Tiny wood fired kiln?

Hi All,

Was wondering if anyone has seen [plans for?] a tiny wood fired kiln,
cone 10 or so. Also wondering if there is such a thing as *too small a
wood fired kiln, as in, would the, say, physics of the firing process
(air, firbox, flue, chimney, flame flow, etc...) breakdown at some
point? Or another way of putting it, just for sake of amusement mind,
could one build so small a wf.kiln that it was fueled with toothpicks
and stoked by a mouse? [laughter]

Already have several books, including Olson's and have a 27cf Minnesota
Flat Top that gets used regularly. But I do like to make wee pots too
and *love* wood flame flashing, so was just wondering out loud. (or is
this just called procrastination?)

Already have several ideas, a tested and used formula for a good
refractory castable and some odd bits a pieces of fiber blanket etc....
So, anyway, any thoughts?


Best of regards,
Sarah

Dear Sarah,

In addition to Wayne's excellent suggestion;
Please go to http://www.mudslinger.demon.co.uk/web2
Small, manageable, fuel kilns are my chief interest. I am currently
putting together an E-book giving much more detail on my explorations in
fire, which will be sold for a reasonable sum off my website. At this
stage though I am more than happy to answer any questions you may have.

Best regards

Steve Mills
Bath
UK


In article k.net,
Sarah Hembree writes

Hi All,

Was wondering if anyone has seen [plans for?] a tiny wood fired kiln,
cone 10 or so. Also wondering if there is such a thing as *too small a
wood fired kiln, as in, would the, say, physics of the firing process
(air, firbox, flue, chimney, flame flow, etc...) breakdown at some
point? Or another way of putting it, just for sake of amusement mind,
could one build so small a wf.kiln that it was fueled with toothpicks
and stoked by a mouse? [laughter]

Already have several books, including Olson's and have a 27cf Minnesota
Flat Top that gets used regularly. But I do like to make wee pots too
and *love* wood flame flashing, so was just wondering out loud. (or is
this just called procrastination?)

Already have several ideas, a tested and used formula for a good
refractory castable and some odd bits a pieces of fiber blanket etc....
So, anyway, any thoughts?


Best of regards,
Sarah


--
Steve Mills
Bath
UK

Thank you everyone for the feedback, it has been very helpful. If we get
results, we'll post a note back here.

Best of regards,
Sarah

Sarah Hembree wrote:


Hi All,

Was wondering if anyone has seen [plans for?] a tiny wood fired kiln,
cone 10 or so. Also wondering if there is such a thing as *too small a
wood fired kiln, as in, would the, say, physics of the firing process
(air, firbox, flue, chimney, flame flow, etc...) breakdown at some
point? Or another way of putting it, just for sake of amusement mind,
could one build so small a wf.kiln that it was fueled with toothpicks
and stoked by a mouse? [laughter]

Already have several books, including Olson's and have a 27cf Minnesota
Flat Top that gets used regularly. But I do like to make wee pots too
and *love* wood flame flashing, so was just wondering out loud. (or is
this just called procrastination?)

Already have several ideas, a tested and used formula for a good
refractory castable and some odd bits a pieces of fiber blanket etc....
So, anyway, any thoughts?


Best of regards,
Sarah

Dear Sarah Hembree and friends:
The beauty of wood fire work is indisputable. One problem is that
compared to gas and electric fired work, they are not environmentally
friendly. Wood stoves are banned in many areas because of this fact. Even
small cities like Medford, Oregon Eugene are banning the use of wood fired
stoves. One of the things we must consider is our effect upon the emissions
of our kilns. The electricity to produce 10 cubic feet of pots or the gas to
produce 10 cubic feet of pots is far cleaner than that of a wood fired kiln.
I know for instance that my 100 cubic foot gas fired kiln uses 160 therms of
gas to fire. That amount of gas would drive a car to Los Angles from Oakland
once. Natural gas and propane are the least polluting solution. You would
think it would be electricity, but its not because of the amount of coal it
takes to produce that much electricity. Thanks.
Russ Andavall

Sarah Hembree wrote:

Thank you everyone for the feedback, it has been very helpful. If we get
results, we'll post a note back here.

Best of regards,
Sarah

Sarah Hembree wrote:


Hi All,

Was wondering if anyone has seen [plans for?] a tiny wood fired kiln,
cone 10 or so. Also wondering if there is such a thing as *too small a
wood fired kiln, as in, would the, say, physics of the firing process
(air, firbox, flue, chimney, flame flow, etc...) breakdown at some
point? Or another way of putting it, just for sake of amusement mind,
could one build so small a wf.kiln that it was fueled with toothpicks
and stoked by a mouse? [laughter]

Already have several books, including Olson's and have a 27cf Minnesota
Flat Top that gets used regularly. But I do like to make wee pots too
and *love* wood flame flashing, so was just wondering out loud. (or is
this just called procrastination?)

Already have several ideas, a tested and used formula for a good
refractory castable and some odd bits a pieces of fiber blanket etc....
So, anyway, any thoughts?


