Excellent, but for anyone building this remember, adding just a bit more height to the chimney and making the chimney a bit more narrow toward the top will increase "air draw" and likely increase the temperatures you are looking for.
Thank you for your comment! If you do build your own Norberta, let us know, make a video or photos so I can put together a video about Norberta's spinoffs!
Feel free to do it, the project is open for anyone to try! I would love for you to let me know if you do it, and send me some pictures or footage of your results. I have plans to make a video showing other people's spinoffs of Norberta! I have a couple of friends who did it already, but the more people showing their results, the better!
Thank goodness for closed captions. Why people insist on adding crappy muszac during the speaking part of the video is beyond my understanding. Super nice video effects. I love the design and am shaking my head about what must have been the cost of materials. Nice video thanks.
Hi!! Very interesting video!! I have a big yard and id love to have a small/medium size high temperature kiln ! Do you have a website?? A plan with dimensions ti build this kiln? What temp do you fire to?? How big is the loading chamber (in liters)?
Thank you for your comment, I'm glad you liked my project. Unfortunately I don't have blue prints, or exact dimensions for this kiln, you will have to just count bricks in each linear direction to get a basic Idea. So long as the fire box and the ware chamber are both close to the same size, you'll be fine, no matter what dimensions, if not too far from what you see in the video. I have taken Norberta up to 1200°C, or cone 6, in a 14hrs firing. Use a thermocouple, or your firing time will be much longer and still you will not be so sure of what temperature you have reached... For bisque firing, you can work with the signs you get from the chimney, no need for a thermocouple. I still recommend you use one anyway, so you can be more economic with your firewood stock and quicker achieving the right temps.
Thank you for your comment. I don't have the exact number. The 3D program gives me the number of bricks, but it counts half-bricks as one full piece, so it is not an exact number. My best guess is somewhere around 350 refractory bricks and 550 - 600 regular bricks. Plus the large concrete bricks for the raised bed.
If you build it, let me know! I'm gathering videos and images made by members of my audience who have built it, so I can make a video for the channel showing them, as well as any improvements that some of us may come up with!
So long as you operate within the temperature ranges that your bricks can deal with, you should be fine. Norberta has been fired many, many times now and it is all right. I haven't pushed it beyond 1100°C, because I haven't built that little arch on the door to the chamber which I show in the 3D animation. My bricks are almost flying onto thin air at that point. Yet, the firebox ceiling which is supported from all four sides is almost intact even after all the wood burning it has been through.
What is the highest temperature can this kiln reach? Also why not have an arch in the firebox and the loading chamber. That may increase the top temperature. If an arch is used then some steel fabrication would be necessary to support the force against the walls. I would be prepared to build the kiln once my salt kiln is finished.
I have taken it to around 1000°C in around 8hrs of firing. I suppose it could reach 1220°C or cone 6 , if you fire it for considerably longer, around 16- 24hrs. I have not tried yet because I don't have a helper to take turns with me tending for the kiln. I can't go on that long by myself, it is exhausting! But one of the viewers of my Portuguese language channel has built his version and he claims to have reached 1200 in around 10hrs too, so I believe his version has improvements. As for your question about the arch less design, you have answered it yourself: I'm cheap and lazy. I don't want to spend the money or the effort and the extra material (more bricks and the iron frame work) if there is a cheaper and almost as effective way. the firebox wouldn't benefit from an arch, and the ware chamber would maybe gain a little smoother flow from the curved surface... But flat works just as fine! Remember, this is basically a side draft design. Arches are better for down draft kilns, as they gently reverse the orientation of the draft from up to down. What would really amount to a great improvement to Norberta is making the chimney taller. And also designing some grate system to allow airflow from underneath and through the ambers.
Absolutely wonderful instruction, clear and well-made. Thank you for you share of knowledge! Would a scaled down version of Norberta be able to reach high temperatures? 900°C, perhaps?
Yes, in fact I started with a proof of concept that was a scaled down version, for firing a couple of small bowls, if so many! I built it with refractory bricks inside my regular brick barbecue grill... It bisque fired the test pieces very well, and then I had to hire someone to go fix the barbecue grill... It didn't resist the high temperature and began to crumble!... lol! BUT (there is always one), it didn't take much shorter to fire than Norberta does now, which is why I settled with this latest size for her!
Thank you for your comment. Once you load al the pieces that will be fired, you lay a layer of refractory bricks and a second one of common bricks. But you must use only dirt mud between the bricks. So it is really easy to open after firing, and you can actually use the same material many times over. There is a video in this channel called "Bisque Firing a Firewood Kiln" that shows this and other aspects of operating Norberta.
