Dana on sat 12 sep 98
I'm in the process of ordering a new electric kiln for the univ. I work at.
I'm considering a kiln with computerized controller but have not had any
experience with them. The thing I am most concerned about is maintenance
and durability of the thing. I know if I have a sitter/timer I can tear it
apart and find out what's wrong, but with a computerized controller I'm
afraid repairs may be costly. If this has been discussed already I
apologize, but I can't seem to find it. Has anyone out there had semi-long
term experience with these things?
Also- I can't seem to find tile 6 clay where I am. Does anyone know a
supplier of this in South Texas or the chemical composition so I can find a
substitute?
Dana Groemminger
The University of Texas-Pan American
Deep South Texas
Dannon Rhudy on sun 13 sep 98
Dana, it's a stretch, but Texas Potter's
Supply in Ft. Worth carries #6 tile clay,
or did last year anyway. Long way to
ship, though. I presume you've already
checked with Armadillo (Austin) and the
one in San Antonio..
Dannon Rhudy
potter@koyote.com
----------
> From: Dana
> To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
> Subject: Kilns with computers & Tile 6
> Date: Saturday, September 12, 1998 1:29 PM
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> I'm in the process of ordering a new electric kiln for the univ. I work
at.
> I'm considering a kiln with computerized controller but have not had any
> experience with them. The thing I am most concerned about is maintenance
> and durability of the thing. I know if I have a sitter/timer I can tear
it
> apart and find out what's wrong, but with a computerized controller I'm
> afraid repairs may be costly. If this has been discussed already I
> apologize, but I can't seem to find it. Has anyone out there had
semi-long
> term experience with these things?
>
> Also- I can't seem to find tile 6 clay where I am. Does anyone know a
> supplier of this in South Texas or the chemical composition so I can find
a
> substitute?
>
>
> Dana Groemminger
> The University of Texas-Pan American
> Deep South Texas
Cindy on sun 13 sep 98
Dana,
I have a Paragon touch and fire, and I do like the computer. They're
vulnerable during thunderstorms, I understand, and I have been told that no
one west of the Mississippi should buy one (after I bought mine, of
course). But I do like the computer and the control it would give me if the
kiln actually did what I told it. It's great for bisque firing,
particularly, and would be wonderful for crystalline glazes if I used them.
I've replaced two relay switches, all the middle elements (they installed
the wrong ones), the thermocouple, the computer, and soon, the shelves
(which warped even though I never fire over ^6 (they're getting different
shelves now and grudgingly agreed to send me a set), and the kiln still
won't hit ^6 in under 15 hours. Only thing electronic I haven't replaced
since January this year is the third relay switch and the transformer. Wish
I could figure out why this kiln doesn't work right.
Cindy Strnad
Earthen Vessels
Custer, SD
USA http://blackhills-info.com/a/cindys/menu.htm
----------
> From: Dana
> To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
> Subject: Kilns with computers & Tile 6
> Date: Saturday, September 12, 1998 7:29 AM
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> I'm in the process of ordering a new electric kiln for the univ. I work
at.
> I'm considering a kiln with computerized controller but have not had any
> experience with them. The thing I am most concerned about is maintenance
> and durability of the thing. I know if I have a sitter/timer I can tear
it
> apart and find out what's wrong, but with a computerized controller I'm
> afraid repairs may be costly. If this has been discussed already I
> apologize, but I can't seem to find it. Has anyone out there had
semi-long
> term experience with these things?
>
> Also- I can't seem to find tile 6 clay where I am. Does anyone know a
> supplier of this in South Texas or the chemical composition so I can find
a
> substitute?
>
>
> Dana Groemminger
> The University of Texas-Pan American
> Deep South Texas
>
Cheryl L Litman on sun 13 sep 98
I ran into a situation with the digital kiln at our camp this summer
where the controller didn't work properly. It cost $320+ to order a new
panel for it. Could have been any number of reasons why it broke, it's
in an unheated barn, it's had birds nesting above it, the people
repairing the roof last fall shoved the kiln around like it was
furniture, we had a lightning strike nearby or maybe there was just a
problem with the board itself. We now have a spare controller just in
case, because when you need it most is when you discover it's broke. For
home I hvae a regular kiln sitter and am planning to purchase a wall
mount controller later this year - more expensive but I'll have a fall
back just in case.
Cheryl Litman
Somerset, NJ
email: cheryllitman@juno.com
On Sat, 12 Sep 1998 09:29:43 EDT Dana writes:
>----------------------------Original
>message----------------------------
>I'm in the process of ordering a new electric kiln for the univ. I
>work at.
> I'm considering a kiln with computerized controller but have not had
>any
>experience with them. The thing I am most concerned about is
>maintenance
>and durability of the thing. I know if I have a sitter/timer I can
>tear it
>apart and find out what's wrong, but with a computerized controller
>I'm
>afraid repairs may be costly. If this has been discussed already I
>apologize, but I can't seem to find it. Has anyone out there had
>semi-long
>term experience with these things?
