vince pitelka on mon 27 mar 00
> > Just a data point-- I had trouble with one of the contact surfaces on
one
> > old kilnsitter-- one of the element circuits failed in midfiring, and
since
> > the elements were almost new, I looked elsewhere. When I took the
> > kilnsitter apart, one of the contact leaves was so badly pitted from
arcing
> > that it was no longer working. I sanded down both sides of the contact,
> > and it started working again, but eventually I'll have to replace the
> > contact, which is not very expensive.
Ray -
I have done the same in a pinch, but the original contacts in the Dawson
Kiln Sitter (and in most high-quality electrical switching devices) are
coated with gold or platinum. As you know, these metals do not corrode, and
they make the contacts last very long. When the coating does finally
corrode through, they are done for and should be replaced, especially
considering the trouble involved in dismantling the porcelain switchhousing
inside the Kiln Sitter. My point is just that sanding the contacts should
only be viewed as a very short-term fix.
Best wishes -
- Vince
Vince Pitelka
Home - vpitelka@dekalb.net
615/597-5376
Work - wpitelka@tntech.edu
615/597-6801 ext. 111, fax 615/597-6803
Appalachian Center for Crafts
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
http://www.craftcenter.tntech.edu/
Ray Aldridge on tue 28 mar 00
At 02:46 PM 3/27/00 EST, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>> > Just a data point-- I had trouble with one of the contact surfaces on
>one
>> > old kilnsitter-- one of the element circuits failed in midfiring, and
>since
>> > the elements were almost new, I looked elsewhere. When I took the
>> > kilnsitter apart, one of the contact leaves was so badly pitted from
>arcing
>> > that it was no longer working. I sanded down both sides of the contact,
>> > and it started working again, but eventually I'll have to replace the
>> > contact, which is not very expensive.
>
>Ray -
>I have done the same in a pinch, but the original contacts in the Dawson
>Kiln Sitter (and in most high-quality electrical switching devices) are
>coated with gold or platinum. As you know, these metals do not corrode, and
>they make the contacts last very long. When the coating does finally
>corrode through, they are done for and should be replaced, especially
>considering the trouble involved in dismantling the porcelain switchhousing
>inside the Kiln Sitter. My point is just that sanding the contacts should
>only be viewed as a very short-term fix.
Good points. The kiln I was talking about was manufactured at least 25
years ago, and perhaps the contact leaves were not yet plated with
non-corrosive metal-- only one side was badly pitted, but the other side
didn't appear to be plated. I haven't had any similar trouble with my
newer kilns, so they're probably different (and better.)
Ray
Aldridge Porcelain and Stoneware
http://www.goodpots.com
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