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new elements, glaze additives

updated wed 13 feb 02

 

Von Allen on tue 12 feb 02


I recently replaced an entire bank of elements in the Da Vinci kiln and =
within a couple of firings I noticed a black corrosion around the new =
elements, but not around the old elements. When I investigated by =
lifting out the new elements there was black dust and crud...collected =
under them. It was very strange as there was none of this around the old =
elements that I had not replaced.
I am wondering if new elements are more vulnerable to impurities in the =
kiln and also.. since I have a student who is working with silicon =
carbide in a lot of her glazes.. does this cause a kind of reduced =
atmosphere that is rougher on the elements? Are there additives to =
glazes that are worse on electric kilns ..
Thanks so much
vonallen1@attbi.com

Arnold Howard on tue 12 feb 02


It's possible that the new element connections were not tight
enough. A loose element connection will burn out fairly soon.

Loose connections are one of the biggest causes of electrical
problems. I have seen holes blown into kiln switch boxes due to
loose connections.

Arnold Howard
Paragon Industries, Inc.

--- Von Allen wrote:
> I recently replaced an entire bank of elements in the Da Vinci
> kiln and within a couple of firings I noticed a black corrosion
> around the new elements, but not around the old elements. When I
> investigated by lifting out the new elements there was black dust
> and crud...collected under them. It was very strange as there was
> none of this around the old elements that I had not replaced.
> I am wondering if new elements are more vulnerable to impurities
> in the kiln and also.. since I have a student who is working with
> silicon carbide in a lot of her glazes.. does this cause a kind
> of reduced atmosphere that is rougher on the elements? Are there
> additives to glazes that are worse on electric kilns ..
> Thanks so much
> vonallen1@attbi.com
>
>
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