [from Ransome
http://www.meeder.com/cat58.pdf ] that look like they might work manifolded.
I've seen references to a "pot" burner [Olsen, "The Kiln Book"] but haven't
been able to find the item anywhere searching the WEB. [It looks like a
longish tube with like a round can the size of a small sterno can stuck on
the end.]
Is anybody familiar with "pot burners" or any other alternative that might
work.
Rare - Earth - Design on sun 24 aug 03
The following may be useful
www.joppaglass.com/burner
Bob Hollis
----- Original Message -----
From: "Doric T. Jemison-Ball ll"
To:
Sent: Sunday, August 24, 2003 9:10 AM
Subject: Re: Pot burners?
> Vince:
>
> Thanks for the tip on Seattle Pottery Supply. I'm familiar with the MR-750
> [I have a ZEN Raku kiln that uses one]
>
> The kiln weighs a lot. I haven't weighed it, but it takes four people to
> roll it on the steel wheels and it took a truck with a hydraulic lift to
> move it into a truck [both times].
>
> I did design a ramp to raise it up, and may go that route when I decide
> where to locate it permanently.
>
> My main concern with the Ransome utility burners is that to get the BTU
> output necessary the little guys have to be fired at 10PSI or greater, and
> I'd like to stay at the lower pressure that works with the MR-7500 at
> 27,000BTU/HR
>
> Thanks again.
>
> Doric T. Jemison-Ball ll
> BBS-LA
> 14622 Ventura Blvd. #727
> Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
>
> In Southern California
>
> 818-262-5367 CELL/Voice/Message
>
> In Northern California
>
> 707-884-5067 Voice
> 707-884-5417 FAX
>
> buffalo@bbs-la.com
> www.bbs-la.com
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Vince Pitelka"
> To:
> Sent: Saturday, August 23, 2003 7:53 PM
> Subject: Re: Pot burners?
>
>
> > Doric -
> > I do not know about "Pot Burners" but why can't you simply elevate the
> kiln
> > a little higher? Marc Ward sells the GACO MR-750, which is a short
> > one-piece cast iron venturi burner. It is the popular burner on most
raku
> > kilns, and is used in the small toploader gas kilns like the Olympics.
> >
> > The only way you can stay within the height you specify is to use
venturi
> > burners with a 90-degree bend right before the flame-retention tip.
> Seattle
> > Pottery Supply sells some nice small venturi burners that could work.
You
> > would have to install the elbows yourself, but that is not difficult.
The
> > small Ransomes would probably work, but they will be very expensive.
> > Good luck -
> > - Vince
> >
> > Vince Pitelka
> > Appalachian Center for Craft
> > Tennessee Technological University
> > 1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
> > Home - vpitelka@dtccom.net
> > 615/597-5376
> > Office - wpitelka@tntech.edu
> > 615/597-6801 x111, FAX 615/597-6803
> > http://iweb.tntech.edu/wpitelka/
> >
> >
>
____________________________________________________________________________
> __
> > 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.
> >
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
__
> 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.
>
Louis Katz on sun 24 aug 03
What Brand and how old is this kiln?
Louis
On Saturday, August 23, 2003, at 01:22 PM, Doric T. Jemison-Ball ll
wrote:
> I have an gas top loading updraft baffle kiln I acquired for almost
> nothing that was originally fired with natural gas using a homemade
> Rube Goldberg device that while scary looking supposedly [according to
> the potter I bought it from] worked just fine. I've since relocated to
> an area without natural gas [Gualala, CA on the mendocino coast] and
> am trying to figure out a workable Propane solution.
>
> The complicating factor is that the kiln is on wheels and has only six
> inches of clearance from the floor. It has eight 3" burner ports on
> the bottom. It weighs over 500 lbs [takes two people to roll it on
> heavy metal wheels] and isn't really practical to elevate.
>
> External dimensions: 29"x29"x35.5 {+3" lid]
> Internal dimensions: 24.5"x24.5"x34.5"-about 11 cu. ft.
> Internal closed ware box: 19.5"x19.5"x19.5" about 5.25 cu. ft.
>
> External walls are 4.5 in of either a really dense insulating brick or
> a really porous hard fire brick. According to the original owner, [who
> only used it for bisque and low fire, it was capable of being
> hi-fired. {I'd figure at least to the cone 4-6 mid-range stoneware]
> Given the ambiguity of what the brivk is, I'm using a rough
> calculation of 20,000 BTU/CF/HR which I hope is high, or a total of at
> least 200,000-220,000BTU/HR.
> With eight burners this comes out to about 25,000BTU/HR per burner.
> The problem is finding burners with this output that will fire under a
> kiln with a 6" floor clearance.
>
> I've found some small utility burners [from Ransome
> http://www.meeder.com/cat58.pdf ] that look like they might work
> manifolded.
> I've seen references to a "pot" burner [Olsen, "The Kiln Book"] but
> haven't been able to find the item anywhere searching the WEB. [It
> looks like a longish tube with like a round can the size of a small
> sterno can stuck on the end.]
>
> Is anybody familiar with "pot burners" or any other alternative that
> might work.
>
> Doric T. Jemison-Ball ll
> Trollworks
> P.O. Box 1647
> Gualala, CA 95445
>
> In Northern California
>
> 707-884-5067 Voice
> 707-884-5417 FAX
>
> buffalo@bbs-la.com
> trollworks@bbs-la.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.
>
Leonard Smith on mon 25 aug 03
The pot burners I had were designed to fire oil and were powered by a
low pressure blower. The cup had a gravity fed pool of oil, surrounded
by air holes through which the air was forced. The oil was encouraged
to volatilise and ignite and burn. I would start them with a cube of
fire lighter in them and they would then ignite and continue to burn. I
would use them in the early part of the firing and once the firebox was
red hot change over to a venturi tube style of oil burner.
Leonard Smith
Rosedale Street Gallery
2A Rosedale Street
Dulwich Hill NSW 2203
Australia
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