@@improbabilitydrive6005 Thanks so much! We got everything together over months, as we can afford, and now we are READY to start building. So excited 😁👍
hi, wow. i am so grateful for this share. i have been looking and researching for months, so glad i found my way to you. i will be using this to build my own here in georgia, usa. wanting to create the budget for this and solicit volunteers for the build. would you mind sharing your dimensions please?
Thank you for your comment. I haven't pushed it to its limits yet, I have been only doing bisque fires with it (900° - 1000°C). But a friend who watched my video and built his own Norberta has reached 1200°C in 9 hs.
It works like a charm. I bisque fire it to 900°C in around 6-7 hs. Although I haven't taken it to glaze fire temps, one of my viewers has built his own Norberta and affirms he took her to 1200°C (around cone 5-6) in less than 10hs. Check out my video on how to operate it, called Bisque Firing a Firewood Kiln.
Great video! There aren't that many out there that detail a small-ish kiln build with bricks-- thank you for the inspiration :) Are you able to get wood-ash glazed surfaces with this architecture? It seems like there would be enough draw for the ash to settle on pieces but I'm still learning about what goes into that.
I think so. In fact, I believe you couldn't get rid of fly ash if you wanted to, with this cross-draft design! I have used it more often for bisque, though.
I bought the material as I upgraded Norberta, along the years, so I don't have an exact count... But I can try and estimate the number of bricks... From the 3D file... the problem is that the 3D file can't tell half bricks apart from whole ones... so it is just an estimate. According to 3DS Max, Norberta has 350 refractory bricks and 550 regular ones. But as I said, it is a little less than that, since half bricks are counted as one...
I haven't tried it's limits but a friend, who watched the videos and built his own Norberta, fired glaze ware at 1250°C, in 12-14hs. He has sent me images and I'm asking anyone who builds their own version to do the same! So we can put together a video showing all of Norberta's spinoffs!
Hi How is Noberta? I think your video is the best instruction available. Thank you very much. Hope to start my own very soon. Do you by any chance have a materials list? Have you had any more firings? Do you think you could get it up to cone 10/stoneware with enough time?
I haven't tried it to such high, cone 10 temperatures yet, and I think that with a few improvements it may get close to that. By improvements I mean a taller chimney, gratings under the fire to draw extra oxygen from underneath the ambers, people helping taking turns and a whole truckload of patience. It might take a few days and nights.
I bought the material as I upgraded Norberta, along the years, so I don't have an exact count... But I can try and estimate the number of bricks... From the 3D file... the problem is that the 3D file can't tell half bricks apart from whole ones... so it is just an estimate. According to 3DS Max, Norberta has 350 refractory bricks and 550 regular ones. But as I said, it is a little less than that, since half bricks are counted as one...
I am only familiar with pottery kilns, and I don't know the needs and techniques for working with glass. I think a cross-draft wood burning model like this might be a little messy for glass, with a great deal of flying ashes in the environment. And I also believe you will need a better open/close system than a door made of a simple layer of bricks so you can handle your glass after it is hot, if you want to work with the molten glass. I haven't yet gotten it to its highest possible temperatures, But I have reached around 1900°F within 12 hours of firing it.
I have reached 1050 degrees Celsius with it, in around 12 hrs. I believe it can get to cone 6 in around 24hs, or so. I have not tried to go that hot yet, because I would need some help taking turns watching over and stoking the fire. I'm still looking for some volunteers!
@@improbabilitydrive6005 Over 1000C is impressive. I'm playing with a budget batch rocket stove with a ware -chamber (yet to be added) on top. If I can match what you've achieved I'll be happy. I'd offer to take a watch on your 24hr marathon but I suspect we are in different time zones!
@@improbabilitydrive6005 with my wood kiln i reach 1050 C in exactly an hour. But my kiln( i didnt named it iet) its the most unusual wood kiln ever made.Its made from Ytong ( aircrete) wich seals soo much but its good only up to 700 C for repeated use. The Ytong its protected by 2,5 cm 1400 C zirconia ceramic wool ,inside. Ytong is verry common and cheap in Europe and all around the world ,except North America . And my burner( this is like no otther) its a wood burner but forced air gasification( burns the smoke not the wood). So my firings are all without smoke. But its too fast to reach that temp in just an hour.The boron glaze its literally burned iet the bottom of the heavy, big pots dont reach the soaking needed like the sides of the pot.
How interesting! Put it to a video and let us know it! I saw the video showing the burner you are talking about, it is very nice. As you said, this ramp is way too steep for pottery, but it might be awesome for jewelry and smelting!
