You’re so right, I bought my first kiln used for super cheap (kiln sitter model) and it’s small like the Skutt 818. Still takes me a good amount of pots to fill it up. So glad I didn’t buy a big one right off the bat!
Wow. I have been potting for over 20 years, off and on. But I really thought I needed another kiln but I really don’t think I do after hearing this. Thank you. Also, I thought those shelves were absolutely insanely expensive but I didn’t know it repelled glaze!!! I think I’ll get one every 6 to 8 months or so.
I also have advancer shelves and love them 💘. They are so light and thin and as you said they clean off easy. I bought one of your mugs a few months ago and it is my favorite of all the mugs I own.
@@tombraun7235 type in convert electric to gas kiln. You will get several video an info on how to do it. It took part from ceramic network part from Simon Leach. Is not hard just had to mess with how big the opening to the flue was. ceramicartsnetwork.org/daily/clay-tools/ceramic-kilns/diy-downdraft-kiln-how-to-convert-an-electric-kiln-to-gas/
I was going to suggest the same thing. I have a kiln I was given, and I intended to get it up and running. I never did, which is fine since it was a low fire kiln, and that'd not really what I wanted. I came across a used kiln that needs work, but is a mid to high fire model. So I am considering converting the older one into gas, so I can do reduction with salt or soda.
Thank you so much for this video, I am a student wanting to continue my passion after high school and have been very interested in buying a skut 8-18 and now I am certain it is the best beginning kiln for me.
Appreciate everything I'm learning on this site so am passing on some of my learning and hope this helps with pinholes/dimples in Slow Cool Firing cycle -- a suggestion that helped me was to use the DIGITALFIRE addition of the drop and soak ramp about 100 F below peak. For me peak is 2195 for a ^6 firing so I soak at 2195 for 15 min then 9999 to 2100 and soak for 10 min. This solved the problem for most of my glazes. For my most dimpled glaze I did another soak at 1900 for 10 and I also lowered that glaze's SG to 1.40 and Viscosity to 12 (single dipped) to allow for easier off-gassing of talc. I fire in a Skutt KM1018 kiln.
Love wood fire kilns. The last two I have fired where both built and designed train design by Ted Neal. Nothing like it, great results and great for people who enjoy a big community. Last firing we did got to almost done 12.
Cone 10 reduction firings are great because there are nice deep copper reds that you can get but it needs to be in reduction. Generally looks like an oatmeal-ish grey in oxidation. But might still combo well with other glazes in cone 10O.
My KMT-822 was just delivered and I am SO excited! 😆😆 I’d love a follow-up video of how to work with an electrician to install the kiln, and installing the vent systems (like, how do you cut holes in your wall?!) Also tips for your first firing; what to look for. I’m having trouble finding resources to help me go from buying my kiln to feeling confident firing it for the first time. Love your channel and appreciate all your help so much Jon!! So excited to see why you’ll achieve in new kiln styles this year.
I just got the KM 822-3 and am getting my electricity all properly hooked up in a few weeks! I feel like it's a great size and SO excited to fire it! Have you got your set up and going?
For your older simple shelves try an angle grinder with a diamond bit .. Amazing at cleaning up .I have been doing some alkaline cone ten work lately in my outdoor sprung arch kiln and with a drip or two it is a great tool for cleaning up .. We also use setting rings with sand or ground insulating brick dust at cone 10 . Something refractory up at white hot ..I have 3 older Skutt 1227 s . I try to fire every day but at 71 it works out 3 to 5 times a week .I make 25 to 35 tons of flowerpots a year .. . We make unglazed flowerpots stacked inside each other so no shelves needed on the skutts .. 90 one pounders or 60 two pounders or 36 4 pounders or 28 six pounders or 22 twelve pounders or 16 16 pounders or 8 24 pounders (with fillers ) The yields are right around $900.00 to $1500.00 a load retail of 500 to $750.00 wholesale fiiring at cone 02 .. Keep enjoying yourself .50 years at the wheel and I smile every day .. Yours Guy
Love this! Considering my first kiln and have been looking at the skutt 818. You've confirmed my thinking about size. Questions: 1. Once you've dripped on and scraped away the advanced kiln shelf, is that area still going to be as "nonstick" the next time? 2. I've read that you need lots of room around kilns but you have yours so close together...any tips? 3. I've been told that electric kills should be in a separate shed because they can cause condensation of chemicals that affects metal in the room and makes it rust. Have you had that happen? (Considering a separate shed). Thanks!
In a couple of years watching your videos, I’ve always wondered why you never seem to use kiln wash on your regular shelves. It’s a simple step that makes cleaning up runny glaze so much easier!
Love you Jon! Youve probably seen this but there's a video out there with this Korean man making a Kimchi pot the old fashioned way. It was interesting to see after watching your channel. He used the rope method like you did on your large pot. His koln was large, wood burning and baked for a couple days. Came out beautiful though. His channel name is Eater.
