Andie Carpenter on tue 22 may 01
I have a shimpo cone art kiln 7 cu ft electric , though technically
bought from Bailey Ceramic Supply. I've hassled them enough recently
that I'm afraid to call again now that my kiln is acting up, and am
hoping someone out there can give me some guidance.
My firings have very suddenly (just the last four) become increasingly
long - Waaaayyy longer than they should be, by three to four hours. I
keep really specific firing records, so I am very sure that it went from
one hour longer to three to four, and had not been showing any drastic
(no more than +/- 1/2 hour) change in firing time in the past year and a
half. I suspect either 1) an element going out or 2) a corroded wire in
an element. This is the first kiln I've owned, and the ones at my
University were repaired by staff and not students, so I'm hoping
someone can help me by:
1) telling me if I'm out of my mind with what I suspect is wrong
2) talk me through testing my elements
3) talk me through any other tests I should do
Anyone interested in educating me will be most appreciated, and can feel
free to email me off list -
Thanks!
: ) Andie
andie@andie.net
Arnold Howard on thu 24 may 01
The easiest method to check the elements is to turn the kiln on
until the elements glow. Raise the lid slightly and see which
elements are burned out.
Some kilns use "tuned" elements, which means the elements in the
hotter section of the kiln don't draw as much power as other
elements. It will take longer for cooler elements to glow.
If you suspect a loose element connection, open the switch box. A
loose connection will appear discolored.
Arnold Howard
Paragon
--- Andie Carpenter wrote:
> I have a shimpo cone art kiln 7 cu ft electric , though
> technically
> bought from Bailey Ceramic Supply. I've hassled them enough
> recently
> that I'm afraid to call again now that my kiln is acting up, and
> am
> hoping someone out there can give me some guidance.
>
> My firings have very suddenly (just the last four) become
> increasingly
> long - Waaaayyy longer than they should be, by three to four
> hours. I
> keep really specific firing records, so I am very sure that it
> went from
> one hour longer to three to four, and had not been showing any
> drastic
> (no more than +/- 1/2 hour) change in firing time in the past
> year and a
> half. I suspect either 1) an element going out or 2) a corroded
> wire in
> an element. This is the first kiln I've owned, and the ones at my
> University were repaired by staff and not students, so I'm hoping
> someone can help me by:
>
> 1) telling me if I'm out of my mind with what I suspect is wrong
>
> 2) talk me through testing my elements
>
> 3) talk me through any other tests I should do
>
> Anyone interested in educating me will be most appreciated, and
> can feel
> free to email me off list -
>
> Thanks!
>
> : ) Andie
> andie@andie.net
>
>
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