Kathy Stecker on mon 1 sep 08
Hi friends and hopefully helpers!
I need some advice on kiln repair, several questions.I have an old Crusader
kiln that was moved and several bottom bricks got broken which I need to fix.
I need to flip it on its side to do this.
Several problems came up , first I noticed that screws are decomposing and I
need to replace them-the manual has no description of their length or
composition ( although I don't want them anywhere near the elements of course so
they can't be too long). I assume they need to be steel .
As my husband and I tried to turn it on it's side the handle broke off on
one side-I'll need to replace and maybe put in 2 steel ones on each side for
ease of use again avoiding elements.Do handles normally have extra metal or
support inside the jacket ?
I noticed one of the tighteners for the kiln jacket has popped it's weld
also .Is their anything I can use other than someone to come weld? Perhaps I
should purchase some bands that could completely go around the kiln?
How do repair people turn these things on their sides without rounding out
the bottom bricks, they are awkward. Can I go rent some kind of straps with
handles?
Thanks for any and all help on this-I am fond of this kiln.
Kathy Stecker
Winter Springs, FL
**************It's only a deal if it's where you want to go. Find your travel
deal here.
(http://information.travel.aol.com/deals?ncid=aoltrv00050000000047)
William & Susan Schran User on mon 1 sep 08
On 9/1/08 10:13 AM, "Kathy Stecker" wrote:
> Several problems came up , first I noticed that screws are decomposing and I
> need to replace them-the manual has no description of their length or
> composition ( although I don't want them anywhere near the elements of course
> so
> they can't be too long). I assume they need to be steel .
>
> As my husband and I tried to turn it on it's side the handle broke off on
> one side-I'll need to replace and maybe put in 2 steel ones on each side for
> ease of use again avoiding elements.Do handles normally have extra metal or
> support inside the jacket ?
>
> I noticed one of the tighteners for the kiln jacket has popped it's weld
> also .Is their anything I can use other than someone to come weld? Perhaps I
> should purchase some bands that could completely go around the kiln?
Any place where you need to replace screws, spend a tiny bit more and get
stainless steel if available. I'd also suggest using a self taping tapered
screw made specifically for sheet metal application. The screws need not be
long as you will be securing everything to the stainless steel jacket and
there is usually no additional sheet metal support behind the one layer.
Where the tightener has popped the weld, you could probably put in a couple
screws instead.
You can lay the kiln/section on it's side by placing stacks of 2x4's on
either side along the length to assist supporting the structure.
Bill
--
William "Bill" Schran
wschran@cox.net
wschran@nvcc.edu
http://www.creativecreekartisans.com
patsgreenpots on mon 1 sep 08
I am sure there are many better ways of doing this but I can tell you
what I have done to repair kilns I have found in similar shape (I.E.
all my kilns)
Personally I like 1" to 1 1/4" self-tapping sheet metal screws if you
can find them for High temp that is a huge plus. If not no biggie they
will just need replaced sooner. And they are especially good for metal
to metal. You have to be real careful when you are drilling then not
to over tighten and break then or the brick.
There are no extra supports for handles on most kilns ( a huge problem
I Find) What I like is taking an old bed frame or really anything
substantial (steel) and add handles and lattice on the bottom and use
it to move you kiln around, it makes it heavy yes but a lot more
sturdy as well.
As for the strapping I had that happen to my big kiln. I supported the
lid with plywood, I loosened the strap and tacked it down with another
sheet metal screw through both the ring and screw band, then
tightened it back up.
--- In clayart@yahoogroups.com, Kathy Stecker wrote:
>
> Hi friends and hopefully helpers!
>
> I need some advice on kiln repair, several questions.I have an old
Crusader
> kiln that was moved and several bottom bricks got broken which I
need to fix.
> I need to flip it on its side to do this.
>
> Several problems came up , first I noticed that screws are
decomposing and I
> need to replace them-the manual has no description of their length or
> composition ( although I don't want them anywhere near the elements
of course so
> they can't be too long). I assume they need to be steel .