Hi Jon, I got onto your videos only a few months ago and I’m binge watching! I am totally hooked! I follow three other potters and am trying to get as much theoretical knowledge as possible as I haven’t been able to take classes etc. I can’t wait to put my hands to clay! I just bought my first kiln, well ordered it (Skutt KM818 with touchscreen controller). I never had space to have my own workshop until now so as soon as I am settled I’m getting on with getting the practical knowledge and skills and experimenting. I have been wanting to get into pottery for so long but work etc always got in the way. I want to show people that’s it’s never too late to get into something and carry on learning. You’re such an inspiration! Will let you know how I get on once my workshop is ready. Best.
This is perfect timing. I am literally shopping for my first kiln and it is so confusing. This helped a great deal! Thank you. I also love the videos with you and Matthew Kelley! Both are wonderful artists and teachers!
Jon, perhaps your new clay body could benefit from a longer and/ or higher bisque to burn out impurities. It could be it is relasing gases in the glaze firing that are being trapped in in the molten glaze. And for anyone looking for a kiln (or wheels), always keep an eye on Craig's List or other such auction sites. There are a couple sites here in the States that public schools use to auction off old equipment. You can get really good deals, because they are more realistic about what they have, and sometimes just want to get rid of it.
Kiln wash? I thought that was supposed to prevent, or at least help reduce, sticking pots from glaze run off. Great video! Want to have a home studio in the next year. The kiln is the least I know about so I learned a bit more to help figure out what I need. Thx
It didn’t look like he had much or any kiln wash. The kiln wash will help but with that much dripping it definitely wouldn’t. Not anything close to that advanced shelf.
Love your videos! News follower. I am a Jrhigh art teacher in TX. Planning on writing a grant for a pottery wheel to introduce throwing to my students to inspire future potters. We have a Skutt Kiln and love those shelves you showed. I may add those to my grant. Thank you for sharing what you know!
Hello from Australia! I love how different it is compared to us in aus . Here we almost always fire stoneware to cone 9/10 . I work in a pottery supply store and can always tell when someone has been inspired by a USA channel because they want cone 6 clay and glaze 😂. We usually have to steer them towards cone 9/10 just because we do a in-house reduction to around 1280°c. None better than the other just makes me wonder where the difference began. Love your channel BTW
It is fascinating what Simon Leach has accomplished with old ruined electric kilns and Harbor Freight weed burners. But you have your own style. So I'll be absolutely fascinated to see how you approach gas.
I love cone 10, my glaze and kiln tech class is purely at cone 10, sometimes we wood fire bc my professor builds wood kilns all over the country. that’s actually the second part of the class, building a wood kiln! really natural results, I love it :) nice video
Love this breakdown and it came at the perfect time because I am about to take the plunge and buy my first kiln. Looking at the KM822!! Can you talk about kiln loading tips?
If you ever do Cone 10R try an amber celadon glaze over a copper red glaze. Moderately runny so just have the celadon on the top 1/3rd of the piece at most. But it looks fantastic
Thank you so much for this video!!!! How you explained everything definitely help me a lot to understand more about kilns!!! Your amazing! Also, really enjoyed your book!!! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻😉
Have I missed the statement where Jon mentions degrees (Celsius or Fahrenheit)? USA is the homeland of social networks...and it uses Fahrenheits only. ...the imperial measurement system too, but that is for another video (1 mile = 1.60934 km = 1760 Yards = 5280 Feet; 1Kg = 2.20462 Pounds = 35.2739199982575 Ounce ...). Sorry...I know it sucks...That is why specifying the measuring system is important for us who want to do something ourselves.
Idk if it would be possible to do a more in depth video of the process🥺? Like how you set up the temperature for the firing and how to install electric kilns and idk, a step by step of how you set the little screen and all that haha
Better go to a ceramic shop and ask someone who knows about kilns, ask them everything, they will happily help, céramists are friendly people. As kilns are crazy expensive, don't buy to big, choose a good and reliable brand. They are super heavy too, so think about where you want to install it. Ask an electrician if your electric system can handel the power required. You can buy 2nd hand as long as they are relatively new. Why? Because they are better insulated thus lower costs, the bricks are usually not worn, the resistance cables won't need changing. As for the firing t°, it's strait forward biscuit is usually 950° Celsius Glaze, between 1150 and 1280°. 1150 will be brighter and colorful but fragile while 1280 will be dark but very strong. All the instructions are all over the internet. Kilns come with pre-programmed firing menus. That's the easy part
I actually said the same thing in another video! I'd love to learn how to use mine... because of cobid I haven't had much luck finding any advise and I want to learn to use the one i bought!