>
>Also- I can't seem to find tile 6 clay where I am. Does anyone know
>a
>supplier of this in South Texas or the chemical composition so I can
>find a
>substitute?
>
>
>Dana Groemminger
>The University of Texas-Pan American
>Deep South Texas
>
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Barney Adams on sun 13 sep 98
I'm afraid my experience with kilns doesnt lend much to help your decision, but
I worked elctronics for too many years. Electronic components dont tend to fail
much. A mechanical component is much more likely to be a fail point. However
there are two things that will cause an elctronic component failure more
likely.
one is water and the other is heat. Obviously water should'nt be a problem. The
Skutt controller I have recommends not starting the kiln if the outside (the
kiln) air temp
is over 100 F. The controller is insulated from the heat pretty well. Care as
with the
mechanical devices will prolong the life of the components. The elements and
relays
are much more likely to fail. The benefit is a very percise ability to control
the kiln.
Technology is'nt all bad ;-)
Barney
Dana wrote:
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> I'm in the process of ordering a new electric kiln for the univ. I work at.
> I'm considering a kiln with computerized controller but have not had any
> experience with them. The thing I am most concerned about is maintenance
> and durability of the thing. I know if I have a sitter/timer I can tear it
> apart and find out what's wrong, but with a computerized controller I'm
> afraid repairs may be costly. If this has been discussed already I
> apologize, but I can't seem to find it. Has anyone out there had semi-long
> term experience with these things?
>
> Also- I can't seem to find tile 6 clay where I am. Does anyone know a
> supplier of this in South Texas or the chemical composition so I can find a
> substitute?
>
> Dana Groemminger
> The University of Texas-Pan American
> Deep South Texas
>
John Post on mon 14 sep 98
>I know if I have a sitter/timer I can tear it
>apart and find out what's wrong, but with a computerized controller I'm
>afraid repairs may be costly.
When I first got my kiln with a computer controller I got the standard
computer board that controls the firing. Well it turns out that what I
really should have gotten was the deluxe model that allows for multiple
ramps and soaks etc. I thought I wouldn't ever need all of those extra
bells and whistles but it turns out that it does give me a lot more control
over the firings. So I called up the company and bought the upgraded board
(only 200 bucks) and had it installed in less than 10 minutes. Even if the
new computer board on my kiln went totally haywire its nice to know that
it's just another plug in component that could be easily replaced. While
its not as cheap as a kiln sitter, it's way more reliable and does so much
more for me that the cost is easily justified in my book. The other big
plus is that it made the glazes on my pots so much better for so little cash.
Cheers,
John Post
rp1mrvl@moa.net
Sterling Heights, MI USA
Barney Adams on mon 14 sep 98
I dont know if this will help, but I had a problem with my Skutt
not getting to temp after it had worked fine for many firings. It
turned out to be a bad crimp on one of the element connection wires.
I replaced the connector on the terminal block and all worked fine.
You may want to check all your wire connection for burnt areas. A bad
connection at the high current causes a condition called thermal runaway.
The resistance of the bad connection causes heat which causes more resistance
which causes more heat... eventually something gives, but it will deprive
the elements of the current they need to reach temp.
Barney
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Dana,
>
> I have a Paragon touch and fire, and I do like the computer. They're
> vulnerable during thunderstorms, I understand, and I have been told that no
> one west of the Mississippi should buy one (after I bought mine, of
> course). But I do like the computer and the control it would give me if the
> kiln actually did what I told it. It's great for bisque firing,
> particularly, and would be wonderful for crystalline glazes if I used them.
>
> I've replaced two relay switches, all the middle elements (they installed
> the wrong ones), the thermocouple, the computer, and soon, the shelves
> (which warped even though I never fire over ^6 (they're getting different
> shelves now and grudgingly agreed to send me a set), and the kiln still
> won't hit ^6 in under 15 hours. Only thing electronic I haven't replaced
> since January this year is the third relay switch and the transformer. Wish
> I could figure out why this kiln doesn't work right.
>
> Cindy Strnad
> Earthen Vessels
> Custer, SD
> USA http://blackhills-info.com/a/cindys/menu.htm
>
> ----------
> > From: Dana
> > To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
> > Subject: Kilns with computers & Tile 6
> > Date: Saturday, September 12, 1998 7:29 AM
> >
> > ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> > I'm in the process of ordering a new electric kiln for the univ. I work
> at.
> > I'm considering a kiln with computerized controller but have not had any
> > experience with them. The thing I am most concerned about is maintenance
> > and durability of the thing. I know if I have a sitter/timer I can tear
> it
> > apart and find out what's wrong, but with a computerized controller I'm
> > afraid repairs may be costly. If this has been discussed already I
> > apologize, but I can't seem to find it. Has anyone out there had
> semi-long
> > term experience with these things?
> >
> > Also- I can't seem to find tile 6 clay where I am. Does anyone know a
> > supplier of this in South Texas or the chemical composition so I can find
> a
> > substitute?
> >
> >
> > Dana Groemminger
> > The University of Texas-Pan American
> > Deep South Texas
> >
>
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