The second chapter, "Methods of
Kiln Construction", is edited and revised.
small revisions make the text clearer. An
entire section on fiber construction has been
added. This section goes into various systems
for anchoring the ceramic fibers into place and
for placing the fiber at corners, doors, and
other difficult spots. Fred Olsen discusses
the many difficulties with the present fiber
products, concluding that, at present, insula-
tion firebrick is best for cone 10 (1300°C)
Kilns. Nonetheless, this added section on
fiber construction gives up-to-date information
on how to use these new materials. It serves
an important service to potters who will be
using fiber materials. It is part of the
reason why the second edition of THE KILN BOOK
will become and remain a standard reference
For the potter's library.

The chapter “Principles of Kiln
Design’ is improved by minor revisions and is
expanded. For the potter who plans to build
a kiln in a hot desert elevation over 3800 feet
(Okanagan potters, take note), the small added
section "High Altitude Adjustments” could save
many times the price of the book.

The middle chapters deal with the
principal types of kilms — crossdraft, down-
draft and updraft. For each type historic
examples and working modern examples are
discussed and illustrated.

Throughout the second edition, the
illustrations are explained in captions as well
as in the text. The illustration captions were
lacking in the first edition. Adding them
makes the explanations easier to follow,
particularly in the chapters on specific kiln
designs. The final chapter deals with electric
Kilns. The author's main interest seems to be
cone 10 fuel fired kilns and most of the book
deals with them. The electric kiln chapter
gives much useful information both of a
technical and of a general sort.

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