Thank you so much for sharing your 818 experience with us . Ive been working with much larger kilns at work and for the first time , we were able to purchase a kiln to have at home, we got the 818 30 amp which meant we could use our dryer plug with an adaptor, we just got it a couple of days ago and we are waiting for the vent adaptor to arrive before using it. Are you using any vents? I look forward to getting the advancer shelves one day too ! Thanks so much for your fabulous videos I’ve been subscribed to your channel since about 2006 and I appreciate your kind spirit, and generously sharing your talent on UA-cam. Congratulations on all your success, Im really looking forward to seeing you experiment with a gas oven and learning all about it with you!
Nice brief introduction to kilns. I am thinking about getting a smaller one like you’ve shown. Do I need to put a vent to the outdoors next to where the kiln is located in the basement?
If you are a beginner, no need to install any ventilation. Usually, you'll fire when leaving your studio. Crack open à window and close the door behind you. And as a beginner, you won't mix glazes with toxic ingredients. Ready to use glazes are environnement friendly these days. But, later in your studies, if you find yourself mixing and testing with toxic products, just add an aluminium accordion that you would use in the kitchen to a hole in your wall. It's enough.
Obviously, and it's nowhere mentioned in this video, check with an electrician or engineer friend if your electric installation is up to the task. I installed a new electric system next to the house primary electricity panel since the latter was not strong enough. Kilns use 230v or 400v, sometimes 2 phases sometimes 3. Depending where you live, it could be a problem.
Good points. I’ve been a potter at our community art center for years, but have limited my experience to loading or unloading a kiln. Would like to use a smaller one at the house so I am not waiting weeks to get things fired. This would also allow me to experiment more, since I am at the mercy of the studio.
I'm in the process of setting up a home studio, and this was super helpful in thinking about what kiln I want to invest in. After watching this video, I think I'm set on the Skutt 818. How long did it take to get yours with their current demand?
My problem is that I do not have access to 220 high amperage circuits. Too bad for hobbyists and beginners that there are so few kilns that will run from a 15 amp 120 circuit.
Do you recommend any resources for those starting out on using a kiln. I was thinking about buying a small skutt kiln as my first kiln. The price difference between the touchscreen and normal controller is high. Is it worth it????
Do you know how much electricity it pulls to run/fire your 818 kiln? And do you have a cost comparison to running the smaller kiln vs. the bigger ones? Trying to figure up the cost it would take to fire the smaller kiln size, if I were to purchase one for a home studio. As always, very informative video and love your channel.
An 80 liter kiln, per firing it's around 15 to 20 kw for biscuit and aroud 24 to 30 kw for glaze firing. Depending on how full it is. Costs will increase as the kiln gets older. Bricks will shatter, insulation will deteriorate.
Hi, I'm trying to find a recommended recipe. We are firing ceramic to 1050 Deg. C, cone 10 right? We take a lot of time ramping and dwelling to get there, 60 hours, and then once we dwell at 1050C, we literally turn the furnace off. I think that sets us up for dunting and internal stress. I'm generalizing because of our proprietary material, but am I right that this is NOT the way to fire ceramic? We should gradually ramp the temperature back down until about 500C before we just turn off the kiln right? Opinions would be greatly appreciated.
My pottery studio is closing. It's in suburban Philadelphia and they're selling their electric kilns for half price. Except I'm still too poor to afford them haha. If anyone lives in suburban Philadelphia, they're also selling their wheels for half price.
I have a 8:18 Scott that I've been using forever I just got those new shelves that you're showing off in this video I was just curious if you have any guidance on how close we can get to the element and the thermostat rod. And do you turn them off before you take the shelves out? Thank you
I just now well this afternoon received my wall mounted controller which has the exact same features as the scut counts and I'm using it with an old Vulcan kiln. I mean I redid All The brick in the Vulcan I found a local source for kiln brick and made a jig for my Mill and I mailed out all the tracks and cut the angles for the brick they turned out absolutely perfectly perfect and then I wound some brand new coils out of A1 kanthol 16 gauge wire so basically the part of the Kiln that matters is all brand new. I'm firing it right now but I'm just doing basically an empty Kiln with a bottom layer of cups just to see how it turns I can't really justify filling and killing 100% and firing it 100% full when I don't even know what I'm doing with the controller. I was having trouble with the Kiln sitter and I had a very cheap analog pyrometer so I just bit the bullet and decided to get the controller that way I would have a good pyrometer built in and be able to control everything without actually using cones. You can overshoot a cone you can't overshoot the electronics that are controlling the relays for the speed of the Ascension or Ascension so I figured I'd get a lot more accurate temperatures. Basically those wall mounted controllers are awesome they take any cheap Kiln as long as it's intact and it works and turn it into a awesome kiln All of a sudden and out of the blue I'm getting pinholes all the time and I don't know if I'm overshooting or undershooting my temperatures. I know the cones will eventually melt even if they don't reach maturity temperatures for the glazes so who knows I'll find out now cuz I'll be able to see what temperature it went to
I want to make some cave holes for my fish and thinking to build them myself, the say use terocota clay, but how long the need to be in the oven and on what degrees?
