Vu Anh Le on sun 28 mar 99
Dear All,
I am relatively new to the list-serve, so I do not know whether what I will
be asking had already been asked by someone else. If this is the case,
please tell me how I may access that information. In any event, here is my
question. I would like to purchase a new electric kiln for bisque firings,
but being the novice I am, I do not know which of the myriad brands
available is better than the others, and in what ways (e.g., cost, safety,
performance, maneuverability, durability, functionality...) I also would
love to hear from everyone who have pleasant (or horrible) experience with
their kiln (no matter the brand).
Thank you very much in advance for your suggestions, opinions, and advices.
Sincere,
Lynn
C.Harris on mon 29 mar 99
Lynn,
I have a Cone-Art Kiln and have had absolutely no problem with it. I have
replaced the elements in it twice in 7 years and it still runs like new. I
plan on buying a new (larger) one soon, and it will also be a Cone Art.
Our Guild has 3 Cone Art Kilns and with 75 members, they are in constant
use. A variety of people fire them; one of them has the Orton Auto Fire,
and we have never experienced any problems.
I don't know where you are from, but you can get them through your local
Shimpo dealer or through Tucker's in RIchmond Hill, Ontario
(1-800-304-6185).
Good luck to you!
C. Harris
Aurora, Ontario
c.harris@aci.on.ca
----------
> From: Vu Anh Le
> To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
> Subject: Buying the right kiln
> Date: Sunday, March 28, 1999 1:13 PM
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>
>
> Dear All,
>
> I am relatively new to the list-serve, so I do not know whether what I
will
> be asking had already been asked by someone else. If this is the case,
> please tell me how I may access that information. In any event, here is
my
> question. I would like to purchase a new electric kiln for bisque
firings,
> but being the novice I am, I do not know which of the myriad brands
> available is better than the others, and in what ways (e.g., cost,
safety,
> performance, maneuverability, durability, functionality...) I also
would
> love to hear from everyone who have pleasant (or horrible) experience
with
> their kiln (no matter the brand).
>
> Thank you very much in advance for your suggestions, opinions, and
advices.
>
> Sincere,
> Lynn
Don & Isao Morrill on mon 29 mar 99
At 13:13 3/28/99 EST, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>
>
>Dear All,
>
>I am relatively new to the list-serve, so I do not know whether what I will
>be asking had already been asked by someone else. If this is the case,
>please tell me how I may access that information. In any event, here is my
>question. I would like to purchase a new electric kiln for bisque firings,
>but being the novice I am, I do not know which of the myriad brands
>available is better than the others, and in what ways (e.g., cost, safety,
>performance, maneuverability, durability, functionality...) I also would
>love to hear from everyone who have pleasant (or horrible) experience with
>their kiln (no matter the brand).
>
>Thank you very much in advance for your suggestions, opinions, and advices.
>
>Sincere,
>Lynn
> We have owned several kilns:Skutt,Olympic,Newton
Potters,Estrin,etc.,and have found all to be satisfactory. What may be of
greater importance is thew "Kiln-sitter." We have had no difficulty with
these except for periodic,(normal) adjustment. Perhaps of greatest
importance is access to service and closeness of the mfg. to avoid large
shipping charges. If you are only requiring 'bisque',there is little need
to purchase a kiln capable of cone 10 although the differance in price may
make the higher firing kiln an advantage.
Isao & Don
L&L Kiln Mfg on tue 30 mar 99
At 09:00 AM 3/29/99 EST, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Lynn,
>I have a Cone-Art Kiln and have had absolutely no problem with it. I have
>replaced the elements in it twice in 7 years and it still runs like new. I
>plan on buying a new (larger) one soon, and it will also be a Cone Art.
>Our Guild has 3 Cone Art Kilns and with 75 members, they are in constant
>use. A variety of people fire them; one of them has the Orton Auto Fire,
>and we have never experienced any problems.
>I don't know where you are from, but you can get them through your local
>Shimpo dealer or through Tucker's in RIchmond Hill, Ontario
>(1-800-304-6185).
>Good luck to you!
