| Selecting a Kiln |
| Steve Lewicki, of L and L Kiln Manufacturing, has advice for prospective kiln-owners. |
From "Throwing Clay"
episode DTHC-110 |
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Are you curious about the basic set-up for a kiln or wondering what size kiln would work best in your studio? If so, the experts at L and L Kiln Manufacturing, in Pennsylvania, can answer any question regarding kiln requirements--and they have an electric kiln to fit every need.
According to Steve Lewicki (figure A), the president of L and L Kiln Manufacturing, kilns need to maintain a uniform environment inside the structure (figure B). They come in several styles, each featuring insulated sides and a type of control mechanism (figure C). Today most of the controls are computerized.
Every kiln has several basic features. One feature is the kiln stand; it's critical that the heat from the bottom of a kiln be insulated from the floor with an air space. To bake ceramics, a kiln must reach temperatures ranging from 1800 degrees up to 2250 degrees, much hotter than the average oven. To achieve these temperatures, kilns require a special fire brick, which is extremely insulating and can withstand high temperatures (figure D). Kiln lids are made up of cemented pieces of fire brick (figure E). The brick is coated with a special material that actually hardens as the kilns heat up over time. The coating eventually cures the entire kiln, making it more impervious over time to glaze fumes. Inside the kiln, heating elements are made from a high temperature metal that resists corrosion at extremely high temperatures. Thermacouples read the temperature just like a thermometer (figure F). They are made from a high-temperature material and can be inserted in peephole plugs in the kiln. The plugs let the potter, who must wear special safety glasses during viewing, see inside the kiln during firing.
Before purchasing a kiln, a potter must decide what size projects they will be producing, what kind of electrical power is available and what size space is available for a kiln. Kilns range in size from small models with simpler computer controls and 12 foot long cords that fit dryer outlets (figure G) to large models with large doors that can accommodate sculpture (figure H). The most popular model is seven cubic feet (figure I), requiring a 50 amp receptacle similar to the receptacle needed for a kitchen oven. Prices range from $1300 to $1,400 for a small kiln to $4,000 to $5,000 for the larger model.
Steve's best advice for knowing if you have the correct kiln for your needs is quite simple: if the kiln fires your work the way you want and expect it to, then you have a good kiln.
RESOURCES :
Kilns
L & L Kilns
Website: www.hotkilns.com
Clay
Highwater Clays
Website: www.highwaterclays.com
Extruders
American Art Clay Co. Inc. (AMACO)
Website: www.amaco.com
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