Jon Pettyjohn on wed 22 oct 97
Hi,
have to replace some elements in an old Skutt. I notice
that the twisted element ends are crimped with a special
attachment (looks like a small grey tube) to a wire
attached to the switch. The crimping looks pretty heavy
duty and I can't seem to find any of these here in Manila.
The only ones I can find are the thin copper ones with a
circle on one end. Surely these won't hold together long.
Anyone have any ideas where to look for these? Or could it
be possible or advisable to make one, out of what, sheet metal
maybe? Is there a special tool for this? Any other ways to
attach the wires?
thanks,
Jon Pettyjohn jon@mozcom.com
Vince Pitelka on thu 23 oct 97
>have to replace some elements in an old Skutt. I notice
>that the twisted element ends are crimped with a special
>attachment (looks like a small grey tube) to a wire
>attached to the switch. The crimping looks pretty heavy
>duty and I can't seem to find any of these here in Manila.
>The only ones I can find are the thin copper ones with a
>circle on one end. Surely these won't hold together long.
>
>Anyone have any ideas where to look for these? Or could it
>be possible or advisable to make one, out of what, sheet metal
>maybe? Is there a special tool for this? Any other ways to
>attach the wires?
Jon -
I have used copper tubing with good results. Just select an appropriate
size to fit over both wires, so that they overlap - the element pigtail
entering one end, and the feed wire entering the other. But it is
absolutely necessary to use a good wire-crimping tool to get the tube
properly mashed down. Ordinary pliers will not do it, and the crimping tool
which is used for smaller gauge wire will not do an adequate job either.
Perhaps you can borrow a pair from someone, because the proper crimping tool
could be expensive.
- Vince
Vince Pitelka - vpitelka@DeKalb.net
Home 615/597-5376, work 615/597-6801, fax 615/597-6803
Appalachian Center for Crafts
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
Fay & Ralph Loewenthal on fri 7 nov 97
There is more than one way to fasten kiln elements. You
can crimp as Vince suggests and here you could use a
pair of vice grips instead of a crimping tool. You can also
use what is known in the trade as wire taps. These are
bolts with a hole in the centre of the shaft and a nut to
fasten. You put the hole in the bolt over the element and
wire, and fasten the nut. Use two spanners to get really
tight fit. Hope this helps Ralph in PE SA still having
trouble with my PC hanging.
Vince Pitelka on sat 8 nov 97
>There is more than one way to fasten kiln elements. You
>can crimp as Vince suggests and here you could use a
>pair of vice grips instead of a crimping tool. You can also
>use what is known in the trade as wire taps. These are
>bolts with a hole in the centre of the shaft and a nut to
>fasten. You put the hole in the bolt over the element and
>wire, and fasten the nut. Use two spanners to get really
>tight fit. Hope this helps Ralph in PE SA still having
>trouble with my PC hanging.
I have to agree and dissagree with Ralph. First, DO NOT use vise-grips to
crimp connectors on kiln elements. Many processes in many media depend on
concentration of pressure points, and this is a good example. A proper
crimping tool concentrates the compression in a small area, guaranteeing
that you achieve the necessarily tight connection which will remain tight
over time. Vise-grips will not accomplish that nearly as effectively as a
proper crimping tool. If the connection is not tight enough it will get
hot, and the heat will make it corrode, and it will fail very soon.
But Ralph makes a very good point about the bolt-tightened electrical
connectors. I cannot remember the proper name for these little do-dads.
They are made of copper, they come in a variety of sizes, and they are
available from any supplier of commercial electrical products - thats
ELECTRICAL, not electronic. As Ralph says, once you slip the wires through
the hole, you can tighten the nut very securely with two wrenches, giving a
very positive connection. One of these days I'll remember the proper name.
Take this message into any electrical supplier and let them read it, and
they'll know what we mean.
- Vince
Vince Pitelka - vpitelka@DeKalb.net
Home 615/597-5376, work 615/597-6801, fax 615/597-6803
Appalachian Center for Crafts
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
Fay & Ralph Loewenthal on mon 10 nov 97
Sorry Vince you are quite correct about the vice grips. I
went and looked at the box containing the doo-dads and
the name is "LINE TAPS". At least that is how I get them
from the electrical supply store here. Ralph in PE SA
Cameron Harman on tue 11 nov 97
There is a name for those copper do dads that hold the wire
together, but who can remember? Usually electricians refer
to them as wire nuts. They are made to splice wires of
larger sizes. A heater wire that has been doubled and
twisted is fairly thick, so one of those together with your
heavy lead wire can make for a very good connection that
can be replaced with the same wire nuts over and over again.
There is so much current in most of these heater wires that
the crimped connections may overheat. The wire nuts will
give good contact and should not overheat. They can often be
found at the hardware store and always at the electrical
supply house.
Cameron
--
**********************************************************
Cameron G. Harman, Jr. 215-245-4040 fax 215-638-1812
e-mail kilns@kilnman.com
Ceramic Services, Inc 1060 Park Ave. Bensalem, PA 19020
see our web site at http://www.kilnman.com/potters.html
THE place for total kiln and drier support
**********************************************************
Martin Schiller on wed 12 nov 97
>Subject: Re: How to attach kiln elements?
>Sent: 11/11/97 4:43 AM
>Received: 11/11/97 7:14 AM
>From: Cameron Harman, charman@kilnman.com
>There is a name for those copper do dads that hold the wire
>together, but who can remember? Usually electricians refer
They're called Split Bolt Connectors, and they can be found in Grainger
catalogues (page 656 of No.388, 1997 Catalog).
"Wire nut", in my experience, refers to a plastic sleeve enclosing a
threaded metal wire insert, that you install by inserting the bundled
wires and twisting tight. These "wire nuts" are not suitable for high
temperature installations.
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