Not really, my actual version of Norberta does not have that arch. But I think it is a weak spot in the supporting structure of the ware chamber's roof which the arch will handle well.
My archless version is showing serious signs of aging and roof bricks are getting a bit lose in their places. I haven't had the courage to ramp it up above 1200°C because of that!
It is not a design that is good for pizza... Pizza ovens are generally made to deal with lower temperatures than ceramics, never more than 500°C. Also, this design is not concerned with keeping the bulk of the smoke away from the material inside, like pizza or any other kind of food. Pizza ovens are usually round, igloo like, so the smoke rises and flows away via the chimney without changing the taste of the food.
What program do you use for that brick laying animation. I'd like to use it to experiment around with some different designs of things. Norberta rocks! Awesome job
Let's say I used an A bomb to kill a fly. It is 3Ds Max. Not the lightest or most intuitive software for experimentation. I think Sketchup or similar would fit your needs better!
![ร้อยพ่อพันแม่ - WanMai [Official MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/XY2pNYASEbg/mqdefault.jpg)
![เจ็บที่ยังฮัก - ม่อน วรวิทย์ [ Official Mv ] จอนนี่มิวสิค](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/KALIGSRSjFs/mqdefault.jpg)
i’ve been wanting to make a sink for a while. This is informative and inspiring .
I hope it is useful to you! Thank you for your comment!
Excellent, but for anyone building this remember, adding just a bit more height to the chimney and making the chimney a bit more narrow toward the top will increase "air draw" and likely increase the temperatures you are looking for.
Agreed! Thank you for the heads up!
thank you so much for this!! very inspired to build
Thank you for your comment! If you do build your own Norberta, let us know, make a video or photos so I can put together a video about Norberta's spinoffs!
Man i gotta make this.
Feel free to do it, the project is open for anyone to try! I would love for you to let me know if you do it, and send me some pictures or footage of your results. I have plans to make a video showing other people's spinoffs of Norberta! I have a couple of friends who did it already, but the more people showing their results, the better!
Thank goodness for closed captions. Why people insist on adding crappy muszac during the speaking part of the video is beyond my understanding. Super nice video effects. I love the design and am shaking my head about what must have been the cost of materials. Nice video thanks.
thank you for your feedback.
How to build, brick by brick. It was riveting, I watched all six minutes in suspense :) Thankyou for sharing it.
Forgive me for that brick I threw on your head!😆😄
Hi!! Very interesting video!! I have a big yard and id love to have a small/medium size high temperature kiln ! Do you have a website?? A plan with dimensions ti build this kiln? What temp do you fire to?? How big is the loading chamber (in liters)?
Thank you for your comment, I'm glad you liked my project. Unfortunately I don't have blue prints, or exact dimensions for this kiln, you will have to just count bricks in each linear direction to get a basic Idea. So long as the fire box and the ware chamber are both close to the same size, you'll be fine, no matter what dimensions, if not too far from what you see in the video. I have taken Norberta up to 1200°C, or cone 6, in a 14hrs firing. Use a thermocouple, or your firing time will be much longer and still you will not be so sure of what temperature you have reached... For bisque firing, you can work with the signs you get from the chimney, no need for a thermocouple. I still recommend you use one anyway, so you can be more economic with your firewood stock and quicker achieving the right temps.
You should add gratings for the wood to sit on so that air is drawn up from beneath. This will greatly increase efficiency.
Agreed! Next Norberta iteration will have those!
Do you have a list of how many of each bricks? You could have said, I will definitely be rewatching it I want to build this. Thank you!
Thank you for your comment. I don't have the exact number. The 3D program gives me the number of bricks, but it counts half-bricks as one full piece, so it is not an exact number. My best guess is somewhere around 350 refractory bricks and 550 - 600 regular bricks. Plus the large concrete bricks for the raised bed.
If you build it, let me know! I'm gathering videos and images made by members of my audience who have built it, so I can make a video for the channel showing them, as well as any improvements that some of us may come up with!
Great presentation, project and information. Thank you
Very ingenious the ceilings of the firebox and the main chamber. That's actually a problem.
So long as you operate within the temperature ranges that your bricks can deal with, you should be fine. Norberta has been fired many, many times now and it is all right. I haven't pushed it beyond 1100°C, because I haven't built that little arch on the door to the chamber which I show in the 3D animation. My bricks are almost flying onto thin air at that point. Yet, the firebox ceiling which is supported from all four sides is almost intact even after all the wood burning it has been through.
Ive wanted to build one if these🎉🎉🎉 way to go.
Thank you for sharing you R&D!