I’m curious about how it works to refire a mug upside-down...do you silt them up and have those unfortunate marks on them or do those super stellar shelves leave them with a nice enough finish once you pop it off?
Is it possible to switch out the heat/control center (I’m sorry I don’t the correct term) without replacing the whole kiln? I have a kiln that’s it’s pretty good shape, other then the wires that go to the wall. And the temperature control is one you have to sit and lower yourself, which I can’t quite find the time to do.😅 I know they sell the temperature gage separate, but I wasn’t sure if it was an option without having to buy a whole to kiln.. or if it would just be best to replace the whole kiln itself? the max temp is 2250/cone 6.
Is your walls in the kiln room bricks? Or reg wall? Also, do you have a special floor? I have a 1027 and I have the electrician coming today to install my plug in out new house in the basement. But our basement is not brick. Thank you!
Can you make enough money making pottery? If you wanted to make 60k a year, worked M-F, 48 out of 52 weeks in a year, and made one fine piece per day, you would have to sell it for $250. To cover the cost of the materials, kiln, and electric however, you'd need to sell it for a bit more. Is there really a market for stuff at that price? I feel like you'd have a better chance at making specialty pieces like that than cheap plates and cups which most people will just buy from local retail stores.
Wow! You have 3 kilns? Those are so expensive! I'm thinking about making a clay kiln to fire my metal clay. Are you familiar with clay kilns? I'm wondering if they get hot enough to cure the metal clay pieces.
i noticed that i have been getting micro pin holes as well.... and I'm at a loss. i have been forced to use B mix recently due to my supplier's mixer/pug being broken down. i am not impressed at all with bmix..... i wonder if the clay is causing this??? i always thought that it was the glazes?
I believe that if it’s a new kiln it’s worth getting ventilation system as it will last longer. Also it’s recommended to have a dedicated electric box for your kiln. But I’m sure Jon will give you a more complete answer about this 👍
You’re such an inspiration! I’m a 21 year old potter and my biggest dream is to making it my job. Excellent work as always Jon keep it up! 👊🏻
How’s it going
I don't know you but I would like to support you
Potter is a 4 year education.
You’re so right, I bought my first kiln used for super cheap (kiln sitter model) and it’s small like the Skutt 818. Still takes me a good amount of pots to fill it up. So glad I didn’t buy a big one right off the bat!
Me watching this with full interest even though I’m never gonna do pottery or anything like that. 👀
exactly!
SOLD! I am going to buy advancer shelves. Just wrecked some shelves with runny glaze.
Wow. I have been potting for over 20 years, off and on. But I really thought I needed another kiln but I really don’t think I do after hearing this. Thank you.
Also, I thought those shelves were absolutely insanely expensive but I didn’t know it repelled glaze!!! I think I’ll get one every 6 to 8 months or so.
I also have advancer shelves and love them 💘.
They are so light and thin and as you said they clean off easy. I bought one of your mugs a few months ago and it is my favorite of all the mugs I own.
Love your videos 🌹 You are not only a fantastic potter but also an amazing teacher 👏👏
We converted a few old electric kilns into gas down draft kilns, not hard to do to get your feet wet on gas firing.
@@tombraun7235 type in convert electric to gas kiln. You will get several video an info on how to do it. It took part from ceramic network part from Simon Leach. Is not hard just had to mess with how big the opening to the flue was. ceramicartsnetwork.org/daily/clay-tools/ceramic-kilns/diy-downdraft-kiln-how-to-convert-an-electric-kiln-to-gas/
I was going to suggest the same thing. I have a kiln I was given, and I intended to get it up and running. I never did, which is fine since it was a low fire kiln, and that'd not really what I wanted. I came across a used kiln that needs work, but is a mid to high fire model.
So I am considering converting the older one into gas, so I can do reduction with salt or soda.
Thank you so much for this video, I am a student wanting to continue my passion after high school and have been very interested in buying a skut 8-18 and now I am certain it is the best beginning kiln for me.
Your explanation of how to decide about sizing of a kiln was quite helpful. Thanks, Jon!!!
Appreciate everything I'm learning on this site so am passing on some of my learning and hope this helps with pinholes/dimples in Slow Cool Firing cycle -- a suggestion that helped me was to use the DIGITALFIRE addition of the drop and soak ramp about 100 F below peak. For me peak is 2195 for a ^6 firing so I soak at 2195 for 15 min then 9999 to 2100 and soak for 10 min. This solved the problem for most of my glazes. For my most dimpled glaze I did another soak at 1900 for 10 and I also lowered that glaze's SG to 1.40 and Viscosity to 12 (single dipped) to allow for easier off-gassing of talc. I fire in a Skutt KM1018 kiln.
