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need help to fix kiln lid

updated sun 1 feb 04

 

Sharon Ramick on sat 31 jan 04


I'm new to ceramics... sort of.... My mother had a ceramics shop in the
basement as I was growing up.... I have inherited one of her kilns.... However,
when having it looked at and tested, my husband and the consultant accidentally
broke the somewhat rusted metal band from around the top of the kiln lid. This
only caused all the bricks and pieces to fall completely apart. Can anyone
tell me if the lid if fixable... or do I need to purchase a whole new one....
Any help is greatly appreciated.
thanks,
Sharon Ramick

Earl Brunner on sat 31 jan 04


That's really a question that's hard to answer with the available info.
It depends for example, on what you mean by broken. If all of the
pieces are large, and you can recreate a band around it that will
squeeze tight enough to hold everything together then you may be OK. If
some of the pieces will fall out with gravity, then you probably need a
new lid.

During the firing process the lid is subjected to a fair amount of
expansion and contraction as the kiln heats and cools. This works
against the lid staying together, especially since it is moved a lot
(assuming it's a top loading kiln). But there are a lot of kilns out
there with flat roofs that hold up fine.

The make and model of the kiln would help. Does the lid have elements
in it? I can't think of many that did......

-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of Sharon
Ramick
Sent: Friday, January 30, 2004 10:28 PM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Need help to fix kiln lid

I'm new to ceramics... sort of.... My mother had a ceramics shop in the
basement as I was growing up.... I have inherited one of her kilns....
However,
when having it looked at and tested, my husband and the consultant
accidentally
broke the somewhat rusted metal band from around the top of the kiln
lid. This
only caused all the bricks and pieces to fall completely apart. Can
anyone
tell me if the lid if fixable... or do I need to purchase a whole new
one....
Any help is greatly appreciated.
thanks,
Sharon Ramick

Tony Ferguson on sat 31 jan 04


Sharon,

More than likely, you could call the manufacturer and purchase a new band.
OR, measure the band and go and buy the metal and make one yourself. You
will want the metal screw adjusters that pull the band around the brick and
create tension--you will set your brick up, wrap the band around the brick,
and tighten it till it hold the brick as one solid unit.


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: "Sharon Ramick"
To:
Sent: Saturday, January 31, 2004 12:28 AM
Subject: Need help to fix kiln lid


> I'm new to ceramics... sort of.... My mother had a ceramics shop in the
> basement as I was growing up.... I have inherited one of her kilns....
However,
> when having it looked at and tested, my husband and the consultant
accidentally
> broke the somewhat rusted metal band from around the top of the kiln lid.
This
> only caused all the bricks and pieces to fall completely apart. Can
anyone
> tell me if the lid if fixable... or do I need to purchase a whole new
one....
> Any help is greatly appreciated.
> thanks,
> Sharon Ramick
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
__
> 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.

piedpotterhamelin@COMCAST.NET on sat 31 jan 04


Sharon
You first need to buy some kiln cement from a supplier. Follow the directions given, as this is the glue to be used between your bricks.
You also will need to buy a couple of long stainless steel hose clamps and a pop rivet gun with rivets. You will have to drill out the old fasteners that attached the original hose clamps to your lid and replace the clamps with your new ones.
Then take the lid apart on a large table. Sweep of the loose particles. Glue the parts together. Wrap on the band and clamp together.
Fire the lid upside down to 900 degrees to drive off the water. let cool, flip the lid and do a firing to your normal cone. Then whencool, vacuum of the lid and the kiln interior.
Good luck
Rick

--
"Many a wiser men than I hath
gone to pot." 1649
> I'm new to ceramics... sort of.... My mother had a ceramics shop in the
> basement as I was growing up.... I have inherited one of her kilns.... However,
> when having it looked at and tested, my husband and the consultant accidentally
> broke the somewhat rusted metal band from around the top of the kiln lid. This
> only caused all the bricks and pieces to fall completely apart. Can anyone
> tell me if the lid if fixable... or do I need to purchase a whole new one....
> Any help is greatly appreciated.
> thanks,
> Sharon Ramick
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> 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 sun 1 feb 04


Hi Sharon,
You can fix lids like that if you have all the pieces. You can cement
them back together with "air-set" refractiory cement, or a home made
mixture of 50% very fine mollochite and 50 % good quality kaolin. This
can be mixed well and then wetted down to a soft paste using sodium
silicate. The resulting mix is home made air-set cement and will glue
your kiln lid bricks together. Make sure that all the pieces fit back
together properly (like a jig saw puzzle) before you start. Otherwise
you can get into a bit of a mess.
Once you are confident that you know where all the pieces go. Take it
all apart and start gluing. let it dry overnight and once it is dry you
can fire the kiln up to s/w temp and that will make the final high
temperature 'cure'.
You will of course need to get someone to make you a new band to secure
it all together before you start the whole repair process.
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 Saturday, January 31, 2004, at 05:28 PM, Sharon Ramick wrote:

> I'm new to ceramics... sort of.... My mother had a ceramics shop in the
> basement as I was growing up.... I have inherited one of her kilns....
> However,
> when having it looked at and tested, my husband and the consultant
> accidentally
> broke the somewhat rusted metal band from around the top of the kiln
> lid. This
> only caused all the bricks and pieces to fall completely apart. Can
> anyone
> tell me if the lid if fixable... or do I need to purchase a whole new
> one....
> Any help is greatly appreciated.
> thanks,
> Sharon Ramick
>
> _______________________________________________________________________
> _______
> 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.
>
>