May Luk on mon 25 jan 10
Hello all;
Happy New Year!
I have been having serious issues with my kiln since Nov 09. My 2.5 year ol=
d
Paragon kiln is giving SPORADIC error message TCR / -200 message (the 200 i=
s
centigrade) (Paragon TNF23-3 C/10)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/yamerica/sets/72157623154250083/
This happened after a reputable kiln technician changed the elements, relay=
s &
thermocouple. Since then, the message started. Then the circuit board,
from Orton, was
changed. After a few successful firing, the message came back again. The me=
ssage
came on either glaze or bisque, it has no rhythm or reason that I can obser=
ved.
So, yesterday, new relays were put in and snubber network put in as well fo=
r the
possible relay chatter. The wires were examined and checked carefully. My k=
iln
is still not working.
As I said before, this issue has been going on since Nov 09. I have missed =
my
holiday production, now I am at a loss of what to do. I have invested
considerable amount of time and money on this "hobby". I am just about to r=
ecoup
some cost. This is not a walk in the park, it's back breaking work with so
little monetary return. I usually work 6 long days (3 days day job, and 3 d=
ays
studio) Last year, I gross $9,000 and $1,000 went to the kiln maintenance.
Studio rent is $500 / month. I lost customers by missing the holiday produc=
tion.
I am on the verge on sending refunds to a few. I can't possibly spend anoth=
er
3 grand on another kiln.
I can't use my studio mate's kiln because I fire to cone 8 and theirs' cone=
6.
The last 2 years, I could not put in any money towards retirement.
Anybody who has encounter this set back on your pottery business?
Needless to say, I am contacting Paragon, but I also need to do some seriou=
s
thinking about this business of clay.
Thanks for your input or any advice.
May
--
http://twitter.com/MayLuk
http://www.takemehomeware.com
May Luk on mon 25 jan 10
Hello Mayssan;
Very good point. I can pay myself $20/hour on paper, but if I don't
have any bookings for the goods. I am stuck with the inventory.
Because I am fairly new, I can only charge as a junior designer.
I grew up seeing a lot of sweat shops and its mode of operation, My
way of calculating cost and wages is slightly different. In
manufacturing, I like to cost by pieces. I see how much I want to pay
per piece and 'force' the maker to meet the cost. I am conflicted and
do not know if I am thinking the right way.
Last year, I was still in product development mode; perfecting my
wares and the range of goods, screen out the non-sale-able items. I
also spend a lot of time doing marketing by selling my work retail in
the neighborhood (Indie Markets, Makers Market) I don't have a car and
I don't drive, I decided to do it this way. I could not do wholesales
shows because I do not know my output volume for sure. I did manage to
do 3 shows in SF (while seeing my parents, very hard work selling
cross country, but fun nevertheless) and one show in Philly.
I set a sales goal last year and I almost made it. I am writing
informal business plan and will be setting a higher goal. Will also
think very hard about equipment failure and back up plan. Yes, it's a
part-time job, still under paid. haha!
May
did not forget that the economy was kind of tough most of 2009.
On Mon, Jan 25, 2010 at 5:09 PM, Mayssan Farra wrote:
> Hello May:
>
> I hate to say it but. If you are working 3 days a week on pottery it is n=
=3D
ot a hobby but rather a part time job. and if you are grossing $9000 =3DA0a=
y=3D
ear with all that work then it is a loosing hobby let alone a part time job=
=3D
.
>
> Does the $9000 include the $6000 rent a year you pay? I suggest you need =
=3D
to raise prices, do some marketing and find out what are the pots that peop=
=3D
le are willing to buy for their worth.
>
> My pottery is a glorified hobby but I make sure I am paid $20 an hour who=
=3D
lesale (and I think that should be a minimum) =3DA0otherwise I would forget=
a=3D
bout the selling and just make things for me and my friends.
