Julie Milazzo on wed 20 mar 02
Francoise, are you sure you don't live in South
Carolina? It sounds like customer service is about on
par. So, is there any chance you could just ditch the
computer/controller, and drill a few peepholes and
just use witness cones? I've always found controllers
to be more trouble than they're worth, and while doing
it manually means being around the kiln every hour, it
gives you a great excuse to stick around and play with
clay. I don't like or trust computers, and am much
happier firing on my own. Good luck. Do any American
companies ship overseas? Jules
--- "F.Chapman Baudelot" wrote:
> Dear Clayarters,
>
> Some of you may remember that I left Canada last
> October to return to Spain
> where I lived previous to my marriage and
> separation. I had my Pacifica
> wheel and some other potting necessities shipped
> over and finally received
> the crate after 4 months of delays. I cleaned out a
> shed in the patio of
> my son's rented house and installed my new workshop.
> Having left my
> Olympus updraft in Canada, I started looking for a
> new kiln. Electric was
> out of the question: our power in this house is only
> 3.3Kw and the line is
> ancient and primitive. Propane, too, was not
> practical. I would never get
> the necessary permits for having a tank in the patio
> and no doubt the
> neighbours would be scared if I did. The only
> remaining option was to have
> a diesel fuelled kiln, of which there are many, but
> almost all are over one
> cubic metre in size and cost over 12000 Euros (about
> $10600 US) which I did
> not have, and such a kiln would not have been able
> to fit easily in the
> patio. I eventually searched the Internet and came
> up with what appeared
> to be a serious Catalan business,
> http://www.emison.com/222.HTM who made,
> among other things, diesel fired, updraft 'hobby
> kilns'. These are really
> small, the largest one being only 20 litres in
> capacity (about 18" diameter
> and 26" deep). The cost, including VAT and
> shipping and kiln furniture,
> came to 2612 Euros ($2300 US). After a lengthy
> e-mail correspondence with
> Señor Brasó, where he was extremely courteous and
> helpful, giving a
> satisfactory reply to my many queries, I decided to
> order said kiln and
> asked about conditions of payment. I either had to
> pay the total by bank
> transfer or pay COD. However, my son advised me
> that COD for such a large
> sum would entail a considerable amount extra being
> paid by me, so I opted
> for the transfer of funds. I was told that the kiln
> would be shipped
> complete as soon as my money was received. However,
> I made the transfer on
> December 17, 2001 and was informed that the outfit
> would be closing between
> Christmas and 'the day of the Kings', January 6, and
> that the kiln would be
> shipped immediately after this vacation. I waited
> patiently and nothing
> arrived. In mid January I enquired about the delay
> and was told that they
> were waiting for delivery of the kiln shelves which
> would take another
> week. More time passed and I still received
> nothing. I was given every
> excuse you can imagine and the weeks went by.
> Eventually, in mid February,
> a very apologetic Sr. Brasó told me that the kiln
> had not been approved by
> the Inspector in order to get the CE stamp. He said
> that this was the
> first time this had ever happened and was prepared
> to refund my
> money. However, I felt that it was too late to
> start looking for another
> kiln, especially as I had shelves full of test
> pieces waiting to be
> fired. He agreed to make another kiln and have it
> shipped to me on Feb 20.
> My brother and I passed through Barcelona on our way
> back from a funeral in
> France on Feb 19. We went to 'Emison S.L.' , but
> arrived too late only to
> find it closed. The premises were pretty small and
> the office looked a
> real mess, but at least the place existed and I left
> a note for Sr. Brasó
> in the café next door, where he always went for
> breakfast. When we got
> back to Almería, I phoned him and was told that the
> kiln had been shipped
> on Feb 21. I felt so relieved!