>C. Harris
>Aurora, Ontario
>c.harris@aci.on.ca
>
>
>----------
>> From: Vu Anh Le
>> To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
>> Subject: Buying the right kiln
>> Date: Sunday, March 28, 1999 1:13 PM
>>
>> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>>
>>
>> Dear All,
>>
>> I am relatively new to the list-serve, so I do not know whether what I
>will
>> be asking had already been asked by someone else. If this is the case,
>> please tell me how I may access that information. In any event, here is
>my
>> question. I would like to purchase a new electric kiln for bisque
>firings,
>> but being the novice I am, I do not know which of the myriad brands
>> available is better than the others, and in what ways (e.g., cost,
>safety,
>> performance, maneuverability, durability, functionality...) I also
>would
>> love to hear from everyone who have pleasant (or horrible) experience
>with
>> their kiln (no matter the brand).
>>
>> Thank you very much in advance for your suggestions, opinions, and
>advices.
>>
>> Sincere,
>> Lynn
>
Dear Lynn:
I realize that I am very prejudiced with regards to your question and
perhaps it is inappropriate for me to comment; however, I will offer my
opinion for what it is worth. At the top of the kiln market (for top
loading electric kilns) there are three important brands that you will want
to investigate: Skutt, L&L and Cone Art(Shimpo). We each have our
particular strengths and I won't do an advetisement here. I would simply
suggest that you get literature from us (L&L) and these other two fine
competitors. My main point is that you do get what you pay for in the kiln
market and it is worth it to buy one of the top brands. You will be
rewarded with longer kiln life. Also check out the information on our web
site (www.hotkilns.com) on "How to Buy and Electric Kiln".
Stephen Lewicki
President
L&L Kiln Mfg Inc.
6B Mt. Pleasant Drive
Aston, PA 19014
Phone: (610) 558-3899
Fax: (610) 558-3698
Email: steve@hotkilns.com
Herb Moses on tue 30 mar 99
I just purchased another electric kiln, and bought another Skutt. I have
found them to be excellent electric kilns. They are easy to handle because
they come in sections, have good lids and decent hinges, and are durable.
Skutt has always been just a phone call away for information and service.
It has always been good. In contrast, I owned a Bailey (Cone Art, I
believe). It cost more. It had thicker brick and an element in the
bottom. It did not come in sections, making it very unwieldy to move (and
fit thru door). The hinge was cheap and attached with little sheet metal
screws and pulled out after two years. The lid cracked after about four
uses. Two switches broke immediately. Bailey replaced them free, but I
still had to shell out the money to have someone put them in. When I
moved, I sold the Skutt and junked the Bailey.
email me if you want more.
Herb
http://www.usapottery.com
Palm Springs Pottery
(opening soon)
----------
> From: Vu Anh Le
> To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
> Subject: Buying the right kiln
> Date: Sunday, March 28, 1999 10:13 AM
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>
>
> Dear All,
>
> I am relatively new to the list-serve, so I do not know whether what I
will
> be asking had already been asked by someone else. If this is the case,
> please tell me how I may access that information. In any event, here is
my
> question. I would like to purchase a new electric kiln for bisque
firings,
> but being the novice I am, I do not know which of the myriad brands
> available is better than the others, and in what ways (e.g., cost,
safety,
> performance, maneuverability, durability, functionality...) I also
would
> love to hear from everyone who have pleasant (or horrible) experience
with
> their kiln (no matter the brand).
>
> Thank you very much in advance for your suggestions, opinions, and
advices.
>
> Sincere,
> Lynn
Molly Saunders on wed 31 mar 99
I have an L&L and an Olympic. There is no comparision. The Olympic is always
blowing wires and switches, the bricks are a mess. In my opinion it's under-
engineered.
The L&L is just excellent, reliable, a real workhorse. Goes for years with no
maintenence. The L&L has porcelain elements holders ( patented, so no other
kiln has them). These make a big difference because they protect the brick
from crumbling, and they make it MUCH easier to change the elements.
Good luck and happy firing,
Molly Saunders
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