Michael R. Wardell on thu 13 nov 97
-------------------
i am looking for some recommendations on an electronic controller for an
electric kiln. Any thoughts or experience will be helpful. as i get my
clayart digested, and sometimes miss good stuff, could you please email me
directly at Wardell=5FPottery=40compuserve.com. Thanks.
Martin Howard on fri 23 nov 01
I have been wondering for the past year whether to get a more fancy
electronic controller for the electric kiln.
At the moment I can set the top temperature, the ramping (changing it as I
want by hand every few hours), the dwell time, and the temperature it goes
onto full power.
That is enough really. Always have two or three sets of cones in there.
Oh, yes it is nice to have the latest gadgets and be able to have umpteen
different firing programs, so that theoretically I could create large
crystals etc.
But thinking logically, I wouldn't get around to that kind of thing. It
would mean too great a change to my regular output of tableware.
We do have a strong tendency to grab all the latest gadgetry as if that will
make us happy; contented; good potters; excellent business people etc etc.
The fact is it won't. It will often just be another hole in the bank
balance.
Thank you Clayart for dissuading me from buying a more fancy kiln
controller.
Martin Howard, just shaving off some thin cherry and applewood to make
tools, instead of buying them, at
Webbs Cottage Pottery
Woolpits Road, Great Saling
BRAINTREE, Essex CM7 5DZ
01371 850 423
martin@webbscottage.co.uk
http://www.webbscottage.co.uk
This web-site is being updated NOW!
Cindy Strnad on fri 23 nov 01
Dear Martin,
Obviously, you have no need for a "fancy" kiln
controller. It would be as foolish for you to buy
one as it would be for me to buy the latest
television satellite receiver. However, if I
watched much television, it would be a different
matter, wouldn't it?
Tools are for those who need them. I don't own a
slab roller because I don't make that many slabs.
What I need, I can easily throw. I don't have a
nail gun because I'm not a roofer. I don't own a
plow because I'm not a farmer. I do own a "fancy"
kiln controller. Mostly because I wanted the
versatility. I don't know if I'll ever attempt to
grow large crystals, but now that I've fallen in
love with crystalline matte glazes, I'm so glad I
spent the extra bucks. It would be a real hassle
to do the slow cooling needed for optimum results
without the computer controller. Tools are for
those who need them.
Best wishes,
Cindy Strnad
Earthen Vessels Pottery
RR 1, Box 51
Custer, SD 57730
USA
cindy@earthen-vessels-pottery.com
http://www.earthen-vessels-pottery.com
John Hesselberth on fri 23 nov 01
on 11/23/01 2:43 AM, Martin Howard at martin@WEBBSCOTTAGE.CO.UK wrote:
> Thank you Clayart for dissuading me from buying a more fancy kiln
> controller.
Hi Martin,
You won't find me trying to dissuade you from buying an controller for your
kiln. I am a big fan of them. The advantage is not so much on the way up;
it is on the way down. The underinsulated electric kilns that many of us
own (even 3" is underinsulated in my opinion) simply cool too fast for good
glaze development. I'm not talking about macrocrystalline glazes here--I'm
talking about properly formulated mattes and semimattes. It is a royal pain
to do those properly without a controller. Oh, there are plenty of nice
looking mattes made in an uncontrolled kiln, but most of them are terrible
glazes. They are matte because they haven't been melted properly in the
first place. The properly formulated mattes require slow cooling to give
time for the small crystals that make them matte to form.
As a side comment to the L&L discussion--I have an L&L with a controller and
get good element life and have no problems with it. It is a great kiln. For
those having problems be sure you have two things. First is sheathed
thermocouples. If you can see the weld on the business end of the
thermocouple you are doomed to short thermocouple life. Some of the problems
people are experiencing may be due to thermocouples on the verge of failure
rather than elements. Spend a few extra dollars for a sheathed one and it
will last 10 times as long. Secondly, as has already been mentioned get
heavy duty elements--particularly if you are firing to cone 6 or above.
Regards,
John
Web site: http://www.frogpondpottery.com Email: john@frogpondpottery.com
"The life so short, the craft so long to learn." Chaucer's translation of
Hippocrates, 5th cent. B.C.
Ron Roy on sun 25 nov 01
The cones are an excellent idea but I have to disagree on the value of a
controller.
What is the difference in cost between a rudimentary controller and a new
one Martin?