>
> The kiln arrived on Feb 25. Three of us managed to
> lift it off the truck
> and 'walk' it into my newly-built kilnshed. Then, I
> realized that the kiln
> furniture was missing as were the 3 peepholes I had
> paid for as an
> extra. Obviously I could not fire my mountain of
> greenware. However, I did
> try to ignite the kiln using the pre-installed
> test programme.. It did
> ignite and the controller seemed to work. However,
> after the initial
> ignition, the controller reverted to the beginning
> of the programme and
> started all over again. I phoned Sr Brasó and was
> told that the controller
> had been programmed for the electric version of my
> kiln and that I should
> try out the pre-installed bisque programme with a
> load of bisque. He said
> that the shelves, etc. had been left in the first
> kiln, the faulty one, and
> that he would send them immediately as well as the
> kiln manual and leaflets
> for the Flaxmer burner. He was most apologetic as
> usual.
>
> Nothing ever arrived and I no longer received any
> emails from Emison.My
> brother, my son and I began phoning Emison on an
> almost daily
> basis. Eventually, last week, we drove to a
> supplier in Murcia 200k away
> and bought 3 shelves for the kiln as well as some
> stoneware clay and
> chemicals. As soon as I got back, I loaded the kiln
> with greenware and the
> following morning at 5.30a.m. I turned on the
> controlller. It was a
> disaster, refusing to carry out more than the first
> step of any programme
> and reverting to the beginning over and over again.
> I spent the next few
> days re-installing parameters (mostly guesswork
> because I have no
> instructions for fuel fired kilns) and all to no
> avail. I eventually
> removed the pots only to find that the two placed in
> the centre of the
> bottom and first shelf had exploded. They had been
> dry for well over a
> month and were just small test bowls which had
> obviously been in the direct
> path of the flame each time it ignited. Meanwhile
> my brother phoned Brasó
> yet again and was told that a replacement controller
> and the shelves were
> being sent by a super fast delivery shipping company
> and would arrive the
> following day. Of course they didn't and upon
> phoning the shipping company
> I was informed that they knew nothing of such a
> shipment. I checked my
> email to find a short message from Brasó confirming
> that he was sending the
> controller etc. Yesterday I phoned Emison and was
> told that Sr Brasó was
> away meeting a client and that they knew nothing
> about any such shipment
> either. I was told to call again next Monday. My
> brother called the
> outfit again this afternoon and spoke to Sr Brasó's
> son who claimed that he
> did not work in the same department of the 'Emison
> Group' and knew little
> or nothing of the whole affair. Apparently he was
> quite rude, more or less
> telling my brother to 'get lost'. Obviously, now
> that they have sent the
> kiln, they feel free to drop the whole affair.
> There is no after sales
> service available despite their claims on the web,
> and the one year
> guarantee includes nothing but the cost of faulty
> parts, the customer
> paying for labour and shipping. This would be okay
> if they really were to
> replace the controller with a new one, but they have
> not sent me anything,
> nor will they give me any detailed instructions
> about anything, including
> the burner and pump, or even how to change or clean
> the filtre (I don't
> even know where it is).
>
> Well, I am at the end of my tether and tomorrow will
> start filing a
> complaint with the Chamber of Commerce and
> Consumers'
> Department. Apparently there is lots of paperwork
> involved and it could
> take many months to settle, if it ever is. In other
> words, I'll never see
> my money back and I am left with a shoddily made
> kiln (the paint has been
> badly sprayed and is full of small pinholes and
> blisters, the lid rim is
>
=== message truncated ===>
> ---
> Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
> Checked by AVG anti-virus system
> (http://www.grisoft.com).
