Louise Jenks on mon 29 apr 96
Dear Clayarters,
A sculptor friend of mine is hoping to buy a kiln soon and has been
quoted a good price for a ^8 electric Duncan with Kiln master. He needs the
electronic controler to cast, enamel and anneal glass. He will also use clay,
sometimes to ^8. His questions are:
Has anyone experience, good or bad, with Duncan kilnls?
If he consistently fires to ^8 (which he would not) would that burn out
the elements? Is this called, maxing out the kiln and is this true?
Or in otherwords, if he would fire ^8 occasionally, should he get a ^10-^11
rated kiln?
Please answer before 5/5 as I will be signing off for 2 weeks. Thanks.
Louise
Valice Raffi on tue 30 apr 96
> Has anyone experience, good or bad, with Duncan kilnls?
Louise,
When I decided to buy my kiln, I didn't really know very much. I got a
great deal on a Duncan (very low price, plus 1/2 trade for some graphics
work) so I hauled it home. It didn't reach cone so I first replaced the
elements, which was NOT hard, except for keeping my body in the weird
position required!
Still wouldn't reach cone. The person I bought it from kept insisting
there was nothing wrong with it!. I then replaced the switch (also not
hard except that it required more hand strength than I have, so I called
over a friendly neighbor to help. It's been working fine ever since (6
yrs).
I fire mostly low ^06 - ^3 but have fired to ^6 many times. I'm frankly
not sure if it goes higher!
The WORST thing about mine is that it is "automatic" - designed for firing
cast "hobbyware" I think. I do mostly handbuilt sculpture. So on a bisque
firing, I turn it off and on every couple of hours to take it up slowly.
It works for me pretty well, but I go to a friends' kiln when I want
reduction, and a different friend when I Raku. (Yes, I have some pretty
terrific friends!).
Seems I never have enough money to even think about replacing it! Hpoe
this helps!
Valice
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