William & Susan Schran User on tue 4 mar 08
On 3/4/08 9:18 AM, "Carole Fox" wrote:
> After way too long a time, I have finally gotten around to recalibrating my
> kiln sitter. Well, not quite. I can't seem to get the guide on. I'm guessing
> my cone support prongs are warped. Can they be straightened?
You should be able to pull them out of the slot in the ceramic tube. Lay
them out on a piece of wood and tap with hammer to straighten them.
Also check your sensing rod to see if it's deteriorated or bent also.
I have reversed these rods to extent the life, but it's probably better just
to replace if worn away by heat.
Bill
--
William "Bill" Schran
wschran@cox.net
wschran@nvcc.edu
http://www.creativecreekartisans.com
Taylor Hendrix on tue 4 mar 08
You can certainly try to straighten them, but I would get replacements
as soon as possible along with a pair for backup. Those older ones may
be brittle by now. You don't want to alter the geometry of those
things if you can help it, and banging them back into shape with a
hammer just might do that. You can still fire accurately if you keep
an eye on those firing cones of yours.
Good potting,
Taylor, in Rockport TX
On Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 8:18 AM, Carole Fox wrote:
> After way too long a time, I have finally gotten around to recalibrating my
> kiln sitter. Well, not quite. I can't seem to get the guide on. I'm guessing
> my cone support prongs are warped. Can they be straightened?
> Carole Fox
...
John Post on tue 4 mar 08
Hi Carole,
My favorite way to calibrate a kiln with a kiln sitter is to take a
cone that you think is bent at the perfect angle and use that as the
calibration tool With that cone in the kiln sitter, make sure the
latch can just clear the hook mechanism that holds it in place.
Replacement kiln sitter tube assemblies are not expensive.
Replacement time is usually around 15 minutes. Whenever I suspect a
kiln sitter assembly is going bad, I just replace it. It's cheaper
than losing a bunch of pots to an accidental over-firing. If it is
just the little prongs for the kiln sitter that are warped, you can
order new ones. They just slide right out.
John Post
Sterling Heights, Michigan
http://www.johnpost.us :: cone 6 glaze website ::
http://www.wemakeart.org :: elementary art website ::
On Mar 4, 2008, at 9:18 AM, Carole Fox wrote:
> After way too long a time, I have finally gotten around to
> recalibrating my
> kiln sitter. Well, not quite. I can't seem to get the guide on. I'm
> guessing
> my cone support prongs are warped. Can they be straightened?
> Carole Fox
> Silver Fox Pottery
> Elkton, MD
> silverfoxpottery@comcast.net
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> Clayart members may send postings to: clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list, post messages, change your
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>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at melpots2@visi.com
>
Carole Fox on tue 4 mar 08
After way too long a time, I have finally gotten around to recalibrating my
kiln sitter. Well, not quite. I can't seem to get the guide on. I'm guessing
my cone support prongs are warped. Can they be straightened?
Carole Fox
Silver Fox Pottery
Elkton, MD
silverfoxpottery@comcast.net
Carole Fox on wed 5 mar 08
Thanks all. I will be buying some new prongs (two sets) and then I'll pull
out the old ones, see if I can straighten 'em for additional back-ups.. Now
I'm thinking I should get a back up for the whole kiln sitter tube because I
just know things will fail when I'm at my busiest.
And I have a set of elements for back-up.
Is there anything else I should have on hand for possible kiln emergencies?
(Too bad you can't paste little heart icons into clayart messages)
Carole Fox
Silver Fox Pottery
Elkton, MD
silverfoxpottery@comcast.net
Snail Scott on wed 5 mar 08
> Date: Tue, 4 Mar 2008 09:18:51 -0500
> From: Carole Fox
>
> ...I'm guessing
> my cone support prongs are warped. Can they be straightened?
Not easily. For $2.00, you can get a brand-new set.
Or, recalibrate without the gauge. A sitter cone bent
to about 90 degrees is usually close to the mark,
but check your firings with with witness cones to
fine-tune the deadfall flap spacing. (We don' need
no stinkin' gauges!) ;)
-Snail
John Post on wed 5 mar 08
If your kiln has a limit timer, I would get the replacement motor for
one it too.
The kiln sitter tube assembly and limit timer together usually run
somewhere around $50 total.
