With some help, I'll be building a woodfired kiln this summer. A lot of books and articles have information on what bricks to use where, design, construction, etc., etc. - _except_ for what the kiln is built on.
I presume the usual options are bare dirt, gravel, and a cement pad, but I haven't seen any information as to which is better and which is worse, or ease of use, or, indeed, anything.
So: what should the foundation be made of? Does it matter?
Ted
Well today I am very sore. Yesterday I was helping dig a hole for an anagama kiln. It is a group project. It is having a gravel base. It is dug into the ground (groan a long way) will have two layers of fire brick, concrete as well arched roof. It has entrance dug down, then fire chamber, then kiln section and then large section at back, that is higher (not dug down so far) which apparently makes the air swirl. I am just one of the little helpers here, but if you want more info I could probably put you onto one of the planners.
i hope you're taking lots of photos for passing around!
see ya
steve
steve graber
No :o) I should, someone who was there did take some. Evidence that we have helped :o) I will take the camera next time. A
The first kiln that I built was an oil fired hard fire brick cantenary arch one, The first layer was covered with a second layer of red brick and then plastered over with fireclay and grog.
I made the base by clearing the topsoil and then put down a layer of sand. On top of this I made a base of hollow concrete blocks 16"x 8"x 8" (I believe you may call them cinder blocks) laid on their side so there was a a horizontal airflow through them.
On top of this I screeded a layer of fine grog and fireclay to give a flat level surface. On top of this I laid a double layer of fire bricks which former the floor of the kiln. I then built the arch on this base.
As we would say "No problems mate"
Cheers
JW
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