SIMON LEACH - How to convert an old electric kiln to propane gas -1 !

[@Mrtannja]

Hi Simon, Writing to you from British Columbia, Canada. Anyway, I had the opportunity to convert an electric kiln to a gas one, as per your video. I am happy to say it works really well. I had to experiment a bit with the flue, chimney etc, and now it works quite well. I have been getting some good results. BTW I am firing to cone 6, the only problem being slowing it down, as I could get it to temp in 3-4 hours no problem and that is far too quick. 7 hours is much better. Unfortunately the worst problem was the propane bottles freezing up. Full bottles work the best. Thanks for posting!

[@sleachpots]

Mrtannja - hey well done ! Check out other videos - more recent - on latest smaller kiln conversion earlier this year.

[@NancyGallagher]

You do these things and I always think, 'I don't think that's going to work' - and then it does! I'm sure this will work great.

[@cindee1028]

Thanks Simon, i did try enlarging the chimney flue and also tried increasing the height, got the same result. So today, i am going to enlarge the opening at the bottom side of the kiln (the opening for the chimney) and i will stack the chimney to the lid level to give it a go. I will keep you posted on the progress. Thank you for sharing your videos:)

[@Alyzabeth01]

I have an enormous old Skutt that I got for free when I bought an old Randall wheel. They threw it in for nothing because it is pretty beat up. I have never even plugged it in but I would love to convert it to propane. I will be anxiously awaiting an update on yours to see how it goes!

[@mobgrazer]

You could fill the element holes with kiln cement. I converted an old electric into an updraft a few years ago and the kiln cement is holding up.

[@rclearner7364]

hey simon each gas entry needs to be about 4 inch square , your chimney must be at least 9 inch wide x 4 inch high . I would double that . with a chimney built from the floor 9 deep 9 wide , use wire to hold the refractory chimney bricks in place , you can constipate the kiln by placing a brick on the top of the chimney when you feel ready , I would weld a sheet of 1mm thick mild steel over the chimney when you have tuned it you wouldn't want it to colapse,,, I built one in 1996 when I left colledge using two Sievert burners ( the biggest they make ) . Hope that helps simon . from a friend Craig .

[@tripanfal]

@longbeforedawn - It is limited by the elements. If the bricks are thinner, it may struggle to get to temp. You could always add additional insulation (refractory) inside or outside.

[@cindee1028]

The kiln is firing great now! Thanks.

[@DASRAY]

Don't trash to much of it, aren't there a few bits and pieces that could be used for you other electric kiln? I was thrilled to get a beat up one with lots of goodies with it, last year for $50.00, it is the same size as these, and the size of one other I have, so I have losts of extra shelves, posts, kiln sitter parts peep plugs and so on! This is the one I converted to Raku. Can't waite to see what you come up with here! Great clip!

[@fendertc90]

Simon......were the brick able to handle cone 10 temperatures? Also, how many gallons of propane did it take to fire at cone 10? thanks for your time

[@DASRAY]

Simon, Where will you put the kiln after its converted? Won't you have to put fiber between the rings? I think this type cool down pretty quickly, I've only used mine for a Raku Kiln and it's updraft. Even my electric ones cool pretty fast if not covered real well, or ramped down! I started placing bricks all around mine outside, for some insulation, but didn't really need it just for Raku. The roar of the burners, would be to loud for our neighbors to do longer stoneware firngs!

[@zoomjewelrydesignclassesls1362]

What tools did you use to cut the stainless steel and to cut the soft brick? thanks

[@disisdkat]

What would happen if you took the chimmeny higher than the kiln? So looking forward to seeing the results. I have 3 kiln shells and am trying to convince people these would make great conversion kilns.

[@dianewebb2689]

When you say balance input with output, do you mean the flue size is = to the burner ports?

[@deepashtray5605]

Have the flames done any damage to the bottom of the kiln? Or do you have a shelf laying on it for protection? Seems the brick wouldn't be as robust as what would be in a gas kiln firebox.

[@sleachpots]

Deep Ashtray I bottom is fine, no problems .