>
> As my husband and I tried to turn it on it's side the handle broke
off on
> one side-I'll need to replace and maybe put in 2 steel ones on each
side for
> ease of use again avoiding elements.Do handles normally have extra
metal or
> support inside the jacket ?
>
> I noticed one of the tighteners for the kiln jacket has popped it's weld
> also .Is their anything I can use other than someone to come weld?
Perhaps I
> should purchase some bands that could completely go around the kiln?
>
> How do repair people turn these things on their sides without
rounding out
> the bottom bricks, they are awkward. Can I go rent some kind of
straps with
> handles?
>
> Thanks for any and all help on this-I am fond of this kiln.
>
> Kathy Stecker
>
> Winter Springs, FL
>
>
>
>
>
> **************It's only a deal if it's where you want to go. Find
your travel
> deal here.
> (http://information.travel.aol.com/deals?ncid=3Daoltrv00050000000047)
>
sarah ferrency on mon 1 sep 08
My old lid ring had also popped off at the little pipe clamp thingys, and I took the lid off and put it on some towels on the floor, removed the ring, and took it to my welder friend to fix, and he just put tiny little bolts through from the inside and secured them with nuts on the outside. My lid handle also came off, it had really torn out the brick at the screw holes, so I just used longer screws and they seem to work fine. The lid feels very sturdy now. I also used one of the ITCs, maybe 200, to patch a crack in the lid. But I do move it by the stand-- it's a small kiln.
Good luck. Sarah in Sitka
Vince Pitelka on mon 1 sep 08
The standard screws used on almost all electric toploader kilns are #10 by
1/2" hex-washer-head sheet metal screws, which require a 5/16"socket wrench
or nut driver to install. Some kilns use smaller #8 by 1/2" hex-washer-head
screws, which take a 1/4" socket wrench or nut driver. If I am replacing
the smaller size, I always use the larger size. You can buy galvanized #10
by 1/2" hex-washer-head sheet metal screws at any Lowe's or Home Depot and
at most good auto parts stores, but you can order stainless steel ones here:
http://www.buyhardwaresupplies.com/?t=5&itemNumber=5324850
Good luck -
- Vince
Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Craft
Tennessee Tech University
vpitelka@dtccom.net; wpitelka@tntech.edu
http://iweb.tntech.edu/wpitelka
Arnold Howard on tue 2 sep 08
From: "Kathy Stecker"
> How do repair people turn these things on their sides
> without rounding out
> the bottom bricks, they are awkward.
In the factory, the people who install elements tilt the
body of the kiln sideways by approximately 20 degrees on a
special holder, but the kiln is never laid on its side.
The only time I've ever seen a top-loading kiln on its side
is the one that I dropped. Years ago I took instructional
photos of a large 10-sided used kiln. Then I wheeled the
kiln away on a dolly, and a wheel caught on a floor drain.
The entire kiln and dolly fell over and slammed against the
floor. Surprisingly, the kiln showed no signs of damage.
Are you sure you need to replace the bricks? In most cases
it is unnecessary, because brick damage is usually cosmetic.
You may be able to repair the kiln with element staples.
Sincerely,
Arnold Howard
Paragon Industries, L.P., Mesquite, Texas USA
ahoward@paragonweb.com / www.paragonweb.com
Kathy Stecker on sat 6 sep 08
Thanks so much to everyone for helping me with info on the handle and metal
jacket repair on my old Crusader. I've ordered screws and picked up handles
and can most likely set it on an angle to access the bottom brick to cement it
back together or that might not be necessary in the long run. I really
appreciate everyones help.
Kathy Stecker
Winter Springs FL
**************Psssst...Have you heard the news? There's a new fashion blog,
plus the latest fall trends and hair styles at StyleList.com.
(http://www.stylelist.com/trends?ncid=aolsty00050000000014)
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