Raku pottery can turn out so cool and it's cheaper to do than the other options so that's what you should try next!
Love wood fire kilns. The last two I have fired where both built and designed train design by Ted Neal. Nothing like it, great results and great for people who enjoy a big community. Last firing we did got to almost done 12.
I’m just now looking to buy my first kiln & your info was super helpful! Thanks for always keeping it interesting!
Cone 10 reduction firings are great because there are nice deep copper reds that you can get but it needs to be in reduction. Generally looks like an oatmeal-ish grey in oxidation. But might still combo well with other glazes in cone 10O.
My KMT-822 was just delivered and I am SO excited! 😆😆 I’d love a follow-up video of how to work with an electrician to install the kiln, and installing the vent systems (like, how do you cut holes in your wall?!) Also tips for your first firing; what to look for. I’m having trouble finding resources to help me go from buying my kiln to feeling confident firing it for the first time.
Love your channel and appreciate all your help so much Jon!! So excited to see why you’ll achieve in new kiln styles this year.
I just got the KM 822-3 and am getting my electricity all properly hooked up in a few weeks! I feel like it's a great size and SO excited to fire it! Have you got your set up and going?
For your older simple shelves try an angle grinder with a diamond bit .. Amazing at cleaning up .I have been doing some alkaline cone ten work lately in my outdoor sprung arch kiln and with a drip or two it is a great tool for cleaning up .. We also use setting rings with sand or ground insulating brick dust at cone 10 . Something refractory up at white hot ..I have 3 older Skutt 1227 s . I try to fire every day but at 71 it works out 3 to 5 times a week .I make 25 to 35 tons of flowerpots a year .. . We make unglazed flowerpots stacked inside each other so no shelves needed on the skutts .. 90 one pounders or 60 two pounders or 36 4 pounders or 28 six pounders or 22 twelve pounders or 16 16 pounders or 8 24 pounders (with fillers ) The yields are right around $900.00 to $1500.00 a load retail of 500 to $750.00 wholesale fiiring at cone 02 .. Keep enjoying yourself .50 years at the wheel and I smile every day .. Yours Guy
Love this! Considering my first kiln and have been looking at the skutt 818. You've confirmed my thinking about size. Questions:
1. Once you've dripped on and scraped away the advanced kiln shelf, is that area still going to be as "nonstick" the next time?
2. I've read that you need lots of room around kilns but you have yours so close together...any tips?
3. I've been told that electric kills should be in a separate shed because they can cause condensation of chemicals that affects metal in the room and makes it rust. Have you had that happen? (Considering a separate shed).
Thanks!
In a couple of years watching your videos, I’ve always wondered why you never seem to use kiln wash on your regular shelves. It’s a simple step that makes cleaning up runny glaze so much easier!
He has a certain kind of shelf, he doesn't need kiln wash
Love you Jon! Youve probably seen this but there's a video out there with this Korean man making a Kimchi pot the old fashioned way. It was interesting to see after watching your channel. He used the rope method like you did on your large pot. His koln was large, wood burning and baked for a couple days. Came out beautiful though. His channel name is Eater.
Thanks Jon. I’m a new potter and I love my Skutt 818. I’m opening a glaze firing inI a few hours... so excited. I was able to fit 14 bowls in there!
Just got my first kiln! Love your channel and mug! 😎
Hi Jon, I got onto your videos only a few months ago and I’m binge watching! I am totally hooked! I follow three other potters and am trying to get as much theoretical knowledge as possible as I haven’t been able to take classes etc. I can’t wait to put my hands to clay!
I just bought my first kiln, well ordered it (Skutt KM818 with touchscreen controller). I never had space to have my own workshop until now so as soon as I am settled I’m getting on with getting the practical knowledge and skills and experimenting. I have been wanting to get into pottery for so long but work etc always got in the way. I want to show people that’s it’s never too late to get into something and carry on learning. You’re such an inspiration! Will let you know how I get on once my workshop is ready. Best.
This is perfect timing. I am literally shopping for my first kiln and it is so confusing. This helped a great deal! Thank you. I also love the videos with you and Matthew Kelley! Both are wonderful artists and teachers!
Have you made a decision on a kiln yet D?
Jon, perhaps your new clay body could benefit from a longer and/ or higher bisque to burn out impurities. It could be it is relasing gases in the glaze firing that are being trapped in in the molten glaze.
And for anyone looking for a kiln (or wheels), always keep an eye on Craig's List or other such auction sites. There are a couple sites here in the States that public schools use to auction off old equipment. You can get really good deals, because they are more realistic about what they have, and sometimes just want to get rid of it.
