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diy electic kiln

updated tue 14 mar 06

 

mtigges@NOSPAM.SHAW.CA on sun 12 mar 06


On Sun, Mar 12, 2006 at 04:36:12PM -0500, Sasha wrote:
> Hello,I am experimenting with clay and simple kilns,had some succes with a
> small simple gas fired kiln,but because of some considerations,I find that a
> small electrical kiln would be a better solution.I have calculated the
> volume of kiln,found proper heating elements,found some refractory brick etc
> Here is my question.I have seen that electrical kilns have some kind of
> metal frame.I suppose its purpose is to hold all bricks in one form?Can a
> kiln be made by only assembling bricks without mortaring them and without
> using the metal frame?My idea would be to cut growes in the bricks ,so I can
> put the heating elemets in them.Also ,I didnt mention I want my kiln to be
> rectangular not a circular shape.Would that be a problem.I am intenting to
> fire some kind of paperclay tiles in it.
> Any help would be appreciated
> Regards,Sasha from Serbia
>

Funny you should ask...

http://www.m2crafts.ca/kiln.html

I'm in the middle of building an electric kiln. Not the easiest
project I've undertaken.

The overriding problem I've encountered thus far is dust. But the dust
is due to the fact that I elected to build a round kiln. This would
be alleviated completely by building a square kiln.

If I were to build a square kiln without a metal frame I would without
question use mortar. But mortar is very hard to use. You must only
use it in the final position of the kiln. Mortar the bricks in the
final resting position, then fire. THe mortar has virtually no
strength before it has been fired (such has been my experience).

Regards,

Mark.

Sasha on sun 12 mar 06


Hello,I am experimenting with clay and simple kilns,had some succes with a
small simple gas fired kiln,but because of some considerations,I find that a
small electrical kiln would be a better solution.I have calculated the
volume of kiln,found proper heating elements,found some refractory brick etc
Here is my question.I have seen that electrical kilns have some kind of
metal frame.I suppose its purpose is to hold all bricks in one form?Can a
kiln be made by only assembling bricks without mortaring them and without
using the metal frame?My idea would be to cut growes in the bricks ,so I can
put the heating elemets in them.Also ,I didnt mention I want my kiln to be
rectangular not a circular shape.Would that be a problem.I am intenting to
fire some kind of paperclay tiles in it.
Any help would be appreciated
Regards,Sasha from Serbia

Earl Brunner on sun 12 mar 06


The biggest problem I see is that if the kiln doesn't have a frame, then
things will be loose and shift easily. The electric elements tend to become
brittle after firing and moving them around might cause them to fail sooner.

Earl Brunner
Las Vegas, NV

-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of Sasha
Sent: Sunday, March 12, 2006 1:36 PM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: diy electic kiln

Hello,I am experimenting with clay and simple kilns,had some succes with a
small simple gas fired kiln,but because of some considerations,I find that a
small electrical kiln would be a better solution.I have calculated the
volume of kiln,found proper heating elements,found some refractory brick etc
Here is my question.I have seen that electrical kilns have some kind of
metal frame.I suppose its purpose is to hold all bricks in one form?Can a
kiln be made by only assembling bricks without mortaring them and without
using the metal frame?My idea would be to cut growes in the bricks ,so I can
put the heating elemets in them.Also ,I didnt mention I want my kiln to be
rectangular not a circular shape.Would that be a problem.I am intenting to
fire some kind of paperclay tiles in it.
Any help would be appreciated
Regards,Sasha from Serbia

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Arnold Howard on mon 13 mar 06


----- Original Message -----
From:
> THe mortar has virtually no
> strength before it has been fired (such has
> been my experience).

A few pointers on cementing bricks:

Apply cement to both brick surfaces by
dipping the bricks into a large tray of
cement.

Slide the cement-dipped bricks together back
and forth to get a tight seam. The seam
should be about 1/16" wide. Thick seams tend
to fail.

After the brick pieces are pressed together,
do not disturb for 24 hours.

Sincerely,

Arnold Howard
Paragon Industries, L.P., Mesquite, Texas USA
ahoward@paragonweb.com / www.paragonweb.com