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Gas Kilns
At the Bristol Studio
Bristol Studio
Gas Fired Car Kiln
2008-Current
For detailed construction photos of the kiln at
right , go to
Gas Car
Kiln Construction
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The car kiln above was completed in September 2008
and replaced the kiln below that was built in 1977 and deconstructed in
2007 |
Gas Car Kiln 2008
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The gas kiln at Robert's studio is used
primarily for bisque firing.
Most of his work is fired in one of his
wood fired kilns.
However, he does high fire the gas reduction kiln to touch up pots
that may have been under-fired, or had un-melted ash deposits from the
wood kiln. He also uses the gas car kiln for special glazes
such as Copper Red or Carbon Trapped Shino. |
The large 6" wheels on this cart allow it to be
rolled into and out of the kiln easily using a metal handle that screws
into the frame.
Robert's previous gas car kiln had 4" wheels and it was necessary to
winch the cart in and out of that kiln. |
Gas Car Kiln
1977-2007
Bristol Studio
Gas Fired Kilns
1977-2007
"Thirty years
of great service" |
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| This kiln was removed in April of 2007. It
functioned well, for thirty years, but had to come down when Robert
renovated the studio.
A new Car Kiln will be built on the site. A new concrete floor was poured unifying the various levels of the studio and kiln building. |
This Car Kiln was built in 1977, when
Robert's business was
primarily making
Aquariums and
Fountains.
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Gas Car Kiln
1977-2007
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1977-2007 Gas Car Kiln
A load of copper red glazes (in the center of the kiln) indicates a
variation in reduction between front and rear.
Robert finds that the advantages of having his own showroom means a wide range
of customers coming in each week.
While Robert might like a particular look from the the copper reds, many
customers prefer colors
that might not be his favorites.
This makes for a "win win" situation, for he knows a wide range of
results, offers his customers lots of variety. |
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From 1973-1990 this kiln was fired weekly with glaze
firings of Robert's Water Sculpture business. When Robert built his
first wood kiln in 1993, the use of the gas kiln changed and it was used primarily as
a bisque kiln, before it was demolished in 2007. |
This kiln was constructed primarily of
insulating fire brick. From 1973-1991 the kiln was fired weekly. All firings
were glost, as his water sculptures were green glazed and "once fired". It was fired up to 50
times a year. |
This gas car kiln was fired over 500 times. |
Gas Kiln
1977-2007
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| The Gas Fired Car Kiln incorporated a
system with two winches. One for cranking the car in to the kiln, and the
other for pulling the car out.
This made for smooth traveling of the car, preventing the ware from jolts,
caused by stopping and starting while pushing. |
The frame of the cart is now clearly exposed. The
V-groove wheels ran on inverted angle iron track. One improvement Robert
would have made (in this particular car) would be to
increase the size of the wheels. His use of a 4" diameter wheel did not allow the car to roll, as easily as
it would have, if it was built with a 6" diameter wheel. |
Gas Kiln
1977-2007
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| The last bisque firing was
completed in late March 2007. |
Even after over 500 firings many of the IFB (Insulating Fire Brick) were in very good condition.
Most bricks were be re-used in the replacement kiln that was built on this site. |
Gas Kiln 1977-2007
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April 2007
View of Gas Car Kiln once the wall into studio was removed. See photo at right
of the same perspective, but once the kiln has been removed. |
April 2007
The wall has been removed between the main studio and the kiln building,
and a level concrete floor unifies the studio. A glass wall will be
installed to separate the kiln from studio, thus allowing light into the
interior work area.
Detailed construction photos of the kiln that was built here can
eb found at
Gas Car
Kiln Construction |
Gas Salt
Kiln 1994-2000
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The
Wood Kiln Noborigama 250 c.f was built on that
site in 2004.
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1994-2000
Gas Fired Salt Kiln This Gas Fired Salt
Kiln served Robert well.
In March of 2000 it was demolished to make room
for his new larger
Noborigama Wood Kiln 250 c.f. |
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1994-1999
Alpine, Fast Fire Wood
and Wood Cross draft.
All these kilns have been dismantled, the building deconstructed and then
doubled in size.
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Gas Kilns 1974-1977
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Gas Fired Two Chambered Kiln
This was Roberts first kiln at the Bristol studio.
Constructed entirely of insulating fire bricks, it had a two chamber
design.
The waste heat from the first chamber to bisque fire green ware
in the second chamber. An article about this design was
published in
1975 Ceramic Review, December Issue London, England
"Two Chambered Kilns, A New
Approach",
Written by Robert Compton |
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| Foot print (right) of the two chamber
gas kiln |
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05/25/11
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