Awesome! And no kiln wash either! Love those!
Thanks, this is super helpful. My Skutt km 818 is arriving in July so this is great info.
Just got the small skut used but as a gift. So excited.. thanks for all your videos!!
JTP getting into the gas/wood kilns! love it! all about that cone 10 :)
Kiln wash? I thought that was supposed to prevent, or at least help reduce, sticking pots from glaze run off. Great video! Want to have a home studio in the next year. The kiln is the least I know about so I learned a bit more to help figure out what I need. Thx
It didn’t look like he had much or any kiln wash. The kiln wash will help but with that much dripping it definitely wouldn’t. Not anything close to that advanced shelf.
You can also sit your pots on a patty of clay slightly larger than the pot to protect the shelves.
Love your videos! News follower. I am a Jrhigh art teacher in TX. Planning on writing a grant for a pottery wheel to introduce throwing to my students to inspire future potters. We have a Skutt Kiln and love those shelves you showed. I may add those to my grant. Thank you for sharing what you know!
Raku! And a fling into cow by-product. Seems local enough...:)
Hello from Australia!
I love how different it is compared to us in aus . Here we almost always fire stoneware to cone 9/10 . I work in a pottery supply store and can always tell when someone has been inspired by a USA channel because they want cone 6 clay and glaze 😂. We usually have to steer them towards cone 9/10 just because we do a in-house reduction to around 1280°c. None better than the other just makes me wonder where the difference began.
Love your channel BTW
John, thank you very much for your efforts and art. I love watching your videos. 😎👍
It is fascinating what Simon Leach has accomplished with old ruined electric kilns and Harbor Freight weed burners. But you have your own style. So I'll be absolutely fascinated to see how you approach gas.
I love cone 10, my glaze and kiln tech class is purely at cone 10, sometimes we wood fire bc my professor builds wood kilns all over the country. that’s actually the second part of the class, building a wood kiln! really natural results, I love it :) nice video
I really need this class. Where is this
good morning From Hastings....Love your videos...Keep it up!!! Looking forward to your next sale. :-)
Omgoodness that's awesome. Thank you for sharing!
I kind of was hoping you would talk a little on ventilation and what you do/don’t recommend for people using them in a garage ? Yeah? Maybe? Thanks!
Love this breakdown and it came at the perfect time because I am about to take the plunge and buy my first kiln. Looking at the KM822!! Can you talk about kiln loading tips?
I’ve been thinking about these specific subjects.
such a great video!!!! thank you Mr. John
I have a paragon B88B which is about the size of 818. It takes a lot of me to even fill it up
Thank you! That answered so many questions for me.
Thank you for making this video! Answered so many questions
Thankyou for this video! I learn a lot from you! Amazing kiln explanation
eyyy im one of skutts kilns builders, i probably built that new one! im glad you are satisfied with my work xD
If you ever do Cone 10R try an amber celadon glaze over a copper red glaze. Moderately runny so just have the celadon on the top 1/3rd of the piece at most. But it looks fantastic
Thank you so much for this video!!!! How you explained everything definitely help me a lot to understand more about kilns!!! Your amazing! Also, really enjoyed your book!!! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻😉
Have I missed the statement where Jon mentions degrees (Celsius or Fahrenheit)? USA is the homeland of social networks...and it uses Fahrenheits only. ...the imperial measurement system too, but that is for another video (1 mile = 1.60934 km = 1760 Yards = 5280 Feet; 1Kg = 2.20462 Pounds = 35.2739199982575 Ounce ...). Sorry...I know it sucks...That is why specifying the measuring system is important for us who want to do something ourselves.
I love all your information
Idk if it would be possible to do a more in depth video of the process🥺? Like how you set up the temperature for the firing and how to install electric kilns and idk, a step by step of how you set the little screen and all that haha
Better go to a ceramic shop and ask someone who knows about kilns, ask them everything, they will happily help, céramists are friendly people.
As kilns are crazy expensive, don't buy to big, choose a good and reliable brand. They are super heavy too, so think about where you want to install it. Ask an electrician if your electric system can handel the power required. You can buy 2nd hand as long as they are relatively new. Why? Because they are better insulated thus lower costs, the bricks are usually not worn, the resistance cables won't need changing.
As for the firing t°, it's strait forward biscuit is usually 950° Celsius
Glaze, between 1150 and 1280°. 1150 will be brighter and colorful but fragile while 1280 will be dark but very strong. All the instructions are all over the internet. Kilns come with pre-programmed firing menus. That's the easy part
I actually said the same thing in another video! I'd love to learn how to use mine... because of cobid I haven't had much luck finding any advise and I want to learn to use the one i bought!
