gracie on sun 10 jan 99
Hi, all... got a favor.. would love to hear any opinions on buying a kiln
with the computer built in or would it be smarter to get the computer and
hang it on the wall, therefore enabling it to be used on any other kiln..
is it easily interchangeable?? I have poured enough money into repairing
my old paragon 99b and now have the opportunity to upgrade to a nice big
one.. I have always gone to a kiln size about 23x27.. but now i really want
to have room to work...I've owned an L and L, a Paragon, and smaller
Duncans.. I hear everyone talking about how they love a Skutt...Does anyone
have a Paragon TNF28 model?? I'm also investing in a slab roller, and one
more pottery wheel.. Any one have ideas for those as well? I had a really
big Bailey roller,, much to big for me now.. How is Northstar??? Thanks so
much for any info.... regards, gracie
Robert Santerre on tue 12 jan 99
Hello Gracie,
I have a wall mounted Paragon Touch-n-Fire controller (DTC600). It has worked
well for me for the past 3 years (I fire a Duncan kiln to ^ 06 and ^6 on a
pretty light - part-time - schedule, maybe twice per month on average). The
experts are unanimous in recommending that you hard wire the controller to your
kiln instead of attaching via a plug and receptacle mode. I agree with that
advice, but in my particular case it has been more convenient to use the
plug/receptacle mode (which does allow for firing multiple kilns - one at a
time - with the single controller just by switching to the plug for the kiln
your firing today). The down side is that there IS some energy loss (and heat
generation) through the plug (you can feel it get fairly warm to the touch)
and in the extreme there's the potential that the plug could actually melt down
and/or catch fire . I've kept a close eye on the plug/receptacle connection
and replaced it once when I observed some wear that looked like it might have
resulted from electrical arcing.
So I'm still operating against recommendations - taking some precautions, but
things have gone well for +3 years.
I've worked with kilns where the controller was attached to the kiln and
frankly I think the heat these controllers experience has got to shorten their
life (no data, just a gut feeling).
Northstar slab roller Have one of these too - and I've worked with the large
Bailey roller (or maybe it was a Brent) as well. While the Ns works OK I have
two complaints about it: 1.) The crank or wagon wheel-type drive mechanism is
a bit flimsy (plastic set-screw), replaced it with a hardened steel set screw -
much better. 2.) BIG COMPLAINT The height adjustments for the rollers
operate independently, so you have to be careful to turn each one exactly the
same and sometimes if you think you've not done this, you have to stop and
carefully measure the height of the rollers to get them back evenly spaced on
both sides. Other than that it's been a good slab roller for a small studio.
I don't think it would work well for heavy use in a multiple user studio.
The old Bailey (or Brent) I used had the fiberboard inserts for adjusting slab
thickness - not very convenient. Bailey has a newer model with a SINGLE crank
adjustment that changes slab thickness. When I get around to buying a new one
that's what I think I'd like to have. There's no question the Bailey is a real
workhorse ( but does require some maintenance to keep in top operating
condition).
Have 2 Brent CXC wheels - love 'em - maintenance free so far (4 years).
Good luck, Bob
rfsanterre@iquest.net
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
gracie wrote:
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Hi, all... got a favor.. would love to hear any opinions on buying a kiln
> with the computer built in or would it be smarter to get the computer and
> hang it on the wall, therefore enabling it to be used on any other kiln..
> is it easily interchangeable?? I have poured enough money into repairing
> my old paragon 99b and now have the opportunity to upgrade to a nice big
> one.. I have always gone to a kiln size about 23x27.. but now i really want
> to have room to work...I've owned an L and L, a Paragon, and smaller
> Duncans.. I hear everyone talking about how they love a Skutt...Does anyone
> have a Paragon TNF28 model?? I'm also investing in a slab roller, and one
> more pottery wheel.. Any one have ideas for those as well? I had a really
> big Bailey roller,, much to big for me now.. How is Northstar??? Thanks so
> much for any info.... regards, gracie
Caryl W. on tue 12 jan 99
Gracie...I have the wall mount Kilnmaster and it works great for me.I
run a KS 1018 and a KS 1027 off of it. The only problem that might
present itself in the future is that I plug/unplug the kilns and I've
been told that's not a really good idea.I'm sure there's another way to
wire it to avoid that(hardwired into a switching system), but when I did
it, my electrician didn't seem to think it was a major problem.I'm
thinking of getting a small kiln as a test kiln, and by having it as a
wallmount unit, I can run it off of it as well.I have seperate leads to
each kiln for the pyrometer and these too are alternated as to which
kiln is in use. As far as the Skutt, I've run into a few problems along
the way, and I know they're not the best quality kiln, as far as wiring,
brick design,inter-box connectors,servicing( where I live anyways) but
at the time and for the money that was available,they've been okay. I
guess the adage holds true - you get what you pay for.I know there are
other more heavy duty kilns available, and if its big time production
that you're into, then that would be the route to go. If, like me its
more of a hobby/interest turned part-time gee I can make some money at
this and love what I'm doing sort of thing then maybe the extra expense
is not warranted.Hope this helps.
Caryl
>Date: Sun, 10 Jan 1999 08:08:11 EST
>Reply-To: gracie@mci2000.com
>From: gracie
>Subject: COMPUTER OR WALLMOUNT??
