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skutt km-1018 kiln questions

updated thu 31 jul 97

 

Sher Muhonen on thu 3 jul 97

Hi,

Does anyone have any experience with the Skutt KM-1018 kiln?

It's quirks, your likes and dislikes and experience with
the company. Would you recommend the 3 inch insulation?

I'm fairly new at all this but will probably be doing a fair
number of cone 10 firings.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Sher

Louis Katz on fri 4 jul 97

I don't have any experience with that size Skutt. I fire a KM series test
kiln, and have fired the 1027 and 1227 size KM kiln.
It is important to realize that the hold at temperature function (soak)
raises the cone to which you are firing. If you fire until cone 04 would
fall and then hold that temperature long enough cone 03 would fall.
I like being able to slow my firings near maturation. It makes my test
kiln give more accurate results.
If I were firing an electric kiln to high temperature I would fire to
cone 9 just to save on element replacement costs. I might be tempted to
fire to cone 8 or 7 even though my knowlege of glazes is much greater at
cone ten.
The Skutt 3" fire faster and cool slower. They last longer. Bisqueware
shops prefer the 2.5" models because they cool faster. Too each his own
no? I would spend the extra money on the three inch unless I already had
a stock of kiln shelves for the 2.5" kilns in good condition.
Louis
Always check your program before firing.
Louis

Louis Katz
Texas A&M University Corpus Campus
lkatz@falcon.tamucc.edu
http://www.tamucc.edu/~lkatz