Thank you so much for sharing your 818 experience with us . Ive been working with much larger kilns at work and for the first time , we were able to purchase a kiln to have at home, we got the 818 30 amp which meant we could use our dryer plug with an adaptor, we just got it a couple of days ago and we are waiting for the vent adaptor to arrive before using it. Are you using any vents? I look forward to getting the advancer shelves one day too ! Thanks so much for your fabulous videos I’ve been subscribed to your channel since about 2006 and I appreciate your kind spirit, and generously sharing your talent on UA-cam. Congratulations on all your success, Im really looking forward to seeing you experiment with a gas oven and learning all about it with you!
If your kiln is 18” wide, should you order an 18” kiln shelf or a 16” kiln shelf to leave room for manouvering?
Thank you again.
Nice brief introduction to kilns. I am thinking about getting a smaller one like you’ve shown. Do I need to put a vent to the outdoors next to where the kiln is located in the basement?
If you are a beginner, no need to install any ventilation. Usually, you'll fire when leaving your studio. Crack open à window and close the door behind you. And as a beginner, you won't mix glazes with toxic ingredients. Ready to use glazes are environnement friendly these days.
But, later in your studies, if you find yourself mixing and testing with toxic products, just add an aluminium accordion that you would use in the kitchen to a hole in your wall. It's enough.
Obviously, and it's nowhere mentioned in this video, check with an electrician or engineer friend if your electric installation is up to the task. I installed a new electric system next to the house primary electricity panel since the latter was not strong enough. Kilns use 230v or 400v, sometimes 2 phases sometimes 3. Depending where you live, it could be a problem.
Good points. I’ve been a potter at our community art center for years, but have limited my experience to loading or unloading a kiln. Would like to use a smaller one at the house so I am not waiting weeks to get things fired. This would also allow me to experiment more, since I am at the mercy of the studio.
I'm in the process of setting up a home studio, and this was super helpful in thinking about what kiln I want to invest in. After watching this video, I think I'm set on the Skutt 818. How long did it take to get yours with their current demand?
My problem is that I do not have access to 220 high amperage circuits. Too bad for hobbyists and beginners that there are so few kilns that will run from a 15 amp 120 circuit.
A lot of really useful info here, thank you.
I'm using a old 181 skutt kiln, everything manual, to teach students and myself. Jealous of those kilns
Great tutorial thanks need to know more about cones and temperatures have a scutt 1022
Do you recommend any resources for those starting out on using a kiln. I was thinking about buying a small skutt kiln as my first kiln. The price difference between the touchscreen and normal controller is high. Is it worth it????
I just ordered my first kiln, a Skutt KM 818 with the touchscreen. It’s £350 more than the normal controller. Time will tell if it was worth it.
Jon I work at an animal hospital and often the dead pets pile up.
Using the gas kiln at school would always give me anxiety!! Esp if it was filled with other people's pieces too .
Instead of throwing them out you could do a second chance sell and sell them at a cheaper rate. That way they won’t go to waste
Do you know how much electricity it pulls to run/fire your 818 kiln? And do you have a cost comparison to running the smaller kiln vs. the bigger ones? Trying to figure up the cost it would take to fire the smaller kiln size, if I were to purchase one for a home studio. As always, very informative video and love your channel.
An 80 liter kiln, per firing it's around 15 to 20 kw for biscuit and aroud 24 to 30 kw for glaze firing. Depending on how full it is.
Costs will increase as the kiln gets older. Bricks will shatter, insulation will deteriorate.
Thanks for the great kiln video. Do you vent your kilns and/or your studio in general? Love your work!!
What is a good beginner pottery wheel?
Hi, I'm trying to find a recommended recipe. We are firing ceramic to 1050 Deg. C, cone 10 right? We take a lot of time ramping and dwelling to get there, 60 hours, and then once we dwell at 1050C, we literally turn the furnace off. I think that sets us up for dunting and internal stress. I'm generalizing because of our proprietary material, but am I right that this is NOT the way to fire ceramic? We should gradually ramp the temperature back down until about 500C before we just turn off the kiln right? Opinions would be greatly appreciated.
Did you ever look up at the Clayart kilns? Im in the market for a kiln.
You should do one about wheels next!
Wow thanks soooooo much
How do you know if your kiln needs new parts?
So informative! I was wondering if you leave the peep holes open during bisque or glaze firing?
My pottery studio is closing. It's in suburban Philadelphia and they're selling their electric kilns for half price. Except I'm still too poor to afford them haha. If anyone lives in suburban Philadelphia, they're also selling their wheels for half price.
Will they ship by any chance? Super interested!
@@ashleymerklinger7394 I don't think so but I'll ask. I'll get back to you.
what studio is closing?
@@Sullivan_Owen i messaged you on instagram
@@ashleymerklinger7394 hi they told me they arent shipping.
