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KILN BUILDING

Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2015 1:27 pm
by Anne W. Nye
Hello, it's been a while since I've been on here. We are now settled in new home and studio in Coolidge AZ, half way between Phoenix and Tucson. We chose this town because of the emerging Artisan Village http://www.artisanvillageofcoolidge.org/ here which we are believing will bring interest and economic recovery to an otherwise depressed city. My part here is to help make this a teaching center for glass as well as other mediums. So......I'm hoping to pick some brains here and maybe even recruit some help! We need a kiln and, of course, funds are limited so I have people all excited about building one.....but we need help. I have Richard LaLonde's book with some basic info but where do I go from here? I'd appreciate any thoughts, contacts, or offers of help. I remember reading where someone on here had a couple of kilns with a mobile controller that could be moved between kilns. Anyone have any info on the feasibility of that? If you look at the web site, you'll see the facility is fabulous, an old middle school that takes up an entire block. We are planning to work locally with veterans using art therapy and much more. Very exciting! The kiln is my first step.......thanks! Anne Nye

Re: KILN BUILDING

Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2015 4:24 pm
by jim burchett
I would contact Bert Weiss.I believe he has given several kiln building classes in the past

Re: KILN BUILDING

Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2015 4:29 pm
by JestersBaubles
They make wall-mounted kiln controllers. If your kilns were "portable", they could be rolled to the control (or, if they had long cords to get to the controller box they could be stationary, but you'd have to worry about the TC). I don't know if this is what you have in mind.

http://www.clay-king.com/kilns/kiln_par ... llers.html

Dana W.

Re: KILN BUILDING

Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2015 5:09 pm
by Rick Wilton
I've built three kilns now. I learned practically everything needed to do it here.

A great source for parts is

http://www.duralite.com

You can get the elements, hangers, insulators etc. here.

Read the archives and or ask questions.

As home depot says...... You can do it, we can help.

Re: KILN BUILDING

Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2015 5:27 pm
by Bert Weiss
sent PM

Re: KILN BUILDING

Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2015 8:16 pm
by rosanna gusler
bert came here and ran the build of my big kiln. it went great. the kiln is still happy and healthy. . feel free to get up with me. r.

Re: KILN BUILDING

Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2015 9:54 pm
by Suzanne Chudnoff
Anne, I have a very nice Paragon controller that I would sell you cheaply. It is a wall mounted affair, with fairly limited use so it's in very good shape. It is only wired to run one kiln at a time, but if your kilns were on wheels, they could be rolled around and it could be used with various kilns. The reason I'm selling it is because I wanted a solid state controller for my kiln.

Please contact me at (480) 917-3730. I am located at the southern end of Chandler, not all that far from you.

Suzanne

Re: KILN BUILDING

Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2015 11:20 am
by Marty
Wouldn't it be easier to move a controller than the kiln?

Re: KILN BUILDING

Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2015 1:28 pm
by Mark Hall
I'm the guy touting the portable controller since I absolutely love mine - able to control 4 different kilns located in various places. I bought mine from Gil Reynolds over twenty years ago and have never had to service it! Make sure you get the largest rated amps available - mine is 60 amps - so you'll be able to handle any kiln that comes along. Ask for the option of grouping everything in a portable box, as many manufacturers may do this for you as a service. They just don't get too many requests for it, but I don't know why! I can send a picture to anyone wanting to see it if I have your address. You'll love how easy this is to control any kiln.