There is a very large kiln at the space
which works, apart from the control circuits which I can replace with
a digital system. The lid, base, elements and thermocouple all tested
ok.
The unit would need to run near the
welding bench as this is the only 32 amp 3 phase socket at the space.
It has been calculated it requires ~$100 to fire it for a day, and
probably a bit more if we account for periodic element replacements.
We could rent out space, or charge members for space used. Keeping a
whiteboard with the next planned firing dates etc to maximize
efficiency. Please weigh in with your ideas. The kiln could be used
for pottery, metal melting, glass melting, heat treating and
annealing steel and many more uses.
Today at the Waterloo Bay Lapidary Club
I was offered a loan of their kiln (pictured) which requires 3 phase
power also (less current so they could both operate in tandem).
It would also need to be located near
the welding bench. This loan would be conditional on allowing the
club members some kind of access to it on a regular basis. I could
chaperon them on the firing days if necessary. We would need to work
out a charge for each firing, and how to divide the cost of operation
among the users. Seeing as both metalwork AND black smithing would
use this, and new pottery and ceramics uses, I would imagine it would
be itâs own cause.
This kiln also comes with itâs own
trained expert in kiln manufacture and use which would be a bonus
too. Feel free to weigh in with your ideas and questions. I will put
in an effort here equal to the interest in having a kilning cause at
the space.
Personally Iâm glad to see someone has finally got an interest in the kiln and wants to operate it etc .
Iâd also like to point out that as far as i can tell, the reason no-one has used it is because we just didnât have enough interest in the group to reach a critical mass where a group of people decide to use it regularly, or even run classes based around it etcâŚ
So I think that even if you donât get people interested in the kiln itself, you probably will get more once you run pottery classes around it or similar. âŚas people learn what these things can be used forâŚ
Finally Iâd ask that you ensure the machine knows how to meter itâs own electricity usage, or has a system that is easy to use to determine actual running costs⌠so there will be no need to worry or speculate when itâs being operated.
super keen on a working kiln
I have a backlog of projects that require some kiln action. I never got around to fixing the control system, so glad you are keen on it! I have put some insulating block crack fixer in there aaages ago and never did anything since
Keen to help out in any way you need. What specific things will you need from others to get this kiln and the classes going? Hopefully we can âthrow/gain interest fromâ other members at the skill or time poor holes and make this a thing
This post makes me happy, Iâve been an advocate for the kiln since day one
A few questions?
Itâs my current understanding that things going into a kiln have to be very clean, as say oils on metals etc will vaporise and contaminate the kiln for things like ceramics. Is this in fact the case?
The area near the welders is in high demand and is also very dirty. Not a good place for a kiln. Do we have any idea where else it would go and what it would cost to run power to it?
Re space, that big kiln, we fleshed out a $250 budget plan at one point to make a frame and attach a cheap winch to open the lid, so we could not utilise the counterweight, which makes the thing take up a lot more room. Perhaps that idea should be revisited.
Anyhow, love this post and keen to see it all happen
As we will have 2 kilns we could have a clean one and a dirty one. no ithas to go next to the 3 phase outlets. We could move the unused cnc table and parts outside, or shuffle welders around and scrap the 2ww era tig. I wouldnt fire on tuesdays or saturdays as the metal shopis noisy / busy.
32A 3 phase can not be moved far from the main switchboard.
2 ) A tempory use of bench is required.
3 We just got it installed
.
where are you suggesting we can put them?
If you could have it wherever you wanted, where would make sense? We have in the past asked and received electrical works from the landlord so its not out of the realm of possibility. The metalwork area is consistently always absolutely appallingly filthy, I donât think its a good place for kilns.
Another alternative is perhaps we could ask the landlord permission to build an eve or lean-to where the three phase is on the outside of the building and store the kilns in there?
People are actively working on getting this going, lets not discount them just yet
Yep agreed, if someone was willing to do the scrap run that would help a lot.
Hmmm thats a bit rough, means one group or the other has to consent to having their kiln âdamagedâ.
