During the past 20 years I have developed my kiln to create total accessibility in order to produce large-scale work for raku.  As a result its uses have become diversified from bisque firings and raku firings to cone 5. I have even used it as a furnace for forging steel.

Other kilns on the market today have a firing chamber with three guide poles restricting its movement to a direct up and down motion. The firing chamber is always in the way. My kiln utilizes one lift pole, which allows a swivel motion to either side at the desired height allowing for total accessibility to the work which makes it easy to load and great for raku. This also allows for the use of a boom hoist and electric winch in order to lift a large piece and place it in a pit with combustibles. The firing chamber can be lifted by hand incorporating a weight or with an electric winch.

The three key elements are:  1) The design of the chamber for the burner ports beneath the kiln shelf floor.  2) The way the firing chamber is easily lifted and swung completely out of the way which allows for total access.  The largest pieces possible about 6 feet in height depending on the actual design of the kiln 3) The two-foot firing chamber extension allowing for different height pieces. This allows the kiln to be expanded from an 8 cubic ft. kiln to 16 cubic ft.  For example you have a 2’x2’x2’ firing chamber equaling 8 cu. ft. With the 2’x2’x2’ collar extension you now have a 16 cu. ft. capacity and a height of 4ft. instead of 2ft.

Most raku kilns have three burners placed around the kiln shelf floor, which gives direct heat to the firing chamber but leaves the area under the kiln shelf floor cold. By having the two venturi burners delivering 75,000 BTU’s each and super heats the area directly under the kiln shelf floor of the kiln. This space acts as the heat source for the rest of the firing chamber and makes subsequent firings much faster.