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protecting a kiln chimney

updated wed 3 sep 03

 

Vince Pitelka on mon 1 sep 03


> I reposted my email about protecting a wood kiln
> chimney from the weather. Someone suggested using a
> 50:50 mix of sand and slip clay to plaster the
> chimney. The rest of the kiln is under a shelter. It
> was only recently built and my teacher has said you
> are meant to wait for 3 months or so before using it
> for the first time. Something to do with explosions?

Lance -
Your teacher seems overly cautious, but that is certainly better than being
wreckless. You can go ahead and fire the kiln right away, but be gentle the
first time. We have a groundhog/anagama hybrid that we call our "hoggama,"
and it is mostly underground, so it absorbs LOTS of groundwater between
firings. We normally preheat overnight with a fire outside the front of the
kiln, drawing in through the air ports, and then move the fire into the
firebox in the front of the kiln early the next morning. From there we
bring it up to cone 9 in about 24 hours, and then climb to cone 11 over the
next 36 hours. You might want to slow down the initial preheat to 24 hours.
The slow clilmb that we do during the last 36 hours is just to achieve the
desired surface effects.

I do not see much reason to cap the chimney between firings, because the
small amount of rain water that enters will do no harm. Remember that the
mortar on the inside of the chimney gets fired, and water will not affect
it. The outside of the chimney is more susceptible, and I have had good
luck with a stucco of 50 parts filler, 35 parts scrap recycle slurry, and 15
parts portland cement. The filler can be cheap sand, recycled bisque grog,
or volcanic ash. After a number of years the stucco will start to flake
off, but it is easy to repair with more of the same.
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/

=?iso-8859-1?q?lance=20millward?= on mon 1 sep 03


I reposted my email about protecting a wood kiln
chimney from the weather. Someone suggested using a
50:50 mix of sand and slip clay to plaster the
chimney. The rest of the kiln is under a shelter. It
was only recently built and my teacher has said you
are meant to wait for 3 months or so before using it
for the first time. Something to do with explosions?

If you have any other ideas, they would be
appreciated.

Sincerely

Lance Millward.
Chiba prefecture, Japan.

--- "Hendrix, Taylor J"
wrote: > Lance,
>
> Okay, I'm right here. Wha'd ya need?
>
> Taylor, in Waco
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: lance millward
> [mailto:verdentgreen@YAHOO.COM.AU]
> Sent: Saturday, August 30, 2003 8:03 PM
> To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
> Subject: Re: Rude replies/ NEWBIE FROST ALERT
>
> ...Where are these 'masters' when you need
> them?...
>
>
______________________________________________________________________________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change
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>
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> reached at melpots@pclink.com.

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Tony Ferguson on mon 1 sep 03


Lance,

You do not have to wait 3 months to fire. I built my anagama and fired it
right after. You will need to go slow so that all the moisture works its
way out. Unless its very rainy and high humidity where you are, you
shouldn't need to wait more than a week after your last coating on the kiln.
As far as the chimney, most chimney's are not covered with any coating--but
you can of course. I would not cover it with anything until you have the
firings worked out--you may need to adjust the stack height or width to
reach the desired temperature.


Thank you.

Tony Ferguson
On Lake Superior, where the sky meets the Lake

Custom & Manufactured Kiln Design
Stoneware, Porcelain, Raku and more
by Coleman, Ferguson, Winchester...
http://www.aquariusartgallery.com
218-727-6339
315 N. Lake Ave
Apt 312
Duluth, MN 55806


----- Original Message -----
From: "lance millward"
To:
Sent: Monday, September 01, 2003 7:33 AM
Subject: Protecting a kiln chimney


> I reposted my email about protecting a wood kiln
> chimney from the weather. Someone suggested using a
> 50:50 mix of sand and slip clay to plaster the
> chimney. The rest of the kiln is under a shelter. It
> was only recently built and my teacher has said you
> are meant to wait for 3 months or so before using it
> for the first time. Something to do with explosions?
>
> If you have any other ideas, they would be
> appreciated.
>
> Sincerely
>
> Lance Millward.
> Chiba prefecture, Japan.
>
> --- "Hendrix, Taylor J"
> wrote: > Lance,
> >
> > Okay, I'm right here. Wha'd ya need?
> >
> > Taylor, in Waco
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: lance millward
> > [mailto:verdentgreen@YAHOO.COM.AU]
> > Sent: Saturday, August 30, 2003 8:03 PM
> > To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
> > Subject: Re: Rude replies/ NEWBIE FROST ALERT
> >
> > ...Where are these 'masters' when you need
> > them?...
> >
> >
>
____________________________________________________________________________
__
> > 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.
>
> http://mobile.yahoo.com.au - Yahoo! Mobile
> - Check & compose your email via SMS on your Telstra or Vodafone mobile.
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
__
> 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.
>

steve harrison on tue 2 sep 03


Hi Lance,
It was me that said to use the 50/50 mix of clay and sand.BUT I did
not say to plaster the out side with it. Rather, I suggested that you
lay the bricks with it. That means rebuilding the chimney. If you just
plaster it on it will all flake off.
Best wishes
Steve Harrison

Hot & Sticky Pty Ltd
5 Railway Pde
Balmoral Village
NSW 2571
Australia

http://ian.currie.to/sh/Steve_Harrisons_books.html


On Monday, September 1, 2003, at 10:33 PM, lance millward wrote:

> I reposted my email about protecting a wood kiln
> chimney from the weather. Someone suggested using a
> 50:50 mix of sand and slip clay to plaster the
> chimney. The rest of the kiln is under a shelter. It
> was only recently built and my teacher has said you
> are meant to wait for 3 months or so before using it
> for the first time. Something to do with explosions?
>
> If you have any other ideas, they would be
> appreciated.
>
> Sincerely
>
> Lance Millward.
> Chiba prefecture, Japan.
>
>