Kathy Forer on sun 30 oct 11
My L&L K18 econokiln is firing really fast. It ramped up to 250*F in 3 =3D
hours with the lid open three inches, the exhaust fan on and only the =3D
top switch on low. The pyrometer is in the top ring so that needs to be =3D
taken into consideration but it's still quite fast.=3D20
This firing is fine this time so far but I like to candle it at 180* for =
=3D
a few hours or overnight when there's thicker sculpture in there.=3D20
Is this normal behavior for this small kiln? I've only ever had it =3D
jam-packed before with larger work that seemed to fire more slowly. =3D
Could the elements be old or perhaps could a previous accidental =3D
over-firing have damaged the switch?
Kathy Forer
Claypit Creek
William & Susan Schran User on sun 30 oct 11
On 10/30/11 2:59 AM, "Kathy Forer" wrote:
> My L&L K18 econokiln is firing really fast. It ramped up to 250*F in 3 ho=
urs
> with the lid open three inches, the exhaust fan on and only the top switc=
h on
> low. The pyrometer is in the top ring so that needs to be taken into
> consideration but it's still quite fast.
> This firing is fine this time so far but I like to candle it at 180* for =
a few
> hours or overnight when there's thicker sculpture in there.
> Is this normal behavior for this small kiln? I've only ever had it jam-pa=
cked
> before with larger work that seemed to fire more slowly. Could the elemen=
ts be
> old or perhaps could a previous accidental over-firing have damaged the
> switch?
The L&L K series has high/med/low switches and I assume you have two
switches on your kiln. For slower heat up, just turn on the bottom section
to low until you have reached a certain desired temperature, then turn on
top section.
Yes, smaller diameter kilns can fire faster. I used to fire my J18X (3-
9"high sections) to cone 6 in 4 hours. The kiln will fire slower with a
tighter load.
Older elements will cause the kiln to fire slower, not faster.
Bill
--
William "Bill" Schran
wschran@cox.net
wschran@nvcc.edu
http://www.creativecreekartisans.com
Kathy Forer on sun 30 oct 11
On Oct 30, 2011, at 12:06 PM, William & Susan Schran User wrote:
> The L&L K series has high/med/low switches and I assume you have two
> switches on your kiln. For slower heat up, just turn on the bottom =3D
section
> to low until you have reached a certain desired temperature, then turn =
=3D
on
> top section.
Bill, Thank you once again for a timely and helpful answer.
I've restarted the kiln today with the bottom switch instead of top =3D
switch on low, so the pyrometer isn't as locally affected. =3D20
> Yes, smaller diameter kilns can fire faster. I used to fire my J18X =3D
(3-
> 9"high sections) to cone 6 in 4 hours. The kiln will fire slower with =3D
a
> tighter load.
I guess that's the answer to needing to candle it for heavier =3D
objects--fill the kiln more. Otherwise it will just swoop up.=3D20
It's nice to have a kiln that fires this quickly and easily. It's not =3D
such an onerous production, more like roasting a chicken.=3D20
> Older elements will cause the kiln to fire slower, not faster.
I am continually surprised that this used kiln,--rewired by me and a =3D
friend, likely 40 years old, sitting in a damp basement when I got =3D
it,--fires as well as it does. I don't think the previous owner used it =3D
more than a few times.=3D20
Kathy
--
Kathy Forer
Claypit Creek
www.foreverink.com
Snail Scott on sun 30 oct 11
On Oct 30, 2011, at 1:59 AM, Kathy Forer wrote:
> My L&L K18 econokiln is firing really fast. It ramped up to 250*F in 3 =
=3D
hours with the lid open three inches, the exhaust fan on and only the =3D
top switch on low...
This is faster than it heated previously? (Not sure=3D20
if that's what you meant.) If so, that's kinda weird.
Small kilns can heat up really fast, though. To slow=3D20
it down, I'd prop the lid a lot wider, or open entirely.=3D20
The interior will still heat up from radiant heat even=3D20
if a lot of heat is lost to convection. One ring on 'low'=3D20
isn't going to waste that much power, and if you=3D20
don't want it in the kiln, it's gotta go somewhere else.=3D20
-Snail=3D
Kathy Forer on sun 30 oct 11
This was considerably faster than three times previous, but a much =3D
lighter & thinner load. Actually it was up to 220 in only 1 hour, with =3D
one switch on low. I'm used to a 27" kiln filled with big work that =3D
takes forever to heat up--probably needs new elements. This had seemed =3D
runaway but my toaster oven gets to 325* in only a few minutes, so I =3D
need to look at it another way. It's nice that it goes so fast. The =3D
radiant/convection lid-opening suggestion is helpful, thanks, good to =3D
hear it's Snail-approved AOK.=3D20
Kathy
On Oct 30, 2011, at 12:46 PM, Snail Scott wrote:
> On Oct 30, 2011, at 1:59 AM, Kathy Forer wrote:
>> My L&L K18 econokiln is firing really fast. It ramped up to 250*F in =3D
3 hours with the lid open three inches, the exhaust fan on and only the =3D
top switch on low...
>=3D20
>=3D20
>=3D20
> This is faster than it heated previously? (Not sure=3D20
> if that's what you meant.) If so, that's kinda weird.
>=3D20
> Small kilns can heat up really fast, though. To slow=3D20
> it down, I'd prop the lid a lot wider, or open entirely.=3D20
> The interior will still heat up from radiant heat even=3D20
> if a lot of heat is lost to convection. One ring on 'low'=3D20
> isn't going to waste that much power, and if you=3D20
> don't want it in the kiln, it's gotta go somewhere else.=3D20
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