[@deepashtray5605]

@@sleachpots Thanks. I'm thinking of trying that myself. Sounds like you're having some good success with it.

[@Pherine1]

Hi Simon, I i have a small electric kiln that I'm not using and was wondering if I could convert it to use for raku, would it be similar to what you have done with this one?

[@cindee1028]

I have just converted my electric kiln in to a raku kiln. I am only using one burner. I noticed that the kiln fires in heavy reduction, the kiln also has a chimney and i can see that the flames coming out through the chimney. What can i do to make this kiln fire cleaner?

[@Tehcarp]

In ten months I hope you've solved your issue. your second plan sounds like it would work well but the other idea would be to back the burner a bit from the kiln so the flame draws more air as it enters.

[@dianewebb2689]

Is it necessary to pull all the elements out? Why?

[@amyhirsch76]

Completed my conversion yesterday. My weed burner is 500,000 BTU, which, at the smallest possible amount of gas going through heated the kiln (unloaded) to over 1000F in under 15 minutes. A little bit of overkill?! I am going to get a smaller burner so I don’t ramp up so fast. I have pictures of what I did, but I can’t post them here...

[@sleachpots]

Amy Maza - send them to me via my website [e-mail]

[@longbeforedawn]

Aha! Please respond to this comment! I have a big question, at least for me. Ok, supose one has a used electric kiln that was rated for about cone 8, (2300 fahrenheit.) Do you think one could get that kiln up to cone 10, 2380 (1300 celcius), or would you doubt the ability of the refractory material to not melt? Is the average electric kiln limited by the elements, or by the refractory brick?

[@zell9058]

Greatest use of the word constipated.

[@anvilson]

Are you related to Sue Leach? She was on the ceramics course when i was at Bath Academy of Art in 1973 to 1976.

[@yousifdelvalle3671]

Did it woik?

[@sumanpaul613]

Hi Simon i am suman from Bangladesh i need some help from you, I want to make a kiln, this will be square shape and single burner inner size will be 18" every where if i use single burner where will be chimney i am not experience about making kiln , So i need some help from you, i will LPG cylinder gas.

[@ClydeB3]

Superb!

[@bengagliardo]

convert one into wood fired ive been thinking about how to do just that lol.

[@ImMADasAMeatAxe]

flames combusting around the pottery is a bit of a worry ;)

[@kevinjamiesonbelou]

Lot of talk. Didn’t do anything.

[@wisprngwind]

More info less talking use edit.

[@Mrtannja]

Hi Simon I acquired almost electric kiln in really good nick and annoyed my sons in law, by asking them to freight it for me. Ugh. The sellers wanted $400 I offered 300 and they took it quickly.......which puzzled me a bit. When I got it home I discovered that it was phase three electric and unusable with my residential electricity supply. No more puzzle about the easy bid price. No one wanted it. Now I have two sons in law p.o.’d and a kiln that’s useless, takes up a lot of space, I’m too small to move it, and I’m out $300......I’m not happy about this. Well along comes a video from S Leach, how to convert an old kiln to gas. Maybe I’ll give it a try, what do I have to lose? And it worked. Only problem, slowing it down, I could fire to come 6 in 3 hours if I wanted. I adjusted the floor flue, baffles etc. Sometimes it’s temperamental and it’s hard to adjust the burners, the chimney flue and the 2ndary air ports, and keep it rising and reducing at close to temp. 2ndary air usually gets it going again. However, results are great. I use two thermocouples and a digital thermometer, and try to keep the difference in temp as low as possible between top and bottom. Also use cones 4 thru 7 and when 7 touches 6 turn it off. I do not try to slow cool as I’m pretty tired by then and my glazes seem to be fine. I have a feeling either the digital read out is lower than the actual temp, or that the cones maybe go down sooner because of the reduction? Anyway,thank you Simon! You saved the day. Jane Tanner in W Canada.

[@SmeeUncleJoe]

Kind of a waste of time talking about something that might work but has never been built although claimed other had been made in the past.