View of kiln in winter from our house
Richard standing by partially opened hinged
lid which was cast in place in metal frame
This kiln is a modified version of the John Neely design which I fired in Logan, Utah. I wish to thank John for his long distance advice. It was built entirely with 70% alumina wedge firebricks from the local cement company. The thirteen pallets of bricks were in many cases cut on a diamond wet saw. The kiln has the possibility of water introduction for reduction cooling.
8 inch firebrick floor on top of 5 1/2
inch castable on top of 5 1/2 inch
concrete foundation. Note the weeping
tile and gravel around the foundation.
The floor is at ground level with the
first 2 feet of the kiln in the ground
Start of checkered exit flue at the base of
the new chimney, which serves both kilns
Note the exit flue from the old gas and
woodfired two chamber kiln.
Cast throat arch and step grate in
firebox. Note width of kiln increases
to 31 1/2 inches after 27 inch firebox
and first throat arch tumblestack
firing area
View from firebox through the throat
arch and main chamber and chimney.
Checkered exit flue with "damper" plugs
for firing old kiln. Note step up of floor
and narrowing of the tail to 27 inches.
Also note backstoking hole on left.
Checkered exit flue with plugs removed
Note 28 inch silicon carbide kiln shelf
that acts as top for tail section.
Carol putting finishing touches on sand mould for inside contour of castable
firebrick lid. Note firebox height and the underside of the castable arch
which tops the firebox.
Lid cast in place in metal frame, but
not yet hinged to the support structure.
Cast top of firebox
Shelf top and insulator bricks with
castable over tumble stack area
All potter lid casting crew (L to R), Horst Doll, Chris Barr, Enzien Kufeld, Carol
and Richard Selfridge. Chris did the majority of the welding on the kiln with
Richard and Horst (fitters in another life) doing the cutting and holding.
