Kiln question

It's where you attach the VCR.....;>)

..is it a GAS kiln?

could it be a converted gas kiln?

sometimes you vent inert gas (nitrogen, argon, etc) in to displace oxygen, which gets you reduction for some glazes.

that would be my guess too. Or attachment to kiln ventilation for fume venting or improved cooling by displacing with cold air.

Is there such a thing as a kiln the can use both electric and gas?

no. the gas firing would eat up the elements. it is possible to convert a gas to electric, or vice versa, but i don't believe one could be both.

I use compressed air to rapid cool from fusing to 650C. I inject air under the stainless plates to give smoother edges to piece.

it is an electric Kiln

Does anyone know if I could buy a ceramic kiln and wire the lid with heating elements, and how to do it if possible?

Why the lid? I use 2 ceramics kilns for glass now as is.

I'd think your biggest problem would be getting power to the elements in/on the lid, because you'll have to feed it from outside. That probably means drilling at least one hole through the lid and so on.

But perhaps you're asking the wrong question. I think the first question I'd ask is whether it's strictly necessary to have elements in the lid.

Yes you can buy a ceramic kiln and then retro fit the lid, but lets consider something else before you go to all that trouble.

First, I am going to admit seeing this in a studio in Florida, it is not an original idea.

Make a mount, or buy/build a work table, sturdy and a bit taller than normal and turn that kiln on its side! Voala, top elements. Side elements, even bottom elements, and a door that swings like a door!

Now you just have to make a small groove where you want your shelf to sit, and be careful not to knick the elements.

Leaves a big chamber and if you use an octagonal shelf you will get even heat transfer. May have to beef up the hinges.

There have been furnaces which use tungsten heating elements, for very high temperatures, and they need a reducing atmosphere. This is usually a hydrogen/nitrogen mixture or a CO/hydrogen mixture. The combustion usually takes place outside the element chamber, but could still contribute to the heating effect.

In full-scale melting, the use of gas or oil-firing above the glass, and electrodes below the glass surface, is a common combination.

excellent idea, funny how you can turn an old idea on its side..... Burl