I've got gas!

Middle Tennessee Natural Gas came, set the meter and hooked the piping. I decided to have them do the plumbing. They have the tools, the materials, etc. and it seemed to make them more comfortable. As the kiln operates at a pressure way above normal house pressure, they raised an eye brow or two when I started talking to them about the kiln. They did a good job and I have to admit I would have taken far, far longer to do it. I have even lit the burners - sweet.





Here are a few shots of the arch construction. I changed the design a bit. I had enough "extra" IFB to add a layer. So the make up is, hard brick arch, two layers of kaowool, a layer of IFB, another layer of kaowool, chicken wire and finally a covering of Insulating castable. Hopefully that will keep the heat in.











I cut the hole through the roof yesterday and flashed it. Today, it is time to stack chimney brick.

It may be Fall, but its Sprung!

The last couple of days have been long anticipated. The burner supports were fabricated by my friend Steve and I installed them. The burners are waiting now for Middle Tennessee Natural Gas to come set the meter and pipe them. The engineer called to size the meter, so I know I am in the queue.



After all the worrying, fussing and general just plain thinking about it, it took less than two hours to set the support form, add the bricks and then remove the support.



So here is the arch in-place.



If I am not careful, I might actually have a kiln soon and get back to making pots instead of kilns.

Don't pay the ransom!

I have escaped from the kidnappers! Okay, maybe I wasn't kidnapped. I just haven't been posting.

First, congratulations to "Hoosier Mama" and her first firing of her new salt kiln. It was also her first firing of a gas kiln! Way to go - be sure to check out her blog Hoosier Mama Now to see her results

Despite the lack of posts, progress is being made and I am getting a hazy view of the end. I completed the arch support and my friend Steve took my drawings and fabricated the kiln's steel work.

The arch support is rather simple construction, just some OSB and 2x4 cross members.



I found some fiberboard at Loews that was $7 for a 4'x8' sheet.



I clamped it on, traced the shape and cut it with my trusty jig saw.



This is the finished support ready to put in the kiln.



Here is the steel work fitted onto the kiln.



This is an outside view of the arch constraints.



And here is an end view of the skew bricks, the backing bricks and the steel constraints.



Steve also did a great job of fabricating the burner supports. I will install these and post pictures as soon as its stops raining.