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Post by jeanlou on Oct 26, 2016 15:22:15 GMT -8
Hi everyone, A potter friend who knew I was building rocket stoves recently asked me if rocket technology could be adapted to build a raku kiln. I started sketching a design based on 55-gallon drums and while searching the 'net for ideas, I ran into Robert's great thread donkey32.proboards.com/post/10094/thread that described pretty much exactly what I had in mind, except for the baking chamber that I wanted to make horizontal with a hinged lid, like a bbq smoker design. Thank you Robert, the info and great pics you provided have saved me a lot of developement time. And it turns out that photoman290 also had an idea for a horizontal bake chamber; great minds... đ So I have started to pierce, cut, weld and grind, and I will try to post pictures as the work progresses. Comments and suggestions will be appreciated. Thank you.
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Post by jeanlou on Oct 26, 2016 15:37:04 GMT -8
When trying to post a picture, I get the message: "This forum has exceeded its maximum attachment limit. Your file cannot be uploaded." The file is 460k; can anyone help me with this? Thanks
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Post by smartliketruck on Oct 26, 2016 18:39:18 GMT -8
This forum has used up available upload space, so you need to self host the pictures or use one of the many picture hosting sites. If you have trouble with the above options, message me and I'll help ya out.
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Post by satamax on Oct 26, 2016 22:33:56 GMT -8
Hostingpics does it for me.
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Post by jeanlou on Oct 27, 2016 5:46:44 GMT -8
Thanks, i'll try that.
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Post by jeanlou on Oct 27, 2016 6:26:36 GMT -8
Ok, I think we're in business, thank you guys. I'll post more as progress warrants... In the meantime, you can look at my home rocket heater here: m.youtube.com/watch?v=u5Vq2_K8aj4I'd be happy to get any comments or suggestions.
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Post by matthewwalker on Oct 27, 2016 10:16:07 GMT -8
I liked the video Jeanlou. Nice heater, great space. Thank you for sharing it.
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Post by jeanlou on Oct 27, 2016 17:54:07 GMT -8
Thank you Matthew. As you can see though, at this point, the hot combustion gases are all being evacuated through the chimney. This Fall, I plan to build a masonry mass to capture and store more of that heat for overnight release into the house. It will be a side-by-side brick double bell, in the form of a wall 7' tall, 5' wide and 11.5" deep with a 7" deep void inside.
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Post by matthewwalker on Oct 28, 2016 8:00:57 GMT -8
Jeanlou, I believe Glenn Herbert has had success with a rocket kiln. He'd be a good guy to chat with about this stuff.
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Post by jeanlou on Oct 28, 2016 19:24:05 GMT -8
Do you know where I can find Glenn's posts on that? A search with his name returned no results.
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Post by matthewwalker on Oct 29, 2016 4:38:26 GMT -8
GJH42 is his handle here.
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Post by jeanlou on Oct 29, 2016 6:18:25 GMT -8
Thanks, I'll try to contact him
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gjh42
Junior Member
Posts: 61
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Post by gjh42 on Nov 7, 2016 6:07:27 GMT -8
I just saw your message, and would be happy to talk about kilns.
I have not built an actual rocket fired kiln, but I have built a dozen or more iterations of a wood-fired kiln which has similarities to rocket design, and a rocket-fired bake oven. I could see modifying the oven design to bring the fire directly into the chamber, enlarging the firebox to give the rate of heating required. I have photos of my latest and best kiln and the oven, for a base to work from. I'll have to do a bit of fiddling to get them all hosted in one accessible place.
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Ralf
New Member
Posts: 42
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Post by Ralf on Nov 7, 2016 6:34:42 GMT -8
Hi Guys,
this is neither exactly a Raku nor a rocket kiln, but itÂŽs got interesting similarities to rocket stove technology, since the fire burns downwards and there is no smoke even in a reduction atmosphere. The firebox is called Bourry Box style. I also like the hinge mechanism of the insulated firebox cover.
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gjh42
Junior Member
Posts: 61
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Post by gjh42 on Nov 7, 2016 7:05:05 GMT -8
That is a beautiful kiln!
I looked through Robert's thread, and what he did is very similar to what I was thinking. I would just go with a firing chamber with a cutout side and door of refractory material, instead of a lift-off top. Another possibility for a raku kiln would be to have the top on a hoist system so it could be raised up (by a crank and pulleys?) to reach the ware. This would allow free access, which I have found valuable when trying to pick up hot pieces with tongs. It would still keep some heat in the area while moving the pieces, so the last ones don't cool so much before putting in the smoking can. A raku kiln I used long ago had a very simple top made of ceramic fiber in a wire cage (very light) which was picked up off the base and set aside, using two people with a pair of 2x4s to hold under the handles. Of course, this would not be practical at the height of a rocket burner.
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