I am lacking expertise in using kilns for anything other than heat treating steel and synthetic gemstones. Both Kilns are too large and expensive for gemstones. The HSBNE kiln is perfect for heat treating steel/burning out wax casting molds due to its size and the fact that lower temperatures mean lower running costs. The W.B.L.C would like to put a centrifuge near their kiln for casting purposes, I have a small one that fits in a milk crate for smaller silver castings.
and W.B.L.Câs kiln is smaller but we can run off 20A 3 phase, which is available outside so we could construct a small eve to protect the kiln. at 4.5KVA it should be cheaper to use at up to 1300C.
This would leave enough space for the HSBNE kiln to be built in right under the 32A 3 phase outlet, once I take the old TIG to the scrapyard ( I need many hands helping on Tuesday to help me load it, I will bring a trailer ). I would appreciate ideas and designs on constructing a lid system for the HSBNE kiln, I am planning on using WBLCâs expert on choosing a kiln controller, and will wire it up myself as I am an instrument technician and used to doing it.
The HSBNE kiln is perfect for heat treating steel/burning out wax casting molds due to its size and the fact that lower temperatures mean lower running costs. The W.B.L.C would like to put a centrifuge near their kiln for casting purposes, I have a small one that fits in a milk crate for smaller silver castings.
and W.B.L.Câs kiln is smaller but we can run off 20A 3 phase, which is available outside in a lean to so we could construct a small eve to protect the kiln. at 4.5KVA it should be cheaper to use at up to 1300C.
This would leave enough space for the HSBNE kiln to be built in right under the only 32A 3 phase outlet, once I take the old TIG to the scrapyard ( I need many hands helping on Tuesday to help me load it, I will bring a trailer ). I would appreciate ideas and designs on constructing a lid system for the HSBNE kiln, I am planning on using WBLCâs expert on choosing a kiln controller, and will wire it up myself as I am an instrument technician and used to doing it.
thus one âdirtyâ kiln, which would not be dirty if we fired it to 1200C first, located in the dirty metalworking area, mostly used for metalworking and blacksmith / casting and one âcleanâ kiln for pottery, mold pouring, glass etc outside along with itâs accessories. If the landlord approves of eve construction and we can get funds for eve materials.
As for the CNC table, who is working on it?.. looks dusty to me
Cnc table is currently being worked on by @pelrun. Itâs pretty much done mechanically just needs work electrically.
As for 3 phase. Itâs not hard to run it wherever we need to with the new sub board in the machine shop. We could make an awning over in the hard stand for them, but I think that might take a while. Donât count on the landlord paying for any extra electrical works though, they definitely made us cut down our last works to the bare minimum. Doubt theyâll shell out for anymore. (Cost depends on location and which kiln[s], one needs more copper etc)
Say $200-300 for 3 phase power to the hard stand. May be higher if you want to run both kilns at once.
Also- metering. We have a few old analog meters in the boneyard, may be worth checking what the load capacity of these is, or just go digital to make it easier to bill for.
One kiln inside in the metal shop and one out back by the 20A 3 phase would eliminate the need for new electrical wiring. What would you guess materials for a new awning would be and would the landlord allow it? Will you be there next Tuesday? I would like you to show me these electrical meters. A single phase plug in meter is $30, a 3 phase 32A plug in meter is $1000 new, apparently .
Landlord has said we can put an awning in and itâs been on the cards for a while. Just a matter of getting it voted on and get some hands to put it together. Have been meaning to get lights/power over there eventually.
A kiln inside would be nice though I think it might be a bit tight. Outlets outside wonât run either as the outlets donât have a neutral.
Iâll have a look at the meters and see, they may or may not be three phase. Smaller kiln is only single phase.
I have some clamp on current sensors spare that I am happy to donate. Youâll only need to measure one phase to get an idea of the current draw. Sounds like a simple esp8266 project for someone.
Hi @erisryan2 and @Thermoelectric, I think you two are talking âpastâ each other a bit. Iâll try and clarify in this post but I think the best way forward at the moment is for there to be a meeting on tuesday to work out the details.
The landlord has provisionally said theyâre open to being shown designs for roofing in between the containers on the hardstand. Theres no approval, and this is not the same thing eris is referring to, which I believe is a lean-to against the main warehouse where the three phase is.
I think weâve got a few good options here in terms of what gets built where etc and Iâm aware of various other space plans that might impact the decision making, so lets have a sit down meeting and work out our options?
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