Best of regards,
Sarah

I'm not sure that is correct if you take all things into consideration. For
instance, a bourry box kiln doesn't pollute at the level of a fast fire or an
anagama kiln because the bourry box gives almost total combustion of the wood.
Also, you have to take into consideration not just the fuel that it takes to
make the electricity but all the human pollution and energy used to build those
plants, heat and cool them, get the workers to work and the gas that uses,
etc.etc.
One can grow their own trees, age them on site and burn them in a pretty clean
burning bourry box kiln.
If you compare the pollution from one commercial flight to all the wood kiln
burning on any given day, you would probably find the the kilns are a drop of
water in that bucket.
By the way, Medford and area haven't outright banned wood stoves. I lived there
for several years, until two years ago and I burned wood in my house as well as
electric heat which I added after I was there a few months.
If one only burns with wood, it is not banned. For the rest, they have days
where you can burn and others when you can't.

Regards,
June
http://www.angelfire.com/art2/shambhalapottery/

Actually the pollution associated with electricity depends on the source
and not all electricity is generated by coal. For those of you in the
US the EPA provides a "Power Profiler" website so you can check based on
zipcode the "cleanliness" of your power.

http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/powerprofiler.htm
(The site does not address the efficiency issue just cleanliness.)

Of course this discussion gets even dicer when we start including the
concept of "renewability".

- Kobey



andavall%pacbell.net wrote:
Dear Sarah Hembree and friends:
The beauty of wood fire work is indisputable. One problem is that
compared to gas and electric fired work, they are not environmentally
friendly. Wood stoves are banned in many areas because of this fact. Even
small cities like Medford, Oregon Eugene are banning the use of wood fired
stoves. One of the things we must consider is our effect upon the emissions
of our kilns. The electricity to produce 10 cubic feet of pots or the gas to
produce 10 cubic feet of pots is far cleaner than that of a wood fired kiln.
I know for instance that my 100 cubic foot gas fired kiln uses 160 therms of
gas to fire. That amount of gas would drive a car to Los Angles from Oakland
once. Natural gas and propane are the least polluting solution. You would
think it would be electricity, but its not because of the amount of coal it
takes to produce that much electricity. Thanks.
Russ Andavall

Sarah Hembree wrote:


Thank you everyone for the feedback, it has been very helpful. If we get
results, we'll post a note back here.

Best of regards,
Sarah

Sarah Hembree wrote:


Hi All,

Was wondering if anyone has seen [plans for?] a tiny wood fired kiln,
cone 10 or so. Also wondering if there is such a thing as *too small a
wood fired kiln, as in, would the, say, physics of the firing process
(air, firbox, flue, chimney, flame flow, etc...) breakdown at some
point? Or another way of putting it, just for sake of amusement mind,
could one build so small a wf.kiln that it was fueled with toothpicks
and stoked by a mouse? [laughter]

Already have several books, including Olson's and have a 27cf Minnesota
Flat Top that gets used regularly. But I do like to make wee pots too
and *love* wood flame flashing, so was just wondering out loud. (or is
this just called procrastination?)

Already have several ideas, a tested and used formula for a good
refractory castable and some odd bits a pieces of fiber blanket etc....
So, anyway, any thoughts?


Best of regards,
Sarah

Thank you for posting this. I had no idea such a thing existed and will now
be able to buy energy from a non-oil source. I'm thrilled!

--
***************************************
Listen to Air America Radio
http://www.airamericaradio.com
***************************************
"Kobey" wrote in message
...
Actually the pollution associated with electricity depends on the source
and not all electricity is generated by coal. For those of you in the
US the EPA provides a "Power Profiler" website so you can check based on
zipcode the "cleanliness" of your power.

http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/powerprofiler.htm
(The site does not address the efficiency issue just cleanliness.)

Of course this discussion gets even dicer when we start including the
concept of "renewability".

- Kobey



andavall%pacbell.net wrote:
Dear Sarah Hembree and friends:
The beauty of wood fire work is indisputable. One problem is that
compared to gas and electric fired work, they are not environmentally
friendly. Wood stoves are banned in many areas because of this fact.
Even
small cities like Medford, Oregon Eugene are banning the use of wood
fired
stoves. One of the things we must consider is our effect upon the
emissions
of our kilns. The electricity to produce 10 cubic feet of pots or the
gas to
produce 10 cubic feet of pots is far cleaner than that of a wood fired
kiln.
I know for instance that my 100 cubic foot gas fired kiln uses 160
therms of
gas to fire. That amount of gas would drive a car to Los Angles from
Oakland
once. Natural gas and propane are the least polluting solution. You
would
think it would be electricity, but its not because of the amount of coal
it
takes to produce that much electricity. Thanks.
Russ Andavall

Sarah Hembree wrote:


Thank you everyone for the feedback, it has been very helpful. If we get
results, we'll post a note back here.

