A high-uniformity box furnace has been delivered to Soil Lab, a community-based workshop based in Chicago, as part of the 2021 Chicago Architecture Biennial. The furnace received a fast-track shipment of four weeks to be part of the biennial workshop program in which local community groups will experiment and gain knowledge of ceramic production and various processes.
The L&L Special Furnace Co., Inc. Model XLE 3636 is a front-loading, refractory-lined box furnace and has an effective work zone of 34” wide by 34" high by 32" deep. There is a horizontal double pivot door with a safety power cutoff switch. A ceramic hearth and standoffs are provided as a workspace for various ceramics and ceramic-based products. Additionally, the furnace has a series of inlets on the side and an outlet on the top. These can be capped off when not in use to preserve heat, and can provide a "candling" effect where various ceramic byproducts can be removed from the furnace. Some of these byproducts can be corrosive and need to be removed from the system.
Pictured in the main image above: Soil Lab team photo, (L to R) Vester, Bruun, Martin, Ni Chathasaigh
