Jonathan Kirkendall on tue 31 oct 00
Hi Everyone,
I have an old Skutt kiln that was in great shape when I bought it. I used
to fire it to cone 10 but for the past three years have switched to cone 6.
It gets fired about twice a week, one bisque then one glaze firing. I put
new elements on it two years ago, and they are still working well. The lid
however is about to go, and several bricks will need replacing soon. The
bottom line is, it's still useable.
I have the opportunity, though, to buy one of the new electric kilns with
automated controls, and I wonder what the experience is of those of you who
have made the switch. Has is improved your production? Has the quality of
the production improved? Has is made your pottery life easier?
Is it worth replacing an older, yet serviceable kiln, with a new automated
kiln?
Thanks,
Jonathan in DC
where the weather these days is brilliant. Spent last Saturday at the
National Arboretum, enjoying the metasequoias from China, whose needles turn
pink and gold in the fall - amazing.
June Perry on tue 31 oct 00
Dear Jonathan:
I just got a Skutt but it won't get hooked up till tomorrow -- hopefully!
It's the 9.9 cu ft pro, cone 10 model with the digital controller. I've been
out of town for a while and just got back, so it's going to be a while before
I fire it, other than the first empty, bisque temp firing.
If your kiln just need bricks replaced in the lid, why don't you just buy and
install the controller. It will be a lot cheaper than the close to $3000
price tag for a new kiln (depending on size, model, etc. I'm not sure, but I
think the controller is in the $700 range. You might even be able to replace
the lid bricks with the new thick fiberboard that has been discussed here on
Clayart. You can check with Mayor Mel or Kurt. I emailed the company but
never got a reply, so you might want to phone them for information and
prices. I think the fiber board comes in up to 3 and 4" thicknesses.
Regards,
June
winnie coggins on sat 4 nov 00
Jonathan, after 23 years with a manually controlled L&L, I purchased one =
with electronic controls. It allows me to fire over night without =
having to get up and turn switches, and then I'm awake at the end to =
monitor final temp and soak. I work out of the house on weekdays, so =
this allows me to fire during the week. The L&L has pre-programmed =
bisque and glaze firing cycles, or you can program your own. The =
controls also allow for less of a temperature spread between kiln =
sections. I used to place pots needing higher temp in kiln hot spots =
and vice versa, using the one cone or so firing difference to my =
advantage. Now, the whole kiln fires to virtually the same temp. I've =
yet to have a computer malfunction, but it bothers me to think I can't =
revert to manual if the controls fail for some reason. The new kiln has =
no switches. =20
Al Clement on sat 4 nov 00
Been there done that,
I spent almost a year mailing the electronic controls
back and forth to L&L. After all that time with no
success at fixing the controls, I gave up and opted
for manual controls. Now I can at least use the kiln
to bisque in, but still can't use my L&L for glaze
firings. Buyer beware!
Al
--- winnie coggins wrote:
> Jonathan, after 23 years with a manually controlled
> L&L, I purchased one with electronic controls. It
> allows me to fire over night without having to get
> up and turn switches, and then I'm awake at the end
> to monitor final temp and soak. I work out of the
> house on weekdays, so this allows me to fire during
> the week. The L&L has pre-programmed bisque and
> glaze firing cycles, or you can program your own.
> The controls also allow for less of a temperature
> spread between kiln sections. I used to place pots
> needing higher temp in kiln hot spots and vice
> versa, using the one cone or so firing difference to
> my advantage. Now, the whole kiln fires to
> virtually the same temp. I've yet to have a
> computer malfunction, but it bothers me to think I
> can't revert to manual if the controls fail for some
> reason. The new kiln has no switches.
>
>
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