Best of regards,
Sarah

Sarah Hembree wrote:


Hi All,

Was wondering if anyone has seen [plans for?] a tiny wood fired kiln,
cone 10 or so. Also wondering if there is such a thing as *too small a
wood fired kiln, as in, would the, say, physics of the firing process
(air, firbox, flue, chimney, flame flow, etc...) breakdown at some
point? Or another way of putting it, just for sake of amusement mind,
could one build so small a wf.kiln that it was fueled with toothpicks
and stoked by a mouse? [laughter]

Already have several books, including Olson's and have a 27cf Minnesota
Flat Top that gets used regularly. But I do like to make wee pots too
and *love* wood flame flashing, so was just wondering out loud. (or is
this just called procrastination?)

Already have several ideas, a tested and used formula for a good
refractory castable and some odd bits a pieces of fiber blanket etc....
So, anyway, any thoughts?


Best of regards,
Sarah

Thank you for bringing this up, it is a great question...and...It lends
itself to another question that has been bugging us for a long long time
that we've yet to find an answer to: How about corn to fuel a kiln, eh?
There is an *ocean* of issues around the concept (like storage for
drying etc....) But, in theory, would/could/might it work ? Anyone have
any ideas?

Best of regards,
Sarah


andavall%pacbell.net wrote:
Dear Sarah Hembree and friends:
The beauty of wood fire work is indisputable. One problem is that
compared to gas and electric fired work, they are not environmentally
friendly. Wood stoves are banned in many areas because of this fact. Even
small cities like Medford, Oregon Eugene are banning the use of wood fired
stoves. One of the things we must consider is our effect upon the emissions
of our kilns. The electricity to produce 10 cubic feet of pots or the gas to
produce 10 cubic feet of pots is far cleaner than that of a wood fired kiln.
I know for instance that my 100 cubic foot gas fired kiln uses 160 therms of
gas to fire. That amount of gas would drive a car to Los Angles from Oakland
once. Natural gas and propane are the least polluting solution. You would
think it would be electricity, but its not because of the amount of coal it
takes to produce that much electricity. Thanks.
Russ Andavall

Sarah Hembree wrote:


Thank you everyone for the feedback, it has been very helpful. If we get
results, we'll post a note back here.

Best of regards,
Sarah

Sarah Hembree wrote:


Hi All,

Was wondering if anyone has seen [plans for?] a tiny wood fired kiln,
cone 10 or so. Also wondering if there is such a thing as *too small a
wood fired kiln, as in, would the, say, physics of the firing process
(air, firbox, flue, chimney, flame flow, etc...) breakdown at some
point? Or another way of putting it, just for sake of amusement mind,
could one build so small a wf.kiln that it was fueled with toothpicks
and stoked by a mouse? [laughter]

Already have several books, including Olson's and have a 27cf Minnesota
Flat Top that gets used regularly. But I do like to make wee pots too
and *love* wood flame flashing, so was just wondering out loud. (or is
this just called procrastination?)

Already have several ideas, a tested and used formula for a good
refractory castable and some odd bits a pieces of fiber blanket etc....
So, anyway, any thoughts?


Best of regards,
Sarah

Almost any properly designed wood kiln, fired intelligently, i.e.
avoiding over-stoking which wastes fuel and produces a pall of black
smoke, makes less impact than a garden rubbish burning Bonfire.
Another good fuel source is blown sawdust; a waste material which again
gives great heat and not a lot of pollution. Professor Lowell Baker has
done much work in this area, and Manny Hernandes working for Potters For
Peace has built several of these Kilns burning waste material in the
third world.

Steve
Bath
UK





In article k.net,
Sarah Hembree writes

Thank you for bringing this up, it is a great question...and...It lends
itself to another question that has been bugging us for a long long time
that we've yet to find an answer to: How about corn to fuel a kiln, eh?
There is an *ocean* of issues around the concept (like storage for
drying etc....) But, in theory, would/could/might it work ? Anyone have
any ideas?

Best of regards,
Sarah
--
Steve Mills
Bath
UK

andavall%pacbell.net wrote:

Dear Sarah Hembree and friends:
The beauty of wood fire work is indisputable. One problem is that
compared to gas and electric fired work, they are not environmentally
friendly. Wood stoves are banned in many areas because of this fact. Even
small cities like Medford, Oregon Eugene are banning the use of wood fired
stoves. One of the things we must consider is our effect upon the emissions
of our kilns. The electricity to produce 10 cubic feet of pots or the gas to
produce 10 cubic feet of pots is far cleaner than that of a wood fired kiln.
I know for instance that my 100 cubic foot gas fired kiln uses 160 therms of
gas to fire. That amount of gas would drive a car to Los Angles from Oakland
once. Natural gas and propane are the least polluting solution. You would
think it would be electricity, but its not because of the amount of coal it
takes to produce that much electricity. Thanks.
Russ Andavall

Depends what your electricity is made of, here in Austria we use mostly
hydroelectric power, which should be pretty clean AND is renewable.

Monika