Expert: Sam Kelly - 12/4/2009

Question
Hi Sam - I live in SA where electricity is becoming prohibitive - price wise. My son is keen to build his own kiln. We have heard that you can build a diesel powered kiln ... that can even run on old oil! Do you know anything about these? He is in the diary business and has a diesel burner for the milk bank [or what ever it is called. So he thinks it could work. I wonder if you could put controllers on it to regulate temperature? ALSO could you give me a recipe for a clear glaze please, one matt and one shiny? Thank you in advance for all your time and your willingness to share your knowledge! I am new to pottery and am loving it. I am sorry that I could not have started years ago! Bless you Neala

Answer
Using diesel or oil can be done, however it is old school and the only help you are going to get is in old books. It's a messey option that produces smoke and smell. I think to build a kiln to do this with no knowledege of kiln function is going to result in dissapointment.

What temp. do you want the glaze reipe. Earthenware is 1100degC and Stoneawre is 1260degC and up(1300).

Sam