> Version: 6.0.330 / Virus Database: 184 - Release
> Date: 2/28/2002
>
__________________________________________________
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Yahoo! Movies - coverage of the 74th Academy Awards®
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F.Chapman Baudelot on thu 21 mar 02
--=======2B057045=======
Content-Type: text/plain; x-avg-checked=avg-ok-4DB75FA6; charset=iso-8859-1; format=flowed
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Dear Clayarters,
Some of you may remember that I left Canada last October to return to Spain=
=20
where I lived previous to my marriage and separation. I had my Pacifica=20
wheel and some other potting necessities shipped over and finally received=
=20
the crate after 4 months of delays. I cleaned out a shed in the patio of=20
my son's rented house and installed my new workshop. Having left my=20
Olympus updraft in Canada, I started looking for a new kiln. Electric was=
=20
out of the question: our power in this house is only 3.3Kw and the line is=
=20
ancient and primitive. Propane, too, was not practical. I would never get=
=20
the necessary permits for having a tank in the patio and no doubt the=20
neighbours would be scared if I did. The only remaining option was to have=
=20
a diesel fuelled kiln, of which there are many, but almost all are over one=
=20
cubic metre in size and cost over 12000 Euros (about $10600 US) which I did=
=20
not have, and such a kiln would not have been able to fit easily in the=20
patio. I eventually searched the Internet and came up with what appeared=20
to be a serious Catalan business, http://www.emison.com/222.HTM who made,=20
among other things, diesel fired, updraft 'hobby kilns'. These are really=
=20
small, the largest one being only 20 litres in capacity (about 18" diameter=
=20
and 26" deep). The cost, including VAT and shipping and kiln furniture,=20
came to 2612 Euros ($2300 US). After a lengthy e-mail correspondence with=
=20
Se=F1or Bras=F3, where he was extremely courteous and helpful, giving a=20
satisfactory reply to my many queries, I decided to order said kiln and=20
asked about conditions of payment. I either had to pay the total by bank=
=20
transfer or pay COD. However, my son advised me that COD for such a large=
=20
sum would entail a considerable amount extra being paid by me, so I opted=20
for the transfer of funds. I was told that the kiln would be shipped=20
complete as soon as my money was received. However, I made the transfer on=
=20
December 17, 2001 and was informed that the outfit would be closing between=
=20
Christmas and 'the day of the Kings', January 6, and that the kiln would be=
=20
shipped immediately after this vacation. I waited patiently and nothing=20
arrived. In mid January I enquired about the delay and was told that they=
=20
were waiting for delivery of the kiln shelves which would take another=20
week. More time passed and I still received nothing. I was given every=20
excuse you can imagine and the weeks went by. Eventually, in mid February,=
=20
a very apologetic Sr. Bras=F3 told me that the kiln had not been approved by=
=20
the Inspector in order to get the CE stamp. He said that this was the=20
first time this had ever happened and was prepared to refund my=20
money. However, I felt that it was too late to start looking for another=20
kiln, especially as I had shelves full of test pieces waiting to be=20
fired. He agreed to make another kiln and have it shipped to me on Feb 20.=
=20
My brother and I passed through Barcelona on our way back from a funeral in=
=20
France on Feb 19. We went to 'Emison S.L.' , but arrived too late only to=
=20
find it closed. The premises were pretty small and the office looked a=20
real mess, but at least the place existed and I left a note for Sr. Bras=F3=
=20
in the caf=E9 next door, where he always went for breakfast. When we got=20
back to Almer=EDa, I phoned him and was told that the kiln had been shipped=
=20
on Feb 21. I felt so relieved!
The kiln arrived on Feb 25. Three of us managed to lift it off the truck=20
and 'walk' it into my newly-built kilnshed. Then, I realized that the kiln=
=20
furniture was missing as were the 3 peepholes I had paid for as an=20
extra. Obviously I could not fire my mountain of greenware. However, I did=
=20
try to ignite the kiln using the pre-installed test programme.. It did=20
ignite and the controller seemed to work. However, after the initial=20
ignition, the controller reverted to the beginning of the programme and=20
started all over again. I phoned Sr Bras=F3 and was told that the=
controller=20
had been programmed for the electric version of my kiln and that I should=20
try out the pre-installed bisque programme with a load of bisque. He said=
=20
that the shelves, etc. had been left in the first kiln, the faulty one, and=
=20
that he would send them immediately as well as the kiln manual and leaflets=
=20
for the Flaxmer burner. He was most apologetic as usual.