>
> Mayssan Shora Farra
> http://www.clayvillepottery.com
> http://clayette.blogspot.com
>
Michael Wendt on mon 25 jan 10
May,
I add a manual fire mode to the controllers I build using
the Bartlett board. Essentially, it is an on switch that
lets you fire the kiln on high and use witness cones so that
error messages and power outages do not stand in the way of
your firing.
I think you could do the same since all the computer control
does is turn the relays on and off with a small control
voltage to the coils on the relays.
It would be a great design change to add to all electronic
kilns in conjunction with a kiln sitter-timer unit.
Regards,
Michael Wendt
May wrote:
Hello all;
Happy New Year!
I have been having serious issues with my kiln since Nov 09.
My 2.5 year old
Paragon kiln is giving SPORADIC error message TCR / -200
message (the 200 is
centigrade) (Paragon TNF23-3 C/10)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/yamerica/sets/72157623154250083/
This happened after a reputable kiln technician changed the
elements, relays &
thermocouple. Since then, the message started. Then the
circuit board,
from Orton, was
changed. After a few successful firing, the message came
back again. The message
came on either glaze or bisque, it has no rhythm or reason
that I can observed.
So, yesterday, new relays were put in and snubber network
put in as well for the
possible relay chatter. The wires were examined and checked
carefully. My kiln
is still not working.
Maurice Weitman on mon 25 jan 10
Yow! May!!!
There are many questions that could/should be asked, but... I just
did a quick Google search for
sentry tcr
and found this in the second hit in a PDF file:
TCR / Thermocouple Reversed
Thermocouple lead wires are reversed
You said you had a reputable kiln technician... competence might
trump reputation.
I won't ask why you didn't call Paragon a long time ago, but
sheesh!!! It looks like you've spent a lot of time and money
unnecessarily.
Easy for me to say, but...
Anyhow... I'll try to contact you later... I'm in a bit of a crunch today.
Good luck getting this fixed. This is NOT rocket science or anything
close. There's no reason why you can't get this fixed for hundreds,
not thousands, and your reputable dude, it seems to me, should stand
behind his work and make this right NOW, at no additional cost.
Regards,
Maurice
At 8:34 -0500 on 1/25/10, May Luk wrote:
>Hello all;
>
>Happy New Year!
>
>I have been having serious issues with my kiln since Nov 09. My 2.5 year o=
ld
>Paragon kiln is giving SPORADIC error message TCR / -200 message (the 200 =
is
>centigrade) (Paragon TNF23-3 C/10)
Arnold Howard on mon 25 jan 10
From: "Maurice Weitman"
> Good luck getting this fixed. This is NOT rocket science
> or anything
> close. There's no reason why you can't get this fixed for
> hundreds,
> not thousands,
-------------
I am sorry May is having problems with her Paragon. I phoned
her this morning. I think either the controller is faulty,
or electromagnetic interference from inside the kiln's
switch box is causing the TCR message. A loose ground can
also cause this.
Sincerely,
Arnold Howard
Paragon Industries, L.P., Mesquite, Texas USA
ahoward@paragonweb.com / www.paragonweb.com
May Luk on mon 25 jan 10
Hello Maurice;
The reason I didn't called Paragon in the beginning was because
everything started with the elements changed. (after 2 years of normal
usage) So I let the technician took care of it. He did try his best to
cover all the possiblities.
On my own, I did not have good experience with Paragon tech support. I
have voiced this to Arnold. There is regional speaking pattern that I
mistook as condescension.(or could it be that I am calling from New
York City, sounding irate, flustered and demanding?) On top of that, I
can't call when I'm away from the kiln because I'm at day job Mon-Wed.
And opening the kiln and look at the wirings is just really turn me
off. (But I did open my kiln many times, when push comes to shove)
Arnold has called me personally. We are working together to see this
situation resolved.
I am learning my lesson and am thinking about downtime prevention due
to equipement failure. I am moving half of my production to cone 6 so
that I can borrow kilns easier in the future. I also like Michael's
idea on a manual hybrid, but it sounds complicated for me to do.
