RERAM1C STUDIO 
29 
DECORATIVE ROSES, SECOND PRIZE— OPHELIA FOLEY 
and can be filled any time before lighting the generator. 
If you are careful in handling gasoline there is no danger. 
A new kiln must be fired to rose heat before using. Wipe 
off the shelves, lids and inside of pot and the kiln is ready 
for use. 
The kiln must always be dried out before stacking 
or the moisture will cause white spots on the china which 
at times are almost impossible to cover. Before drying 
your kiln, put the shelves in and all the lids on. 
GENERATING THE GAS. 
Open valve of generator and let the little cup run full 
of oil, close and light. When it is almost burned out 
slide the cup around to the right as far as it will go and 
open valve again so that the gas will ignite at top of genera- 
tor. Let the generator burn until it burns evenly with- 
out puffing. Light burner with a long taper inserted 
through one of the openings in base. Turn on about a 
half head of gas for five or ten minutes until the kiln is 
thoroughly heated. After this is done put out the burner, 
leaving the generator burning low and proceed to stack 
the kiln. Stacking immediately after drying saves the 
time of generating which is from twenty to thirty minutes. 
If flame should fly back in mixing pipe when starting the 
burner, turn out burner for a few moments and light again. 
FIRING. 
Relight burner and let burn low for fifteen minutes. 
Turn on gas gradually until a full head of gas is obtained. 
It is not wise to allow flame to pass through hole in the 
second lid more than four or five inches as small particles 
of soot are apt to settle back in the kiln. 
Watch your china through the cone shaped opening 
in first lid. The firing-pot first becomes rose color, then 
white and the china is clearly defined. When it grows a 
little indistinct again turn off burner and generator. Ex- 
perience will teach you when to turn off your kiln. If the 
kiln is properly stacked according to the colors, it will not 
injure any of the colors to allow all of the gasoline to burn 
out. The time required for a firing is from 2 to 2h hours, 
but your chief object is to fire the china well whether it 
takes 2 or 3 hours. Be careful that the generator burns 
all the time during the firing or the gasoline will run into 
the mixing pipe, ignite and smoke badly. 
The kiln will cool in about four hours but the best 
time to fire is in the evening so that it can cool over night. 
This prevents warping and prolongs the usefulness of the 
kiln. 
000 
FIRING WITH A WILKE GASOLINE KILN. 
L. L. Marsh, Beloit, Wis. 
The Wilke kiln looks very much like a large round 
stove. It consists of a firing-pot, jacket, and large burner 
under the firing-pot. The opening is at the top; and there 
are three covers, one for the firing-pot, one for the jacket 
and the hood to carry the smoke to the chimney pipe. 
The covers should be arranged so that the openings are in 
line, that it will be possible to see into the kiln while firing. 
The generator is at one side near the floor. There are 
two screws and a switch to manipulate. The screw nearest 
the kiln is for the kiln burner; the other is the generator 
screw. Turning either screw to the left, turns on the gas or 
gasoline; turning to the right, shuts it of. 
The switch has a cup and opening, and is used in 
starting the generator. 
The kiln should be placed some feet away from the 
wall, with plenty of zinc and asbestos paper on the floor, 
and bricks under the feet. A good chimney connection 
is very desirable. 
Fill the tank in the daytime and some time before fir- 
ing, taking care that no gasoline is left on top of the tank 
after the cover is on. It is well to warm the kiln before 
firing, as this expels the dampness. When firing often, 
it is sufficient to dry the shelves and cover. 
Some dry the kiln while placing the covers, but there 
is danger of soot from the pipe above falling into the kiln 
on the china. A cloth over the pipe will prevent this, 
while stacking, and one over the edge of the kiln will pro- 
tect the sleeve, as well as the china. 