>To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
>
>----------------------------Original
message----------------------------
>Hi, all... got a favor.. would love to hear any opinions on buying a
kiln
>with the computer built in or would it be smarter to get the computer
and
>hang it on the wall, therefore enabling it to be used on any other
kiln..
>is it easily interchangeable?? I have poured enough money into
repairing
>my old paragon 99b and now have the opportunity to upgrade to a nice
big
>one.. I have always gone to a kiln size about 23x27.. but now i really
want
>to have room to work...I've owned an L and L, a Paragon, and smaller
>Duncans.. I hear everyone talking about how they love a Skutt...Does
anyone
>have a Paragon TNF28 model?? I'm also investing in a slab roller, and
one
>more pottery wheel.. Any one have ideas for those as well? I had a
really
>big Bailey roller,, much to big for me now.. How is Northstar???
Thanks so
>much for any info.... regards, gracie
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Olivia T Cavy on fri 15 jan 99
Bob,
If I'm reading your post correctly, about multiple kilns using one
controller by switching the wall plug, I'd mention to you that there is
an electrical box (which my electrician installed) that is essentially a
small circuit breaker box. I only have one kiln for the wall mounted
controller now, but plan to add the second kiln, and we installed a
circuit breaker box that takes 2 receptacles (each at 240 volts). The box
connects to the controller, and the kilns plug into the box. You can flip
the circuit breaker on or off for each receptacle separately. I can only
run one kiln at a time in my studio, and the box will help me remember to
turn one off when I flip the breaker to turn the other one on. That extra
circuit breaker box might also provide additional protection. BTW in
addition to this little kiln breaker box, there is a big circuit breaker
box for the whole studio.
Bonnie
Bonnie D. Hellman
Pittsburgh, PA
work email: bdh@firstcaptl.com or oliviatcavy@juno.com
home email: mou10man@sgi.net
On Tue, 12 Jan 1999 09:50:38 EST Robert Santerre
writes:
>----------------------------Original
>message----------------------------
>Hello Gracie,
>
>I have a wall mounted Paragon Touch-n-Fire controller (DTC600). It
>has worked
>well for me for the past 3 years (I fire a Duncan kiln to ^ 06 and ^6
>on a
>pretty light - part-time - schedule, maybe twice per month on
>average). The
>experts are unanimous in recommending that you hard wire the
>controller to your
>kiln instead of attaching via a plug and receptacle mode. I agree
>with that
>advice, but in my particular case it has been more convenient to use
>the
>plug/receptacle mode (which does allow for firing multiple kilns - one
>at a
>time - with the single controller just by switching to the plug for
>the kiln
>your firing today). The down side is that there IS some energy loss
>(and heat
>generation) through the plug (you can feel it get fairly warm to the
>touch)
>and in the extreme there's the potential that the plug could actually
>melt down
>and/or catch fire . I've kept a close eye on the plug/receptacle
>connection
>and replaced it once when I observed some wear that looked like it
>might have
>resulted from electrical arcing.
>
>So I'm still operating against recommendations - taking some
>precautions, but
>things have gone well for +3 years.
>
>I've worked with kilns where the controller was attached to the kiln
>and
>frankly I think the heat these controllers experience has got to
>shorten their
>life (no data, just a gut feeling).
>
>Northstar slab roller Have one of these too - and I've worked with
>the large
>Bailey roller (or maybe it was a Brent) as well. While the Ns works
>OK I have
>two complaints about it: 1.) The crank or wagon wheel-type drive
>mechanism is
>a bit flimsy (plastic set-screw), replaced it with a hardened steel
>set screw -
>much better. 2.) BIG COMPLAINT The height adjustments for the
>rollers
>operate independently, so you have to be careful to turn each one
>exactly the
>same and sometimes if you think you've not done this, you have to stop
>and
>carefully measure the height of the rollers to get them back evenly
>spaced on
>both sides. Other than that it's been a good slab roller for a small
>studio.
>I don't think it would work well for heavy use in a multiple user
>studio.
>
>The old Bailey (or Brent) I used had the fiberboard inserts for
>adjusting slab
>thickness - not very convenient. Bailey has a newer model with a
>SINGLE crank
>adjustment that changes slab thickness. When I get around to buying a
>new one
>that's what I think I'd like to have. There's no question the Bailey
>is a real
>workhorse ( but does require some maintenance to keep in top operating
>condition).
>
>Have 2 Brent CXC wheels - love 'em - maintenance free so far (4
>years).
>
>Good luck, Bob
>rfsanterre@iquest.net
>
>///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
>
>gracie wrote:
>
>> ----------------------------Original
>message----------------------------
>> Hi, all... got a favor.. would love to hear any opinions on buying a
>kiln
>> with the computer built in or would it be smarter to get the
>computer and
>> hang it on the wall, therefore enabling it to be used on any other
>kiln..
>> is it easily interchangeable?? I have poured enough money into
>repairing
>> my old paragon 99b and now have the opportunity to upgrade to a nice
>big
>> one.. I have always gone to a kiln size about 23x27.. but now i
>really want
>> to have room to work...I've owned an L and L, a Paragon, and smaller
>> Duncans.. I hear everyone talking about how they love a Skutt...Does
>anyone
>> have a Paragon TNF28 model?? I'm also investing in a slab roller,
>and one
>> more pottery wheel.. Any one have ideas for those as well? I had a
>really
>> big Bailey roller,, much to big for me now.. How is Northstar???
>Thanks so
>> much for any info.... regards, gracie
>
--------- End forwarded message ----------
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