Taylor Hendrix on wed 16 jan 08
Okay,
Serious question here.
My new elements have been fired to cone 04 once and I am about to
start some glaze loads. I'm wanting to move two short sections of
elements back into their grooves before they really get heated up
(most all the elements are set just fine) and I'm wonder which method
is more recomended.
I can either heat up the problem areas with the propane tourch and
then try to ooze them back into place with pliers or something or I
could turn the switch to high, wait until they are red hot, CUT THE
POWER , then run a metal butter knife or something else unmeltable
over the elements to re seat them. I've done neither before, so what
do we think?
--
Taylor, in Rockport TX
http://wirerabbit.blogspot.com
http://wirerabbitpots.blogspot.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wirerabbit/
Arnold Howard on wed 16 jan 08
From: "Taylor Hendrix"
> I can either heat up the problem areas with the propane
> tourch and
> then try to ooze them back into place with pliers or
> something or I
> could turn the switch to high, wait until they are red
> hot, CUT THE
> POWER ,
I recommend heating the bulging section of element with a
propane torch. It takes only a few seconds to get the
element red hot. Use a propane torch equipped with an on/off
button rather than the older type that has to be lit with a
match after you turn a knob.
As the red-hot element cools off, merely press the button on
the torch to heat it back up.
Use needle-nose pliers to squeeze the coils together where
the element bulges out of a straight groove section. Use
snap-ring pliers to expand the coils where the element
bulges out of a corner.
Sincerely,
Arnold Howard
Paragon Industries, L.P., Mesquite, Texas USA
ahoward@paragonweb.com / www.paragonweb.com
William & Susan Schran User on thu 17 jan 08
On 1/16/08 1:55 PM, "Taylor Hendrix" wrote:
> My new elements have been fired to cone 04 once and I am about to
> start some glaze loads. I'm wanting to move two short sections of
> elements back into their grooves before they really get heated up
> (most all the elements are set just fine) and I'm wonder which method
> is more recomended.
>
> I can either heat up the problem areas with the propane tourch and
> then try to ooze them back into place with pliers or something or I
> could turn the switch to high, wait until they are red hot, CUT THE
> POWER , then run a metal butter knife or something else unmeltable
> over the elements to re seat them. I've done neither before, so what
> do we think
Heat them to glowing with propane torch, but better to use small pieces of
wood to re-position them. Needle nose pliers/screwdrivers can damage the
elements if you're not careful.
I would also suggest that you fire the kiln slowly up to ^5 EMPTY!
Yes, EMPTY!
You need to allow the elements to build a protective layer to help prevent
them for the attack by nasty fumes/oxides/combustibles during the bisque
firings.
A slow firing to ^5 will also help to properly seat the elements in the
grooves.
Bill
--
William "Bill" Schran
wschran@cox.net
wschran@nvcc.edu
http://www.creativecreekartisans.com
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