What kiln do you use?

[Jamie]

What type of work you are looking for Jamie? I'll keep an eye around for you.

appreciate that mate! i am trying to get out of my trade as such, its to hard on my back (got some minor problems with it a bit and being a metal fabricator lifting massive things all day doesnt help)

i have done a lot of stuff but need something that will pay as good as my trade without killing my back, i was looking at going into teaching my trade, so i am waiting on a letter from that place that i applied too but i can do anything from retail work to horticulture ( done courses in that), mechanics to a degree, building industries, bar work (want to avoid that though). i've tried for jobs at places like repco and auto barn, didnt have much luck, applied for several jobs at bunnings and didnt even get a response (6 times i tried).
i am just about open to anything that will get me out of back breaking work, i have people skills, a good knowledge on small business (ran my own for a couple of years). computer literate, can use registers, EFTPOS etc.

wouldnt mind a nursery of some form (obviously bonsai nursery would be a dream not likely though) but i need to be able to make enough to support a wife and three kids too

thanks for keeping an eye out though.

and if any of the bonsai nurseries out there read this and are willing to put on a hard working young bloke, thats commited to his job and his family, PM ME. i am willing to move any where in Astralia

jamie

[kvan64]

For sure Kvan nothing stopping you from those effects. I think Paper clay is a bout 1250 that might be worth looking into?
The only factor as PK explained is that pots that earthenware is able to absorb water still so if it then freezes it can crack and destroy the pot.
I tend to like earthenware pots I think the trees like them better.

Bretts, I found a supplyer in the area that provides Paperclay for $16.50 per 10kg. It's interesting to know that most stoneware clay are cheaper - $13.40 to $15.30 per 10kg. Here is the full price list http://www.potterysupplies.com.au/docum ... e_2009.pdf
There is a EW/SW blend for $15.30 per 10kg and fire 1030 C - 1300 C. Have you ever tried EW/SW blend before?

[Lynette]

Hello kava,
Your kiln will be fine for bonsai pots. I fire mine mostly using raku clay, BRT, white raku, raku gold, at 1220, and have had pots I made for at least 15 years. All these clays are from Feeneys in Brisbane. If I use stone ware I do fire higher, but there are a few clays arouond that are used for the midfire range and that seems to work fine in our climate. I had it pointed out to me the other day that terracotta pots are low fired and have been used for plants for centuries.

[Jamie]

a quick question for the potters out there-


if you have a kild such as DK's that only gets to 1200 odd degrees, abd you want to use a clay that is supposed to be fired at a higher temp, could you possibly leave it in for a longer period of time then usual and get similar results?

thanks jamie

[Pat K]

Jamie,
There are no simple answers to the questions you've asked but the quick answer is .....if the kiln is designed to go to mid-fire temps it isn't going to go to stoneware temps without damaging the kiln.
HOWEVER, you can fire any(?) clay to a lower temp than its optimum temperature and get great results. The only thing you need to take into account is the choice of a glaze that is going to melt at the temp your kiln will reach. An example of this is raku firings where the clay is generally rated as stoneware (1300*C), but is only ever fired to about 1000*C(for raku).
There are glazes formulated to mature at temperatures ranging from about 700 to 1400*C, with a huge range of excellent glazes in the mid-fire range(1220-1260*C)

Pat

[kvan64]

Some problem with the kiln. It is fitted with a 15A plug (with larger earth pin). Household plugs are 10A. The previous owner included a homemade adapter. I test-fired the kiln with only test cones. Within 5hrs the 10A male end of the adapter melted

I searched around, most of the electric kilns are 15A to 35A rated. Looks like I may have to spend heaps of money to get a sparky to install a 15A outlet. I really don't like the sound of this at all!

[Jamie]

Some problem with the kiln. It is fitted with a 15A plug (with larger earth pin). Household plugs are 10A. The previous owner included a homemade adapter. I test-fired the kiln with only test cones. Within 5hrs the 10A male end of the adapter melted

I searched around, most of the electric kilns are 15A to 35A rated. Looks like I may have to spend heaps of money to get a sparky to install a 15A outlet. I really don't like the sound of this at all!

it shouldnt cost you that much, especially if you have a shed with a seperate power box, you dont need to run it to far, it could be right in the power box if necessary, then just the cost of the wiring (which wont be to much because its not to far), the outlet (not expensive at all) an new plug for your kiln and the dearest part would be the sparky which could be around 150 bucks, maybe. it is quite simple to do if ya know what ya doing, just make sure they use the heavy 15-20 amp wiring because if they dont it will possibly flip your safety switch.

we have a 15 amp outlet at work for a welder and it is run on 10 amp wiring (bloody owners were to tight to cough up the extra couple of bucks for the heavy wiring) and 5 minutes of heavy use and it will flip the safety out.

jamie

[kvan64]

Thanks Jamie, just quoted by a licensed sparky and it's around $200 all together. I can stop having beers for 2 months without any problem

[Jamie]

there ya go pal told ya, wasnt as dear as ya thought hey and i wasnt far off the mark either...do i win anything ???

and you could always let it pay for itself, make some pots and sell em (i know you said you werent gonna) but ya might aswell make some money back. thats my thoughts anyways


jamie

[kvan64]

there ya go pal told ya, wasnt as dear as ya thought hey and i wasnt far off the mark either...do i win anything ???

and you could always let it pay for itself, make some pots and sell em (i know you said you werent gonna) but ya might aswell make some money back. thats my thoughts anyways


jamie

Almost spot on Jamie. Oh, I left the kiln on (while kept checking the melted plug) to 12 hours. Both test cones NO.3 and NO.6 melted =>The kiln has no problem reaching 1260C (looks like it could go a bit higher). I also found quite a few stone ware clays that have suitable temperature range. Things looking good so far. Now I just have to wait for the sparky to come over and have a look at the setup.

[mudlarkpottery]

Good on you Kvan64 for getting in and having a go. That's the best way to learn. Now you're cooking.
If you can get hold of a book by Janet de Boos (there are two) it will give you some glaze recipes at varying cone temperatures for you to test in your kiln. You can also mix stoneware and earthenware clays together to make something suitable for mid-fire. Make lots of soe pots and test your glazes on them. You will have some interesting results as well as some pots to give away or sell.
I started out with a little 200-brick woodfired raku kiln I built from housebricks - very labour-intensive and time-consuming.
Penny.

[kvan64]

Good on you Kvan64 for getting in and having a go. That's the best way to learn. Now you're cooking.
If you can get hold of a book by Janet de Boos (there are two) it will give you some glaze recipes at varying cone temperatures for you to test in your kiln. You can also mix stoneware and earthenware clays together to make something suitable for mid-fire. Make lots of soe pots and test your glazes on them. You will have some interesting results as well as some pots to give away or sell.
I started out with a little 200-brick woodfired raku kiln I built from housebricks - very labour-intensive and time-consuming.
Penny.

Thank you for encouraging penny. It's good to hear that there are people started out with primative equipment and ended up with great results and experience. After all, the history of pottery started out with just wood and and clay bricks wasn't it?

[NathanM]

I'll buy some fo your pots dude ^_^

[Bretts]

Het Kvan I just rememberd I have a kick wheel that I need to get rid of. Bit far away but $70 and it is yours

[kvan64]

Het Kvan I just rememberd I have a kick wheel that I need to get rid of. Bit far away but $70 and it is yours

$70 is a great bargain Bretts. I'll replace my exercise bike with it Bretts, I've been looking on eBay for a second hand electric wheel. There're a few of them but also too far away and too heavy to post. I was wondering how heavy this one is and what the shipping cost would be for it.
Regards,
DK