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new vs. used kilns

updated fri 10 sep 10

 

Amy Pallas on wed 8 sep 10


I am debating between purchasing a new and a used kiln. What are people'=
=3D
s
experience with used kilns?

William & Susan Schran User on thu 9 sep 10


On 9/8/10 6:31 PM, "Amy Pallas" wrote:

> I am debating between purchasing a new and a used kiln. What are people'=
s
> experience with used kilns?

Much depends on the condition of the kiln.

I have had several well used kilns donated to our school clay program and
fired them for many years.

Bill
--
William "Bill" Schran
wschran@cox.net
wschran@nvcc.edu
http://www.creativecreekartisans.com

Arnold Howard on thu 9 sep 10


From: "Amy Pallas"
I am debating between purchasing a new and a used kiln.
What are people's
experience with used kilns?
-----------
New kilns have the latest technology and include many
refinements that you may not be aware of. You can order a
new kiln with options such as a lid safety switch, mercury
relay, or S-type thermocouple. The newest kilns are time
savers.

Nevertheless, you can find wonderful used kilns. Just this
Tuesday someone in the crating department showed me a used
Paragon that had been brought in for repair. The owner had
purchased it at a garage or estate sale.

The firebricks looked new. The brick grooves, lid, and
bottom were in perfect condition. Yet the kiln, a Paragon
A-82B, was 30 years old. I could tell the age, give or take
a few years, by the color of the switch knobs and the coat
of glossy gray paint on the outside of the firebrick lid.

I asked Hoovie, a kiln inspector, what his job was when that
kiln was made. "I wired switch boxes," he answered. "That
kiln might have your switch box," I said. He smiled in
agreement.

Pancho was walking by when I showed him the kiln. He told me
he installed elements 30 years ago, and I said, "That kiln
may have your elements."

All the parts are still available for that kiln. The
original 4-way rotary switch is no longer made, but we sell
a replacement switch made in Spain. So, you can still get
parts for used kilns including parts for the Kiln Sitter.

Sincerely,

Arnold Howard
Paragon Industries, L.P., Mesquite, Texas USA
ahoward@paragonweb.com / www.paragonweb.com

Pottery by John on thu 9 sep 10


Amy,

I have two previously owned kilns in use, one a Knight and the other an
Olympic, and both have performed admirably. If you are new to using a kiln=
,
you have to get used to the idea of a little damage to side bricks and
cracks in the top and bottom, but if the damage is not extensive it doesn't
affect the firing. You also have no idea how long the elements will last.

John Lowes
Sandy Springs, Georgia
http://wynhillpottery.weebly.com/

Kathleen Hamlet on thu 9 sep 10


Amy,
I buy used whenever I can as long as the bricks are in good condition. Ever=
ything else is easy to fix with a little "how to"manual or video.
While they don't have that "new car" aura, the difference between $2000 and=
$200 is worth it. Esp if they come with shelves, stilts and cones.
Kathleen
------Original Message------
From: Amy Pallas
Sender: Clayart
To: Clayart@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
ReplyTo: Amy Pallas
Subject: New vs. Used Kilns
Sent: Sep 8, 2010 5:31 PM

I am debating between purchasing a new and a used kiln. What are people's
experience with used kilns?


Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Elisabeth Maurland on thu 9 sep 10


I have a 40 year old kiln (Skutt 1027) that I have changed EVERYTHING
on, including bricks. I have been able to do it all by myself because
parts come with easy-to-understand manuals. I wouldn't recommend
getting a kiln that old !(I got it for free), but it serviced me well
as my only kiln for several years.

It's now my back-up, as I got a brand new kiln abput 10 years ago. I
have changed a lot of stuff on that one too (elements, relays,
thermocouple), and I would get a used one next time, as long as parts
are still available.

Elisabeth
On Sep 9, 2010, at 12:19 AM, Kathleen Hamlet wrote:

> Amy,
> I buy used whenever I can as long as the bricks are in good
> condition. Everything else is easy to fix with a little "how
> to"manual or video.
> While they don't have that "new car" aura, the difference between
> $2000 and $200 is worth it. Esp if they come with shelves, stilts
> and cones.
> Kathleen
> ------Original Message------
> From: Amy Pallas
> Sender: Clayart
> To: Clayart@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
> ReplyTo: Amy Pallas
> Subject: New vs. Used Kilns
> Sent: Sep 8, 2010 5:31 PM
>
> I am debating between purchasing a new and a used kiln. What are
> people's
> experience with used kilns?
>
>
> Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile