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Anyone have experience with them? I’m wondering how much gas (propane) it would take to fire a normal size one (about the size or a fridge) to cone 4 or 6. Really, I’m wondering how large of a propane tank I would need for a firing. I’m trying to see if this would be a good option for a person…
I hope you see this, I can’t fit what I’m going to say in a question. I talked to my technologist about this. He says you will need the largest propane tank you can afford. Like, the size of a car, and then fill it half full of propane. The smaller tanks like the bathtub sized ones do not give the liquid propane enough surface area to evaporate fast enough when the pressure in the tank goes down during your firing (and it’s worse in the winter, because the cold would make it evaporate even slower). To fire to cone 10, you will need a huge tank, but it will give you multiple firings. He said it will cost about $70 to fire one of our Bailey gas kilns (about the size of a fridge) to cone 10 (but it all depends on the firing, how efficient the kiln is, ect.). For cone 4-6 I’d say you would still need a huge tank to provide enough evapuration (the difference between 6 and 10 is only about 400 degrees F).
Anyways, if you can get natural gas, it’s cheaper (not taking into account the hook up cost), but the natural gas is always flowing, unlike the propane would in a smaller tank.
Hope this helps.
We have started Maiolica on cone 04 earthenware and these were tests for our 30 lb. platter we have to make starting after reading week. Our platter has to be thrown though.
I’m enjoying the process. Other than the dunting! Ugh!
Took these to my life drawing class. I like the immediate and fresh look I’m getting.
These were simple hump molded plates, maiolica glaze. The top one is just Cobalt oxide, and the bottom one is Cobalt oxide, copper nitrate, and (even though it’s hard to see) Ferric… something, maybe a phosphate.
Cassara Kennedy 2013.
Look at that drip! Dragons tear! Beautiful!
This is Wood fired stoneware with a crackle slip on the outside. Again, I love the flashing from the slip! And that drip! Can’t get enough of it. This was in the bottom of the kiln and they pushed a bunch of ash from the coals onto it I think. The bottom of this kiln was the best!
Cassara Kennedy 2013.
These are probably my favorite pieces I have made all year. Cast with cone 10 casting slip and put into a wood kiln. The only glaze on the outside is from the ash. I love how it flashes that lovely pink colour! With specks of dark ash also.
Cassara Kennedy 2012.
I wanted to put these here as reference. They would not come out of the molds intact, but the form is interesting.
Cone 6 casting slip and glaze.
These were made from a composition of objects (lion toy, burnt out night light, and candle stick) made into one 2 part mold. I like the look of them, but they would not come out of the mold, so I gave up after getting 2. The candle stick was the whole problem as I found out trying to make a mold of it by itself.
Cone 6 casting slip and glaze.
Cassara Kennedy 2012.
These forms I am not really happy with. I think the concept could be promising, but my execution was not great.
Tony Clennell mentioned that it was surprising to see the hump on the inside even though it must be obvious that there is one, and I saw it today. It is kind of surprising. You kind of expect it to be flat on the inside even though you know it can be.
Cone 10 reduction. Stoneware.
Shino tumbler. Cone 10 Gas reduction.
Cassara Kennedy 2012.
My mold and commercial molds. Hate how this glaze broke, but a lovely green.
Cone 6.
Cassara Kennedy 2012.
I love this form. My grandmother gave me this vase in glass and I made a mold from it, and it cast really really well. Love it. And this glaze is great!
Cone 6 casting.
