Installing a Vent-A Kiln Overhead Vent Over My Home Studio Kiln

Рет қаралды 13,063

7 жыл бұрын

Recently, my old undermount Environvent stopped working on my home studio Skutt 1018 Km kiln. The disappointment of having to replace a piece of equipment was soon replaced by excitement with my new investment... a Vent-A-Kiln overhead vent. It is nothing short of fabulous. My studio (and in turn basement and house) is significantly cooler when it fires, and there are no noticeable fumes in the room during firing. (BOTH of those things were an issue with my old Environvent for the years I had it)
I do have a mistake- where I failed to mention I REMOVE the top peephole plug when I fire. I didn't show it or mention it... but I do. Sometimes, at the very end of a firing, I might plug it again, just to help get it up that last 100 degrees a bit faster... :-)
For my Skutt 1018 I purchased the model Vent a Kiln 37″ 1427/265 (265 is the size of my blower- since I didn't have that long of a run to get outside of the house) Vent-A-Kiln told me that they actually have changed the bracket since I made that video. (Not because of me!) So, that is one concern that was solved from my questions! The customer service there is really great!
The website for the Vent-A-Kiln is: www.ventafume.com/
I purchased mine through a supplier I have locally, yet they sell online. Check out this link for Cornell studio Supply: cornellstudiosupply.com/produc...
I started my KZfaq channel a few years ago, to make videos to help my students if they are absent and miss a demo, or if they would like to explore more advanced techniques independently.
For a link to a GoogleDoc of my FAVORITE TOOLS, check out this link to lots of Amazon links! docs.google.com/document/d/1X...
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Пікірлер: 43

@zwcrawford 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much for this video Karan! I didn’t even need the instructions and flipping the brackets to be in line with the pulley wheels makes so much sense!

@meredithward1929 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the informative and very helpful video. I feel confident in the performance and value of the Vent-A-Kiln and the simplicity of installation.

@luciemaragni 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much Karen!!

@laurencp Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for this video! I'm about to install my Vent-A Kiln and this was super informative!

@KaransPotsAndGlass Жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

@onjofilms 5 жыл бұрын

Good work.

@creativeliving3455 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for this super informative video. Watching the step by step process was so helpful as I’m thinking of going this route as well. I wondered about the fumes and heat with down draft vents and it would appear this is an excellent solution.

@KaransPotsAndGlass 3 жыл бұрын

I do like it a lot. Some people swear by their downdraft vents too!

@creativeliving3455 3 жыл бұрын

@@KaransPotsAndGlass I’m working in my studio in my basement and I’d like to be able to work in the room as the kiln is firing. I’ve read that with the downdraft vents, fumes are emitted and the room can get hot so I’m thinking this system is superior for my application. Would you agree? Are you happy to have switched to this top venting system? Thank you again! 😁

@KaransPotsAndGlass 3 жыл бұрын

I would definitely agree! I have been very happy with mine!

@creativeliving3455 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Karan, Since you are not using a downdraft vent, do you leave out one of your peep plugs during firing (both bisque & glaze)?

@KaransPotsAndGlass 2 жыл бұрын

Yes! I leave out the top peep! (If moisture is more significant- I’ll leave put all while drying out, and then plug all but the top when it gets over the steam point! )

@tourkana164 5 жыл бұрын

good job !

@tiamaribu9394 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks.

@SKGLJ Ай бұрын

Thank you for the video! do you think this setup would be okay for a small test kiln (MAS129e) in a garage with a window?

@christophercahoon2016 3 жыл бұрын

Did you notice a difference in room temp with firing? The temp gets quite warm in my new basement studio with the envirovent. I’m considering this instead if it helps with room temp.

@ili_haven 11 ай бұрын

hello! super curious about how your kiln flooring set up works. i saw in another video you have vinyl plank flooring, but I see tiles and possibly something underneath? im currently exploring how to set up my new baby kiln, and I have wood flooring. Thanks in advance!