I usually replace both these items when I am bringing an old kiln back
to life.
John Post
Sterling Heights, Michigan
http://www.johnpost.us :: cone 6 glaze website ::
http://www.wemakeart.org :: elementary art website ::
On Mar 5, 2008, at 9:00 AM, Carole Fox wrote:
> Thanks all. I will be buying some new prongs (two sets) and then
> I'll pull
> out the old ones, see if I can straighten 'em for additional back-
> ups.. Now
> I'm thinking I should get a back up for the whole kiln sitter tube
> because I
> just know things will fail when I'm at my busiest.
>
> And I have a set of elements for back-up.
>
> Is there anything else I should have on hand for possible kiln
> emergencies?
>
> (Too bad you can't paste little heart icons into clayart messages)
> Carole Fox
> Silver Fox Pottery
> Elkton, MD
> silverfoxpottery@comcast.net
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> Clayart members may send postings to: clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list, post messages, change your
> subscription settings or unsubscribe/leave the list here: http://www.acers.org/cic/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at melpots2@visi.com
>
Arnold Howard on wed 5 mar 08
From: "Carole Fox"
> Is there anything else I should have on hand for possible
> kiln emergencies?
----------------
A spare switch. Before entering a busy season, you should
also do a little preventive maintenance:
1) Vacuum brick grooves.
2) Check the power cord and outlet for heat damage.
3) Reseat bulging elements.
4) Kiln vent: check the vent duct for leaks.
Sincerely,
Arnold Howard
Paragon Industries, L.P., Mesquite, Texas USA
ahoward@paragonweb.com / www.paragonweb.com
Bonnie Hellman on wed 5 mar 08
If you have a computer controller, I'd have a backup thermocouple on hand.
When I first bought mine, Jonathan Kaplan gave me this advice, and one day,
without warning, my thermocouple just stopped working, so I was glad I had a
spare.
I also keep a complete kiln sitter replacement set around, too. I've had
various metal parts fail and I only fire to ^6..
Bonnie
Bonnie D. Hellman
Ouray, Colorado 81427
----- Original Message -----
From: "Carole Fox"
To:
Sent: Wednesday, March 05, 2008 7:00 AM
Subject: Re: calibrating the kiln sitter
> Thanks all. I will be buying some new prongs (two sets) and then I'll pull
> out the old ones, see if I can straighten 'em for additional back-ups..
> Now
> I'm thinking I should get a back up for the whole kiln sitter tube because
> I
> just know things will fail when I'm at my busiest.
>
> And I have a set of elements for back-up.
>
> Is there anything else I should have on hand for possible kiln
> emergencies?
>
> (Too bad you can't paste little heart icons into clayart messages)
> Carole Fox
> Silver Fox Pottery
> Elkton, MD
> silverfoxpottery@comcast.net
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> Clayart members may send postings to: clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list, post messages, change your
> subscription settings or unsubscribe/leave the list here:
> http://www.acers.org/cic/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
> melpots2@visi.com
Arnold Howard on wed 5 mar 08
From: "Carole Fox"
> my cone support prongs are warped. Can they be
> straightened?
Carole, I would replace the cone supports to be on the safe
side. A new set is $9.25, but they last a long time. (It is
amazing how much abuse they can take in an extremely harsh
atmosphere.)
Sincerely,
Arnold Howard
Paragon Industries, L.P., Mesquite, Texas USA
ahoward@paragonweb.com / www.paragonweb.com
William & Susan Schran User on thu 6 mar 08
On 3/5/08 9:00 AM, "Carole Fox" wrote:
> Thanks all. I will be buying some new prongs (two sets) and then I'll pull
> out the old ones, see if I can straighten 'em for additional back-ups.. Now
> I'm thinking I should get a back up for the whole kiln sitter tube because I
> just know things will fail when I'm at my busiest.
>
> And I have a set of elements for back-up.
>
> Is there anything else I should have on hand for possible kiln emergencies?
Good idea to keep a spare switch/relay on hand.
FYI - be sure to put a coat of kiln wash on the prongs.
Just dip a Q-tip in wash and smear on.
Bill
--
William "Bill" Schran
wschran@cox.net
wschran@nvcc.edu
http://www.creativecreekartisans.com
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