Affordable electronic controllers - especially those with zone control -
are the most important advance since the invention of electric kilns and
pyrometric cones.
I can't recommend them highly enough and I think they pay for themselves
within a year.
Think about it - turn on automatically - hold at whatever temp you want to
dry ware out, hold at what ever temp on the way up - fire at whatever rate
on the way up - hold or drop slowly after top temperature - all the while
keeping the kiln even.
All this and you can be in another room with a window to see the readout
and even have your controller in another room - and - some have chips that
allow you to monitor it while getting your ClayArt mail.
There was even a controller available for my new gas kiln - in fact it
comes with a rudimentary controller.
RR
>I have been wondering for the past year whether to get a more fancy
>electronic controller for the electric kiln.
>At the moment I can set the top temperature, the ramping (changing it as I
>want by hand every few hours), the dwell time, and the temperature it goes
>onto full power.
>That is enough really. Always have two or three sets of cones in there.
Ron Roy
RR# 4
15084 Little Lake Rd..
Brighton,
Ontario, Canada
KOK 1H0
Residence 613-475-9544
Studio 613-475-3715
Fax 613-475-3513
Ron Roy on mon 26 nov 01
Hi Martin,
Yes - there are two types I have seen - three thermocouples for the bigger
kilns.
I have two couples on my electric kiln and the controller senses more or
less heat and compensates - just does it automatically - it's a wonder -
Imagine - not having to think about that part at all. And it happens with a
vent running as well.
If you try to go too fast - all switches stay on continually and it means
that feature cannot work.
RR
>Ron Roy, your phrase really got me
>thinking.
>
>Do you mean that these new Electronic Controllers can sort out the cool and
>hot spots for me?
>If so, that really would make a difference and I might be prepared to shell
>out the 200 or so pounds sterling to get one.
>
>At present my cones show different parts of the kiln varying in top amount
>of heat work done. It seems to vary with the gaps between shelves, as if
>some narrow gaps for plates and tiles hold the heat rather more than more
>open spaces.
Ron Roy
RR# 4
15084 Little Lake Rd..
Brighton,
Ontario, Canada
KOK 1H0
Residence 613-475-9544
Studio 613-475-3715
Fax 613-475-3513
Martin Howard on mon 26 nov 01
Ron Roy, your phrase really got me
thinking.
Do you mean that these new Electronic Controllers can sort out the cool and
hot spots for me?
If so, that really would make a difference and I might be prepared to shell
out the 200 or so pounds sterling to get one.
At present my cones show different parts of the kiln varying in top amount
of heat work done. It seems to vary with the gaps between shelves, as if
some narrow gaps for plates and tiles hold the heat rather more than more
open spaces.
Martin Howard
Webbs Cottage Pottery
Woolpits Road, Great Saling
BRAINTREE, Essex CM7 5DZ
01371 850 423
martin@webbscottage.co.uk
http://www.webbscottage.co.uk
This web-site is being updated NOW!
Wanda Holmes at Alistia on mon 26 nov 01
My controller does not have zone control, but I have sucessfully used it to
get an even result from top to bottom in the kiln. The control it gave me
over heating rates, hold temperatures, and hold times for multiple distinct
firing segments allowed me to solve my hot and cold spot problems.
Wanda
-----Original Message-----
From: Ceramic Arts Discussion List [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG]On
Behalf Of Martin Howard
Sent: Monday, November 26, 2001 1:21 AM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Electronic Controllers
Ron Roy, your phrase really got me
thinking.
Do you mean that these new Electronic Controllers can sort out the cool and
hot spots for me?
If so, that really would make a difference and I might be prepared to shell
out the 200 or so pounds sterling to get one.
At present my cones show different parts of the kiln varying in top amount
of heat work done. It seems to vary with the gaps between shelves, as if
some narrow gaps for plates and tiles hold the heat rather more than more
open spaces.
Martin Howard
Webbs Cottage Pottery
Woolpits Road, Great Saling
BRAINTREE, Essex CM7 5DZ
01371 850 423
martin@webbscottage.co.uk
http://www.webbscottage.co.uk
This web-site is being updated NOW!
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Llewellyn Kouba on tue 17 aug 04
Recently I blew out my top thermocouple and am wondering about converting
my gas kiln to a digital control system. Is it possible to retrofit these
systems to a gas kiln? and if so can anyone recommend a system or how to go
about doing this. Any pro's or con's would be appreciated. Thank you.
Llewellyn Kouba
Abbey Pottery
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