New Subscriber. Keep the videos coming
What is the highest temperature can this kiln reach? Also why not have an arch in the firebox and the loading chamber. That may increase the top temperature. If an arch is used then some steel fabrication would be necessary to support the force against the walls. I would be prepared to build the kiln once my salt kiln is finished.
I have taken it to around 1000°C in around 8hrs of firing. I suppose it could reach 1220°C or cone 6 , if you fire it for considerably longer, around 16- 24hrs. I have not tried yet because I don't have a helper to take turns with me tending for the kiln. I can't go on that long by myself, it is exhausting! But one of the viewers of my Portuguese language channel has built his version and he claims to have reached 1200 in around 10hrs too, so I believe his version has improvements. As for your question about the arch less design, you have answered it yourself: I'm cheap and lazy. I don't want to spend the money or the effort and the extra material (more bricks and the iron frame work) if there is a cheaper and almost as effective way. the firebox wouldn't benefit from an arch, and the ware chamber would maybe gain a little smoother flow from the curved surface... But flat works just as fine! Remember, this is basically a side draft design. Arches are better for down draft kilns, as they gently reverse the orientation of the draft from up to down. What would really amount to a great improvement to Norberta is making the chimney taller. And also designing some grate system to allow airflow from underneath and through the ambers.
this is a gem, thank you
Absolutely wonderful instruction, clear and well-made. Thank you for you share of knowledge!
Would a scaled down version of Norberta be able to reach high temperatures? 900°C, perhaps?
Yes, in fact I started with a proof of concept that was a scaled down version, for firing a couple of small bowls, if so many! I built it with refractory bricks inside my regular brick barbecue grill... It bisque fired the test pieces very well, and then I had to hire someone to go fix the barbecue grill... It didn't resist the high temperature and began to crumble!... lol! BUT (there is always one), it didn't take much shorter to fire than Norberta does now, which is why I settled with this latest size for her!
@@improbabilitydrive6005 I see. Thank you kindly, good sir
How do you seal the arched entrance to the ware chamber?
Thank you for your comment. Once you load al the pieces that will be fired, you lay a layer of refractory bricks and a second one of common bricks. But you must use only dirt mud between the bricks. So it is really easy to open after firing, and you can actually use the same material many times over. There is a video in this channel called "Bisque Firing a Firewood Kiln" that shows this and other aspects of operating Norberta.
@@improbabilitydrive6005 Thanks so much! We got everything together over months, as we can afford, and now we are READY to start building. So excited 😁👍
hi, wow. i am so grateful for this share. i have been looking and researching for months, so glad i found my way to you. i will be using this to build my own here in georgia, usa. wanting to create the budget for this and solicit volunteers for the build. would you mind sharing your dimensions please?
I am away from home right now, but I will write those measures down for you, as soon as I return.
Lovely video! What temp does this kiln get to?
Thank you for your comment. I haven't pushed it to its limits yet, I have been only doing bisque fires with it (900° - 1000°C). But a friend who watched my video and built his own Norberta has reached 1200°C in 9 hs.
Thank you so much for sharing this!
Its beautiful but how well does it work?
It works like a charm. I bisque fire it to 900°C in around 6-7 hs. Although I haven't taken it to glaze fire temps, one of my viewers has built his own Norberta and affirms he took her to 1200°C (around cone 5-6) in less than 10hs. Check out my video on how to operate it, called Bisque Firing a Firewood Kiln.
Great video! There aren't that many out there that detail a small-ish kiln build with bricks-- thank you for the inspiration :)
Are you able to get wood-ash glazed surfaces with this architecture? It seems like there would be enough draw for the ash to settle on pieces but I'm still learning about what goes into that.
I think so. In fact, I believe you couldn't get rid of fly ash if you wanted to, with this cross-draft design! I have used it more often for bisque, though.
@@improbabilitydrive6005 cool, thank you!
Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for your comment!
Do you have a materials list? I like this kiln and would like to build it.
I bought the material as I upgraded Norberta, along the years, so I don't have an exact count... But I can try and estimate the number of bricks... From the 3D file... the problem is that the 3D file can't tell half bricks apart from whole ones... so it is just an estimate. According to 3DS Max, Norberta has 350 refractory bricks and 550 regular ones. But as I said, it is a little less than that, since half bricks are counted as one...
@@improbabilitydrive6005 thanks. That gives me something to work from.
Can you please tell us what is the maximum temperature achieved with Norberta? Thanks in advance.
I haven't tried it's limits but a friend, who watched the videos and built his own Norberta, fired glaze ware at 1250°C, in 12-14hs. He has sent me images and I'm asking anyone who builds their own version to do the same! So we can put together a video showing all of Norberta's spinoffs!
