vince pitelka on wed 23 may 01
> If the Dawson kiln sitter didn't work as designed, the design would have
> been changed or discarded. It's simple. It works.
> Brad Sondahl
I have to side with Brad on this one. If the kiln-sitter is well
maintained, then it is extremely reliable, and any small fraction of risk is
well worth it. Here at the Craft Center we ALWAYS allow the kiln sitter to
shut off the kiln (except in macro-crystalline firings), and we fire
hundreds of electric kiln-loads per year. In the seven years I have been
here we have had one serious melt-down which ruined an old toploader
electric. It was a very old kiln which did not have a timer. If there had
been a timer the serious damage would have been avoided.
Best wishes -
- Vince
Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Crafts
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
Home - vpitelka@dtccom.net
615/597-5376
Work - wpitelka@tntech.edu
615/597-6801 ext. 111, fax 615/597-6803
http://www.craftcenter.tntech.edu/
vince pitelka on sat 26 may 01
> I don't disagree with this. But I think this is a mighty big "if". I
have
> seen an awful lot of kiln sitters that haven't been calibrated or
maintained
> since the day they were bought. Try running an experiment and ask in
> studios you visit if they have a sitter calibration gauge. You will get
> quite a few "Huh? What's that?" responses.
John -
That is true. In my experience, most people think that the calibration gauge
is just a shipping lock, intended to keep the parts from shaking around
during transport. Too many people just do not read the directions, and when
they remove the calibration gauge from the sitter prongs they just throw it
away. So there is a problem with people not keeping the sitter properly
adjusted. But like I said, if the sitter is well maintained it is very
reliable. Another post said that the timer can fail. The chances of both
the sitter and timer failing in one firing are so incredibly remote, and
well worth the risk. The sitter is a wonderful device. But like most
precision mechanical devices, it is worthless unless it is properly
maintained and calibrated.
Best wishes -
- Vince
Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Crafts
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
Home - vpitelka@dtccom.net
615/597-5376
Work - wpitelka@tntech.edu
615/597-6801 ext. 111, fax 615/597-6803
http://www.craftcenter.tntech.edu/
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