Kilns Past and Present
Learning by trial and error

Building the first kiln in 1972

That was when Rhodes' Kilns: Design, Construction and Operation was the only reference available, I think. The kiln was an updraft, and was four cones off from top to bottom, leading me to think of building the next one in the shape of a coffee table.

Firing the first kiln

It had not occurred to me that it might be necessary to have some kind of permit to build a kiln in my back yard. I had very nice neighbors, but the roar of the propane tanks all night began to bring a few complaints. I put in a natural gas line to the kiln.

The natural gas was quieter, but just never did work as well as the propane. Sometimes it took three days and lot of fooling around to get anywhere close to cone 10. I would sleep in my sleeping bag with my old dog, Gryphon, beside the kiln, for as long as it took. The resulting pots were seldom good.

I finally had to admit this was not a good kiln. I tore it down and started over with kiln number two in 1978.

This one was a downdraft. It was better, but not a lot better.  

Waiting for cone 10 to fall after an all-night firing, 1978.

Unloading kiln number two, 1978. 

I moved to Illinois in 1979, taking the kiln with me, brick by brick.

Cleaning all those bricks for kiln number 3, 1980. This time I had a permit!

Building the third kiln, 1980

By this time I was getting pretty darn good at laying brick. I'd finally learned to get them straight in the first row instead of trying to make up for all the previous mistakes when I arrived at row 10.  

The third kiln completed. It was great! Very even temperature!

Then, in 1981, I moved back to Wisconsin, taking the kiln with me... brick by brick...

My Present Kiln (this one is on wheels)

I now fire a 60-cubic-foot envelope kiln that is very efficient and very easy to load and unload. It's very even. It's a fiber kiln and is very energy efficent.

I built this one also, with a little help. I didn't design it, though; I copied someone else's design. I think it is a modified Minnesota Flat Top kiln. I hired somebody to do the welding, and also somebody to help me install the fiber.

It's been moved once (with a fork lift) and fires quite differently in its second location, but I've adjusted. I don't particularly like the blowers, but I've adjusted to them, too.

I fire to cone 10-1/2 in about eight hours, and cool for 12 hours. Results are always consistent.