@KaransPotsAndGlass 10 ай бұрын

Yes- I have vinyl plank flooring, however, I have my kiln on a platform with felt furniture sliders. The platform has cement board and is tiled on top, and the kiln sits atop the tiles! I didn't want it directly over my vinyl- I was afraid it could be bad!!

@kennethdante 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Karan thanks for the video! I'm a little confused on the venting. I understand the purpose I think but is your system designed to be on always when your kiln is on? It seems the cfm is pretty high on these venting systems. Intuition makes it seem like it would draw off a lot of heat and make the kiln work waay harder to keep it hot. I must be missing something!?

@KaransPotsAndGlass 3 жыл бұрын

Sorry for the delay in answering! This system doesn’t pull air from the kiln- it pulls air from around the lid of the kiln! So, heat that has already escaped!

@really2345 4 жыл бұрын

When you used the Envirovent did you still leave the top peephole open? If so, why?

@KaransPotsAndGlass 4 жыл бұрын

No- it wasn’t necessary with the environvent- as you drill holes in the lid to allow the fresh air !

@BinaryClay 4 жыл бұрын

Hi, how hot does the pipes get when firing? I'm thinking in regard to fire risk when the pipes are in the walls. Also, how much noise does the blower make?

@KaransPotsAndGlass 4 жыл бұрын

It gets about as hot as a dryer vent. And, I don’t find it very noisy. My wheel (old motorized kickwheel) is way more noisy!!! The noisiest it gets is if the hood is touching the side of the kiln and it vibrates!

@BinaryClay 4 жыл бұрын

@@KaransPotsAndGlass Thanks a lot :)

@Pam330MG 7 жыл бұрын

Hi Karan- did you have to seal off the bottom where the old vent was? Or plug up the holes in the soft brick? Thanks!

@KaransPotsAndGlass 7 жыл бұрын

great question! I did not seal off the bottom or top holes. (After I asked advice from my local supplier who installed her own and had not.) I still need to lift up my kiln and get the old vent out from underneath it! I still haven't gotten around to that! Ha! Maybe when I have a chance in the summer! ;-)

@Pam330MG 7 жыл бұрын

Thanks it's all very helpful as I set up a basement studio and get rid of the underneath vent! You're the best!

@KaransPotsAndGlass 7 жыл бұрын

awesome!!!! I LOVE my new vent!

@really2345 4 жыл бұрын

@@KaransPotsAndGlass Why would you have to lift up the kiln in order to get the plenum cup out? Isn't it simply in place with a spring?

@KaransPotsAndGlass 4 жыл бұрын

The old vent is attached to a metal plate- the plate is held in place by the stand of the kiln- so, I’d have to lift the body of the kiln off the stand to remove the plate and vent!

@Duha_01 2 жыл бұрын

how much it was

@BrandeeRoss 7 жыл бұрын

Thanks for your informative video. Did you notice any change in your glaze coloring when you switched to the overhead vent? Also, do you leave any peepholes open when you fire?

@KaransPotsAndGlass 7 жыл бұрын

Great question! Nope- I noticed NO change at all. Especially no change in my cone 5/6 reds- those were the ones I was most concerned about. And- YES- I leave the top peephole unplugged when I fire. I neglected to mention that in the video I think!!

@delanemack9437 5 жыл бұрын

KaransPotsAndGlass Hi, would it be possible for you to explain why you leave the top peephole open? Thanks for your awesome videos. I ordered my vent and it is being installed Thursday yay.

@KaransPotsAndGlass 5 жыл бұрын

Awesome!! Yes, since the fumes need to escape to keep the kiln atmosphere clean- the top peep is left unplugged! (Unlike an undermount vent which pulls air through the kiln and out holes drilled in the bottom, peeps are left in on those. (Holes are then drilled in the top for those too). I am so glad I switched to my overhead vent though!!!

@delanemack9437 5 жыл бұрын

Ok so you don’t need to open the peephole when you have the fumes vent on the bottom? That part is already working on my kiln.

@KaransPotsAndGlass 5 жыл бұрын

Correct. Undermount vents leave the peephole plugs in! :)