[Clayart] ELECTRIC KILNS
15 views
Skip to first unread message
Mike Gordon
Oct 13, 2021, 9:36:37 PM10/13/21
to Clayart international pottery discussion forum
When I started teaching at my old high school they had a GLOW BAR kiln. About 15 cu.ft. I never fired it because they got rid of it and installed a gas fired ALPINE in a new shed outside. Mike Gordon
vpit...@dtccom.net
Oct 14, 2021, 1:12:37 PM10/14/21
to Clayart international pottery discussion forum
Glow bars, or to use the trademarked name, Globar elements, are solid
silicon-carbide kiln/furnace elements that are not affected by reduction
atmospheres. In some parts of the world where firewood is in short supply,
as in Japan, electric reduction kilns with Globar elements have been widely
used. When I was in grad school at U-Mass-Amherst and then the technician
for the clay program, we had a big stash of Glowbar elements out back that
were probably left from when they had a big hot glass program many years
ago. The elements were about 5/8" in diameter, 36" long, and had a copper
jacket on each end. That building has been demolished and I expect that the
Globar elements went to the dump.
My friend Ro Purser on Whidbey Island in Washington has a Globar glass kiln
for glassblowing. The power supply unit for the kiln is almost as big as
the kiln itself. It requires a lot of amperage.
- Vince
Vince Pitelka
Potter, Writer, Teacher
Chapel Hill, NC
vpit...@dtccom.net
www.vincepitelka.com
https://chathamartistsguild.org/
gas fired ALPINE in a new shed outside. Mike Gordon=
silicon-carbide kiln/furnace elements that are not affected by reduction
atmospheres. In some parts of the world where firewood is in short supply,
as in Japan, electric reduction kilns with Globar elements have been widely
used. When I was in grad school at U-Mass-Amherst and then the technician
for the clay program, we had a big stash of Glowbar elements out back that
were probably left from when they had a big hot glass program many years
ago. The elements were about 5/8" in diameter, 36" long, and had a copper
jacket on each end. That building has been demolished and I expect that the
Globar elements went to the dump.
My friend Ro Purser on Whidbey Island in Washington has a Globar glass kiln
for glassblowing. The power supply unit for the kiln is almost as big as
the kiln itself. It requires a lot of amperage.
- Vince
Vince Pitelka
Potter, Writer, Teacher
Chapel Hill, NC
vpit...@dtccom.net
www.vincepitelka.com
https://chathamartistsguild.org/
Robert Harris
Oct 15, 2021, 7:24:30 AM10/15/21
to Clayart international pottery discussion forum
They still use Globars in industry. I’ve always thought I’d like one. Those
amazing modern oil spot kilns with metallic or blue spots are done in
Globars where they reduce, often using small sticks of wood, all the way
down.
amazing modern oil spot kilns with metallic or blue spots are done in
Globars where they reduce, often using small sticks of wood, all the way
down.
There are some cool videos on YouTube, such as this one.
Robert
> --
Sent from Gmail Mobile.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://lists.clayartworld.com/pipermail/clayart/attachments/20211014/c12de310/attachment.htm>
vpit...@dtccom.net
Oct 15, 2021, 10:37:32 AM10/15/21
to Clayart international pottery discussion forum
Thanks for that, Robert. I enjoyed the video, especially the discharge from the little "smokestack" tube atop the kiln. The guy seemed like a happy potter.
Robert Harris
Oct 15, 2021, 2:06:56 PM10/15/21
to Clayart international pottery discussion forum
I agree, Vince, he did seem happy. I can't remember if it was in that video
(the author has several, and for a while a website, whose name I can't
remember), but that oilspot glaze is still made from a couple of natural
clays dug in the area. It's nice to see pots that still have a real
connection to their long history, even if they are using modern kilns
(which I'm sure reduces the failure rate), and a little more sadly,
jiggering. Both of which are probably necessary to make a sufficient living
these days. And they're definitely "family" factories, not real mass
production.
(the author has several, and for a while a website, whose name I can't
remember), but that oilspot glaze is still made from a couple of natural
clays dug in the area. It's nice to see pots that still have a real
connection to their long history, even if they are using modern kilns
(which I'm sure reduces the failure rate), and a little more sadly,
jiggering. Both of which are probably necessary to make a sufficient living
these days. And they're definitely "family" factories, not real mass
production.
Robert
URL: <https://lists.clayartworld.com/pipermail/clayart/attachments/20211015/e1a2492e/attachment.htm>
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages