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BeezleBug Mugs (Pg. 14: New Cup/Mug) |
MadDogMike
Grand Member (3 years) 
Joined: Mar 30, 2008
Posts: 6411
From: The Anvil of the Sun
|  Posted: 2010-04-17 08:07 am Permalink
Beezle - that's WILD!!!!! 
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BeezleBug
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Oct 01, 2008
Posts: 212
From: Boulder City, Nevada
| Posted: 2010-05-23 10:30 am Permalink
Update on the Volcano Sipper...
Plus, I thought I'd go all mad scientist and build my own low-fire kiln. Here's the start...
I tracked down some old plans for a kiln built out of a steel oil drum, so I thought I'd try a cut-down trashcan. I'm using 2300 degree refractory brick. The base bricks (out of sight) are set on their side and are cut and cemented into a hex shape. For now, the side bricks are placed loosely as I plan out the resistance wire grooves. Once the walls are grooved, cemented, and braced, all the empty voids between the brick and the can will be filled with vermiculite. There will also be a lift-off lid made of bolted-together bricks. The control box is half a paint can that is hinged so I can get to the wiring. The resistance wire will be sent through the can via ceramic-insulated pass-through bolts. The 20 amp switch is using high-temp appliance wire. There will be a peep hole and a tiny shelf on the opposite side for peeking at self-supporting pyrometric cones. I have the whole thing set on a wooden base that I can caster around the garage.
The kiln firing space is 7x9x9". It'll produce roughly 1700 watts at 14 amps using 144 inches of coiled AWG 11 Kanthal wire. Since I work at cone 06 for everything, I figure it should be sufficient. (Turns out algebra is useful for some things!) If you want a good book on kiln math, track down "Electric Kiln Construction for Potters" by Robert Fournier.
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[ This Message was edited by: BeezleBug 2010-05-23 15:09 ]
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MadDogMike
Grand Member (3 years)
Joined: Mar 30, 2008
Posts: 6411
From: The Anvil of the Sun
| Posted: 2010-05-23 3:47 pm Permalink
OK Beezle, you get the Mad Scientist Award!!! Have you made provisions for a Low/High or Low/Med/High temp setting for a slower firing?
The Volcano Sipper sculpt is looking way cool!
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BeezleBug
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Oct 01, 2008
Posts: 212
From: Boulder City, Nevada
| Posted: 2010-05-23 4:59 pm Permalink
No...no temp control just yet... However, the circuit design can be converted to a low/high heat switch (one that switches between series and parallel wiring) if the kiln proves unruly. I'm setting up the resistance wire grooves and pass-through connectors for just such an option.
I'm trying the low-tech approach first. Robert Fournier says he's fired much of his work with nothing more than a "switch and a cone" for 30 years.
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BeezleBug
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Oct 01, 2008
Posts: 212
From: Boulder City, Nevada
| Posted: 2010-05-31 2:32 pm Permalink
The Sipper sculpt is almost ready for mold-making. Here's how it's designed to work with a straw...
The straw (red line) goes through an opening at the top of the head, through the lava tube going into his mouth, through the volcano cap, and into the base. The entire top is actually a lid which can be removed for pouring in a tasty liquid beverage...
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Babalu
Grand Member (5 years) 
Joined: Nov 19, 2006
Posts: 2498
From: Lemon Grove
| Posted: 2010-05-31 5:30 pm Permalink
Great work on the new mug design Beezle! And you made your own kiln!!...yes sir, very nice. hope the mold build up goes smooth for you 
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TikiDaye
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 26, 2010
Posts: 124
From: Scottsdale, Arizona, USA
| Posted: 2010-05-31 7:04 pm Permalink
all I have to say is: WOW!
that lava sipper is looking incredible... cannot wait to see it finished...
impressive lab work on the ol' trash can kiln... have you used it yet? curious as to how it works for you...
peace,
Jason
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MadDogMike
Grand Member (3 years)
Joined: Mar 30, 2008
Posts: 6411
From: The Anvil of the Sun
| Posted: 2010-05-31 8:26 pm Permalink
Looks great. I love that texture near the hut, it would make good coral.
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BeezleBug
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Oct 01, 2008
Posts: 212
From: Boulder City, Nevada
| Posted: 2010-05-31 8:36 pm Permalink
Thanks for the kind words.
Still building the kiln. Right now, I'm chiseling all the channels for the resistance wire. Hopefully, I'll have the first test fire by the end of June.
The little blob by the hut is supposed to be a bunch of trees or bushes. It does look like coral though. I might spend some more time making them plant-like.
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MadDogMike
Grand Member (3 years)
Joined: Mar 30, 2008
Posts: 6411
From: The Anvil of the Sun
| Posted: 2010-05-31 8:40 pm Permalink
I'm not saying you should change it! It looks cool, very interesting texture - could very well look like vegetation if it were green.
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Cap'n Pharaoh
Grand Member (first year) 
Joined: May 07, 2009
Posts: 94
From: THE TASMAN SEA
| Posted: 2010-06-01 12:15 am Permalink
hahah .....another fournier convert....... you'll be forging in no time
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BeezleBug
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Oct 01, 2008
Posts: 212
From: Boulder City, Nevada
| Posted: 2010-07-10 5:07 pm Permalink
Start of sipper mold make (top only)...
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MadDogMike
Grand Member (3 years)
Joined: Mar 30, 2008
Posts: 6411
From: The Anvil of the Sun
| Posted: 2010-07-10 8:26 pm Permalink
You and your 40 piece molds!  Hope it all turns out good How's the new kiln?
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BeezleBug
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Oct 01, 2008
Posts: 212
From: Boulder City, Nevada
| Posted: 2010-07-11 09:03 am Permalink
Still finishing up the kiln... I had inadvertently coiled the resistance wire with incorrect coil lengths, so I had to make some design adjustments - d'oh! Ah well, I should be able to reinstall all the kiln bricks and wire next week.
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BeezleBug
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Oct 01, 2008
Posts: 212
From: Boulder City, Nevada
| Posted: 2010-07-17 10:34 am Permalink
More sipper top mold steps...
All the final mold pieces for the top (I know, too many!)...
The assembled mold. I had a hard time reassembling it while keeping all the pieces tight, so I had to add some Klean Klay to the edge seams...
The cast top sitting on top of the sculpted base. He lost some detail, but he's alive and well...
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