I have a 8:18 Scott that I've been using forever I just got those new shelves that you're showing off in this video I was just curious if you have any guidance on how close we can get to the element and the thermostat rod. And do you turn them off before you take the shelves out? Thank you
Skutt
@@toddwinchester7516 that autocorrect! 😀
Well done
I just now well this afternoon received my wall mounted controller which has the exact same features as the scut counts and I'm using it with an old Vulcan kiln. I mean I redid All The brick in the Vulcan I found a local source for kiln brick and made a jig for my Mill and I mailed out all the tracks and cut the angles for the brick they turned out absolutely perfectly perfect and then I wound some brand new coils out of A1 kanthol 16 gauge wire so basically the part of the Kiln that matters is all brand new. I'm firing it right now but I'm just doing basically an empty Kiln with a bottom layer of cups just to see how it turns
I can't really justify filling and killing 100% and firing it 100% full when I don't even know what I'm doing with the controller. I was having trouble with the Kiln sitter and I had a very cheap analog pyrometer so I just bit the bullet and decided to get the controller that way I would have a good pyrometer built in and be able to control everything without actually using cones. You can overshoot a cone you can't overshoot the electronics that are controlling the relays for the speed of the Ascension or Ascension so I figured I'd get a lot more accurate temperatures. Basically those wall mounted controllers are awesome they take any cheap Kiln as long as it's intact and it works and turn it into a awesome kiln
All of a sudden and out of the blue I'm getting pinholes all the time and I don't know if I'm overshooting or undershooting my temperatures. I know the cones will eventually melt even if they don't reach maturity temperatures for the glazes so who knows I'll find out now cuz I'll be able to see what temperature it went to
What about 110 volt kiln. 11” wide and 9” deep. What are they good for
Please make a video about slow cooling!
I want to make some cave holes for my fish and thinking to build them myself, the say use terocota clay, but how long the need to be in the oven and on what degrees?
I’m curious about how it works to refire a mug upside-down...do you silt them up and have those unfortunate marks on them or do those super stellar shelves leave them with a nice enough finish once you pop it off?
Probably use a stilt to refire it if your doing the outside.
Earth nation ceramics has a great video about it
@@Greenerpastures1265 thanks for the lead. 👍. I’ll go check that out now 🤗
How do you make pottery a career? Do you only do pottery to as a means of living or do you have a 2nd job as well?
Is it possible to switch out the heat/control center (I’m sorry I don’t the correct term) without replacing the whole kiln?
I have a kiln that’s it’s pretty good shape, other then the wires that go to the wall. And the temperature control is one you have to sit and lower yourself, which I can’t quite find the time to do.😅
I know they sell the temperature gage separate, but I wasn’t sure if it was an option without having to buy a whole to kiln.. or if it would just be best to replace the whole kiln itself?
the max temp is 2250/cone 6.
And it’s a Skutt!
Can you make an episode about glazing and firing porcelain clay?
This was really helpful.
Is your walls in the kiln room bricks? Or reg wall? Also, do you have a special floor? I have a 1027 and I have the electrician coming today to install my plug in out new house in the basement. But our basement is not brick. Thank you!
Can you make enough money making pottery? If you wanted to make 60k a year, worked M-F, 48 out of 52 weeks in a year, and made one fine piece per day, you would have to sell it for $250. To cover the cost of the materials, kiln, and electric however, you'd need to sell it for a bit more. Is there really a market for stuff at that price? I feel like you'd have a better chance at making specialty pieces like that than cheap plates and cups which most people will just buy from local retail stores.
A question specific to the #AdvancerKilnShelves. Someone told me they will cause your electric firing to go into reduction. Any input on this??
Wow! You have 3 kilns? Those are so expensive! I'm thinking about making a clay kiln to fire my metal clay. Are you familiar with clay kilns? I'm wondering if they get hot enough to cure the metal clay pieces.
One more question...which 818 model is that?
i noticed that i have been getting micro pin holes as well.... and I'm at a loss. i have been forced to use B mix recently due to my supplier's mixer/pug being broken down. i am not impressed at all with bmix..... i wonder if the clay is causing this??? i always thought that it was the glazes?
What is slow cool, and why would you want to slow cool?
Can you try an updraft kiln video?
Ive taken pottery classes my whole life tryna be a potter than realized I don't know enough about kilns to do independent firings
How about that glaze crackling sound? Isn't it bad? Like bad for the quality of functional ceramics? I'm just starting with pottery. Thanks
Hello, is there a turning wheel you can recommend. I'm new to all. Than you
Dude! That's do cool!
What kind of electronic setting is the best?
If I were to buy a kiln, starting small of course, would I need to set up a ventilation system? And also, would I need to upgrade my electricity unit?
I believe that if it’s a new kiln it’s worth getting ventilation system as it will last longer. Also it’s recommended to have a dedicated electric box for your kiln. But I’m sure Jon will give you a more complete answer about this 👍