May
On Mon, Jan 25, 2010 at 2:52 PM, Maurice Weitman wrote:
> Yow! =3DA0May!!!
>
> There are many questions that could/should be asked, but... I just did a
> quick Google search for
>
> =3DA0 =3DA0 =3DA0sentry =3DA0tcr
>
> and found this in the second hit in a PDF file:
>
> TCR / Thermocouple Reversed
> Thermocouple lead wires are reversed
>
> You said you had a reputable kiln technician... competence might trump
> reputation.
>
> I won't ask why you didn't call Paragon a long time ago, but sheesh!!! =
=3D
=3DA0It
> looks like you've spent a lot of time and money unnecessarily.
>
> Easy for me to say, but...
>
> Anyhow... I'll try to contact you later... I'm in a bit of a crunch today=
=3D
.
>
> Good luck getting this fixed. =3DA0This is NOT rocket science or anything=
c=3D
lose.
> =3DA0There's no reason why you can't get this fixed for hundreds, not tho=
us=3D
ands,
> and your reputable dude, it seems to me, should stand behind his work and
> make this right NOW, at no additional cost.
>
> Regards,
> Maurice
>
>
> At 8:34 -0500 on 1/25/10, May Luk wrote:
>>
>> Hello all;
>>
>> Happy New Year!
>>
>> I have been having serious issues with my kiln since Nov 09. My 2.5 year
>> old
>> Paragon kiln is giving SPORADIC error message TCR / -200 message (the 20=
=3D
0
>> is
>> centigrade) (Paragon TNF23-3 C/10)
>
--=3D20
http://twitter.com/MayLuk
http://www.flickr.com/groups/handmade_mugs/
Mayssan Farra on mon 25 jan 10
Hello May:
I hate to say it but. If you are working 3 days a week on pottery it is not=
a hobby but rather a part time job. and if you are grossing $9000 a year =
with all that work then it is a loosing hobby let alone a part time job.
Does the $9000 include the $6000 rent a year you pay? I suggest you need to=
raise prices, do some marketing and find out what are the pots that people=
are willing to buy for their worth.
My pottery is a glorified hobby but I make sure I am paid $20 an hour whole=
sale (and I think that should be a minimum) otherwise I would forget about=
the selling and just make things for me and my friends.
Mayssan Shora Farra
http://www.clayvillepottery.com
http://clayette.blogspot.com
----- Original Message ----
From May Luk
> This is not a walk in the park, it's back breaking work with so
> little monetary return. I usually work 6 long days (3 days day job, and 3=
days
> studio) Last year, I gross $9,000 and $1,000 went to the kiln maintenance=
.
> Studio rent is $500 / month. I lost customers by missing the holiday prod=
uction.
> I am on the verge on sending refunds to a few. I can't possibly spend ano=
ther
> 3 grand on another kiln.
> I can't use my studio mate's kiln because I fire to cone 8 and theirs' co=
ne 6.
>
> The last 2 years, I could not put in any money towards retirement.
>
> Anybody who has encounter this set back on your pottery business?
> Thanks for your input or any advice.
>
> May
Stephani Stephenson on wed 27 jan 10
May
am sorry to read about your situation. it is tough to absorb setbacks whe=
=3D
n you work so=3D20
hard and have such a slim margin.=3D20
the first couple of years are difficult especially.