Nothing ever arrived and I no longer received any emails from Emison.My=20
brother, my son and I began phoning Emison on an almost daily=20
basis. Eventually, last week, we drove to a supplier in Murcia 200k away=20
and bought 3 shelves for the kiln as well as some stoneware clay and=20
chemicals. As soon as I got back, I loaded the kiln with greenware and the=
=20
following morning at 5.30a.m. I turned on the controlller. It was a=20
disaster, refusing to carry out more than the first step of any programme=20
and reverting to the beginning over and over again. I spent the next few=20
days re-installing parameters (mostly guesswork because I have no=20
instructions for fuel fired kilns) and all to no avail. I eventually=20
removed the pots only to find that the two placed in the centre of the=20
bottom and first shelf had exploded. They had been dry for well over a=20
month and were just small test bowls which had obviously been in the direct=
=20
path of the flame each time it ignited. Meanwhile my brother phoned Bras=F3=
=20
yet again and was told that a replacement controller and the shelves were=20
being sent by a super fast delivery shipping company and would arrive the=20
following day. Of course they didn't and upon phoning the shipping company=
=20
I was informed that they knew nothing of such a shipment. I checked my=20
email to find a short message from Bras=F3 confirming that he was sending=
the=20
controller etc. Yesterday I phoned Emison and was told that Sr Bras=F3 was=
=20
away meeting a client and that they knew nothing about any such shipment=20
either. I was told to call again next Monday. My brother called the=20
outfit again this afternoon and spoke to Sr Bras=F3's son who claimed that=
he=20
did not work in the same department of the 'Emison Group' and knew little=20
or nothing of the whole affair. Apparently he was quite rude, more or less=
=20
telling my brother to 'get lost'. Obviously, now that they have sent the=20
kiln, they feel free to drop the whole affair. There is no after sales=20
service available despite their claims on the web, and the one year=20
guarantee includes nothing but the cost of faulty parts, the customer=20
paying for labour and shipping. This would be okay if they really were to=
=20
replace the controller with a new one, but they have not sent me anything,=
=20
nor will they give me any detailed instructions about anything, including=20
the burner and pump, or even how to change or clean the filtre (I don't=20
even know where it is).
Well, I am at the end of my tether and tomorrow will start filing a=20
complaint with the Chamber of Commerce and Consumers'=20
Department. Apparently there is lots of paperwork involved and it could=20
take many months to settle, if it ever is. In other words, I'll never see=
=20
my money back and I am left with a shoddily made kiln (the paint has been=20
badly sprayed and is full of small pinholes and blisters, the lid rim is=20
going rusty from condensation produced by the burner on its infrequent=20
outbursts which do not get the temperature above 200C=BA and the fibre=
lining=20
the lid is looking ragged).
Do any of you kind souls have an idea as to what I can do to get that kiln=
=20
working? Should I try to purchase, not a controller, but a simpler device=
=20
that is basically a pt/rh pyrometer and a box which will control each ramp,=
=20
but has to be operated manually in between. I once had one of those on an=
=20
electric kiln and it was quite satisfactory. The trouble is that apart=20
from being fairly costly, I have no idea how to hook it up and Sr Bras=F3=
=20
will certainly not tell me although, he, too, supplies these as an option=20
instead of the controller.
To the Michal in Israel who enquired about my Emison kiln because he has to=
=20
import all his equipment from Europe, PLEASE do not consider buying=20
anything from these people! At least if I can warn other European potters=
=20
about this company, they will not get scammed like me.
You potters across the pond are so lucky with your kiln and wheel suppliers=
=20
in North America. Be grateful.
Sorry that this was so long, but you all have delete keys..
Fran=E7oise, getting desperate in Spain.
http://indalopottery.tripod.com/fenix.html
--=======2B057045=======
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---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.330 / Virus Database: 184 - Release Date: 2/28/2002
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