Hi
How is Noberta?
I think your video is the best instruction available. Thank you very much.
Hope to start my own very soon.
Do you by any chance have a materials list?
Have you had any more firings?
Do you think you could get it up to cone 10/stoneware with enough time?
I haven't tried it to such high, cone 10 temperatures yet, and I think that with a few improvements it may get close to that. By improvements I mean a taller chimney, gratings under the fire to draw extra oxygen from underneath the ambers, people helping taking turns and a whole truckload of patience. It might take a few days and nights.
I bought the material as I upgraded Norberta, along the years, so I don't have an exact count... But I can try and estimate the number of bricks... From the 3D file... the problem is that the 3D file can't tell half bricks apart from whole ones... so it is just an estimate. According to 3DS Max, Norberta has 350 refractory bricks and 550 regular ones. But as I said, it is a little less than that, since half bricks are counted as one...
What’s the maximum temperature of your kiln? I’d be interested in using it as a glass furnace. 2140 F
I am only familiar with pottery kilns, and I don't know the needs and techniques for working with glass. I think a cross-draft wood burning model like this might be a little messy for glass, with a great deal of flying ashes in the environment. And I also believe you will need a better open/close system than a door made of a simple layer of bricks so you can handle your glass after it is hot, if you want to work with the molten glass. I haven't yet gotten it to its highest possible temperatures, But I have reached around 1900°F within 12 hours of firing it.
the frist chamber (left on the drawing) is only for burning the fuel? or do you also stack pots in there?
only for the fuel!
how much did this one cost to make ?
It is a little hard to say, I bought the material more than 6 years ago, in Brazil, and prices may be highly variable in different countries!
Hi Thanks for posting this. The animation is brilliant. Do you know what temperature Norberta can fire at, please?
I have reached 1050 degrees Celsius with it, in around 12 hrs. I believe it can get to cone 6 in around 24hs, or so. I have not tried to go that hot yet, because I would need some help taking turns watching over and stoking the fire. I'm still looking for some volunteers!
@@improbabilitydrive6005 Over 1000C is impressive. I'm playing with a budget batch rocket stove with a ware -chamber (yet to be added) on top. If I can match what you've achieved I'll be happy. I'd offer to take a watch on your 24hr marathon but I suspect we are in different time zones!
@staphylea1 it is not a time zone problem, it is an hemispheric one! I´m in Brazil (or are you in Australia?) But thanks for the enthusiasm! lol
@@improbabilitydrive6005 with my wood kiln i reach 1050 C in exactly an hour.
But my kiln( i didnt named it iet) its the most unusual wood kiln ever made.Its made from Ytong ( aircrete) wich seals soo much but its good only up to 700 C for repeated use.
The Ytong its protected by 2,5 cm 1400 C zirconia ceramic wool ,inside.
Ytong is verry common and cheap in Europe and all around the world ,except North America .
And my burner( this is like no otther) its a wood burner but forced air gasification( burns the smoke not the wood).
So my firings are all without smoke.
But its too fast to reach that temp in just an hour.The boron glaze its literally burned iet the bottom of the heavy, big pots dont reach the soaking needed like the sides of the pot.
How interesting! Put it to a video and let us know it! I saw the video showing the burner you are talking about, it is very nice. As you said, this ramp is way too steep for pottery, but it might be awesome for jewelry and smelting!
Thank you!!!
いいねー流石。
Is it essential for the doorway to the ware chamber to be arched?
Not really, my actual version of Norberta does not have that arch. But I think it is a weak spot in the supporting structure of the ware chamber's roof which the arch will handle well.
My archless version is showing serious signs of aging and roof bricks are getting a bit lose in their places. I haven't had the courage to ramp it up above 1200°C because of that!
@@improbabilitydrive6005 thanks!
can this also be used as a pizza oven?
It is not a design that is good for pizza... Pizza ovens are generally made to deal with lower temperatures than ceramics, never more than 500°C. Also, this design is not concerned with keeping the bulk of the smoke away from the material inside, like pizza or any other kind of food. Pizza ovens are usually round, igloo like, so the smoke rises and flows away via the chimney without changing the taste of the food.
いいねー😮
What program do you use for that brick laying animation. I'd like to use it to experiment around with some different designs of things. Norberta rocks! Awesome job
Let's say I used an A bomb to kill a fly. It is 3Ds Max. Not the lightest or most intuitive software for experimentation. I think Sketchup or similar would fit your needs better!
4:03 falling bricks 😆
😂I just couldn't help it!
4:02 😂😂😂