as to the experienced technician: I purchased a used clay mixer with the =
=3D
understanding=3D20
the motor worked. It didn't, so i found another 10 HP motor (far more dif=
=3D
ficult to locate=3D20
and more expensive than I imagined) Found one from the only small motor=3D=
20=3D
electrician/shop in the area . Owner tested it said it was good to go. I =
=3D
hauled it back and=3D20
installed it .not only nada, but bad stuff happened when I turned it on. =
=3D
thinking I had=3D20
erred in my installation, i hired another electrician to hook it up...sam=
=3D
e bad stuff=3D20
happened. I still had to pay that electrician of course, for his visit, e=
=3D
ven though he was=3D20
unsuccessful. 3 trips back and forth to the motor shop, 2 cities away. Th=
=3D
e guy insisted=3D20
everything was OK with it . finally , on the third visit I wasn't going t=
=3D
o leave until he re-
tested it, in front of my eyes.. the old guy, experienced yes, he was in =
=3D
his 80s. finally=3D20
realized he had reversed a couple of wires inside the motor, completely c=
=3D
ontrary to what=3D20=3D20
the polarization info on the motor casing stated and what he had claime=
=3D
d...or believed..=3D20
and I had to figure it all out , plus run the damn heavy thing back and f=
=3D
orth. many times=3D20
in my life , I have overestimated the abilities of professionals or those=
=3D
who have=3D20
'experience'. good ones are gold ,of course, but trust your gut and ask q=
=3D
uestions.
One of the most difficult things in business is figuring out how to pric=
=3D
e your wares , how=3D20
to charge for services, and if or how to combine the two. Are you rolling=
=3D
all of your=3D20
work into the price of the item itself? Because many of us work in differ=
=3D
ent ways , it is=3D20
not easy to model your business on someone elses, or even find comparable=
=3D
businesses=3D20
to model from. Even in the tile business it differs so much from company=
=3D
to company,=3D20
artist to artist. one source which was helpful to me was actually=3D20
"The Graphic Artists Guild Handbook of Pricing and Ethical Guidelines "..=
=3D
.
It really helped me to understand how that profession estimates, charges=
=3D
and bills for=3D20
work . Even though I had to adapt and frankly, mutate, some of the concep=
=3D
ts and=3D20
practices, it was a good primer and useful in many ways, especially as de=
=3D
sign, layout etc=3D20
are part of my process.=3D20
You do have to figure out a way to succeed economically, otherwise it is =
=3D
just torture.=3D20
I had a difficult time writing a plan ahead of time, because ,frankly I =
=3D
did not know what=3D20
my market was, who was out there or what they wanted or needed or would b=
=3D
uy. so i=3D20
focused on doing the work. each year i set a goal for my income, starting=
=3D
quite modestly.=3D20
when i worked at a day job I set the goal as , "I will earn 1/3 of my in=
=3D
come from this,=3D20
then 1/2 of my income from it. when I successfully earned half my income=
=3D
for a few=3D20
years i jettisoned the day job. That was 12 years ago. i had a very small=
=3D
income the first=3D20=3D20
. i hired out to sculpt for another tilemaker, and brought in income on s=
=3D
ales and design=3D20
commissions . but by the second year I was on my own , again ,setting hig=
=3D
her goals each=3D20
year, and generally making them.
now I am , in a way, back at the beginning. I need to retool and refocus =
=3D
my work and=3D20
my business. I haven't updated my pricelist, my website or my product li=
=3D
ne as much as I=3D20
should. I need to take an honest look at what I really do, or want to do,=
=3D
versus what I=3D20
started out doing. successes tend to steer the operation in certain direc=
=3D
tions, and I need=3D20
to reassess where I am and make hard decisions about how I spend my time=
=3D
, what size=3D20
my operation should be,etc. Of course the move will do this for me, by co=
=3D
mpletely=3D20
dashing income for an interim. but this is a challenge to grow and learn.=
=3D
=3D20
you are pretty sharp and resourceful. follow your heart and your gut and =
=3D
believe in your=3D20
work. Believe that it is worthwhile , but you will have to be ruthless ab=
=3D
out assessing your=3D20
costs, and return and direction.
My final thought is that keep the love alive..i.e. continue to learn and =
=3D
find ways to grow=3D20
and stay excited about your work.difficult to do in a production sense, b=
=3D
ut it means=3D20
everything.
regards
Stephani Stephenson
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