The Bottom Line
The Kiln Book is a truly valuable resource for anyone doing serious pottery or who wants to be able to build and maintain their own kiln, including electric kilns. This really is a definitive book on the subject of kiln design and construction.
Pros
- In-depth as well as broad examination of kiln design and construction.
- Discusses electric kiln design and construction.
- Goes into newer innovations, including use of refractory fiber blankets and sculptural kilns.
- Apendix gives a number of very useful tables and technical information.
Cons
- The paper used in this printing was not opaque enough for the book and becomes a real annoyance.
Description
- Third Edition hardcover is 8.75" x 11.25", 282 pages, fully illustrated with diagrams and color and b&w photographs.
- Written by Frederick L. Olsen, who has over 40 years experience in kiln design, construction, and operation.
- Ten chapters, seven appendix sections, and index. Subjects include refractory materials, methods of construction, and more.
Guide Review - "The Kiln Book" - A Definitive Guide
If you are a serious potter, this book will be a great addition to your ceramic library. It covers all aspects of kiln design and construction, and does so with highly organized writing and a host of accompanying diagrams and photographs. I have found no better book on the market addressing the subject of kiln design or construction as a whole.
My one dissatisfaction with the book is the paper that the then-publisher used (the book has since been bought by a different publisher). The paper is not opaque enough, and there is a distinct shadow...not only from one side of a sheet to the other, but also from sheet to sheet. With so many diagrams and photographs in this book, this becomes quite noticeable and, at times, irksome.
Contents
- Chapter One: Refractory Materials and Applications: firebrick, castables, mortars, special materials, plastic firebrick
- Chapter Two: Methods of Construction: straight-wall construction, wall construction, arches, expansion joints, skewbacks, fiber construction, conclusions
- Chapter Three: Principals of Design: preliminary considerations, design principals, high-altitude adjustments
- Chapter Four: Crossdraft Kilns: Tamba tube kiln, La Bourne tunnel kiln, groundhog kiln, climbing chamber kiln, Kyoto Bidai ad Kawaqii climbing kiln, Aso per Glumso kiln, Bizen kiln
- Chapter Five: Downdraft Kilns: proportional relationship of early natural-draft downdraft kilns, downdraft Tajimi style kiln, circular domed natural downdraft kilns, downdraft salt kiln, University of Puget Sound downdraft kiln, Fastfire wood downdraft
- Chapter Six: Updraft Kilns: unbrella kiln, early Muslim low-fire glaze kiln, Peruvian primitive updraft, Ninodaguia primitive kiln, Mirovet medieval kiln, enamel or raku kiln, Breda bottle kiln, contemporary updraft kilns
- Chapter Seven: Multi-directional Draft Kilns
- Chapter Eight: Fuels, Combustion, and Firing Systems: fuels, combustion, wood-burning systems, second chamber firebox, coal-firing systems, oil-burning systems, safety equipment and procedures
- Chapter Nine: Electric Kilns: planning an electric kiln, polygonal kiln construction, reduction kiln adjustments, electrical measurements and calculations
- Chapter Ten: Specialty Kilns, Innovations, Ideas, Etc.
- Appendix: estimating data, calculating arch elements, temperature color guide for kilns, useful conversion tables, glaze firing (Aso per Glumso kiln), TA burner safety control setups, The Kenzan School succession
- Index