marie elaine on tue 9 jun 98
Any suggestions/recommendations on making a decision purchasing a pyrometer
for an electric kiln?
I have called four distributors in the area, and each have different
features to consider. The gauge seems to be pretty standard. The
thermocouple is, however, available in lengths of 6", 8" and 12". A
protective casting for the thermocouple is another option.
What's curious is a design feature by (I think) Skutt. The thermocouple's
tip is bent at a 90 degree angle, whereas the others are a straight tube.
Do you see an advantage to this?
Preparing for the soaking process. Marie Elaine
Karen Gringhuis on wed 10 jun 98
Marie Elaine - I use a DIGITAL pyrom. Fluke brand w/ a 12" probe
thrermocouple. Page 121 in the Bailey catalog. Because the tip
of the thermocouple corrodes & can drop flakes onto a pot, I
bought the protective tube but cut off the closed end & use only
that on the probe - just like a condom. I cut it because I did
not want to enlarge the hole in my kiln wall to accomodate the
protective tube.
Length of probe - doesn't matter. It intrudes into the kiln as far
as you want & the remainder can hang out on the outside as far
as you want. I put mine about 3-4" into the kiln.
Two notes - IMHO ONLY consider a DIGITAL. Forget anything
alse. Also you will be using it to tell you only the
APPROXIMATE temp. & whether the temp is climbing & ow
or falling and how fast. A pyrom. does NOT replace cones
but it you keep a decent log & build a history, IMHO
one could actually fire w/ the pyrom. only but only if all hell
broke lose & all cones were lost. I would NOT NOT
recommend doing this.
Finally, even though I bought a two probe model, I use only
one probe stuck in the middle. I still use cones to judge
if all levels are even in temp. Having always used a
pryom. I LOVE it & wouldn't dream of firing w/out one.
It give the wonderful illusion that I'm in control!
Good luck. Karen Gringhuis
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