mel jacobson on sat 9 nov 02
in many ways, without being too oversimplified...they
are all the same.
it is a soft brick box, coils running to switches, running
to a main power source.
if you have a ramp/computer...i think most of those are
the same too. probably come from the same source.
coils are about resistance, and matching all the coils
to have the same amount of resistance. there are two
kinds of switches, high, medium and low, and infinite, or
dial switches. and of course, computer directed switches.
when any of the kiln manufacturers design a kiln they
are thinking how big, how much resistance, amps, wiring.
this is not a complex science. wires leading to switches, leading
to coils. in the end, they are very similar.
often the customer does not understand what a kiln is. they
are frightened of it, and do not have a clue how it works. that
is where service is the most important element in the kiln purchasing
experience. most of the kiln manufacturers are doing a damn good
job of making quality products. i peer at them, kick them, check
them out. i can find very little difference in one to the next. service
and attitude can vary a great deal.
it reminds me of a young girl coming to me crying about her
college experience. her roommate was awful, a prof hit on her,
the food was bad, and the guy she met and loves is gay.
not a good report. she hates that college. tells everyone that
it is an awful place. `don't go there, i hate that place`.
her best friend goes there now, has a great boy friend, her roommate
is her best friend and she loves her professors.
sound familiar?
it is about perception.
there is not an electric kiln on the market that i would not
buy, and use for many years. i would take it apart the day
it was delivered. i would spray the entire thing with itc 100.
dip the coils in metal coating itc. then spray the entire kiln,
coils and all with top coat 256a itc. that is what i would do.
i would also buy a new chain saw, take it apart the day i bought
it, and see how it works.
any kiln on the market. i would run copper wire/no 4 to a box
with a breaker near the kiln. 60 amp breaker or bigger. if i fired that
kiln to cone 6 and under, it would last for years and years.
skutt, l & l, paragon, olympic...whatever. they are good kilns.
most are made to a very high standard. often problems can
be traced to bad on sight wiring, low and substandard energy
coming from the power company, aluminum wires, and, unrealistic
standards from the customer. kilns, like light bulbs, they fail on
occasion. either pay to have it fixed, or do it yourself. i learned
by doing, reading, asking questions. and having four of them
in my classroom for 25 years helped me learn fast.
crap on shelves, cracked bricks, chipped brick, dropping coils,
bad pots fired to the shelves....and twenty other things wrong.
but, they fired every day.....turned out pots for happy kids.
it was up to me to keep them going. bought coils by the dozen.
learned to keep connections bright and clean. tight. what the kiln
looked like inside did not matter, what was under that red cover box
was more critical. how the kilnsitter worked and was maintained
was very important...i fussed over that mechanism.
the kilns in japan where large boxes like coffins, made of soft
brick. the coils where like ribbon candy just pinned to the side
of the kiln, as thick as a pencil. fired to cone 10. never saw
one break down. simple as can be.
i have stated on this venue before that i bought a new skutt
181 kiln in 1966. used it for bisque only. never replaced
the coils. hundreds of firings. i just took it apart, itc'd
it, and installed new coils. works like a charm. bisque only.
it will last me the rest of my life. the big L&L that i rebuilt
takes most of my bisque now, and i save the little skutt for
quick, small loads.
like anything made in the world, lemons can be manufactured. when
that happens, and you own it, it is frustrating. that is why
you buy from folks YOU KNOW, people you TRUST. communication
with your vendor is critical. as i keep saying, bargains are often
not bargains, but trouble waiting that you cannot solve. good
vendors are always there for you. in almost all cases i have
found the kiln folks willing to help. often they have to bite
their tongues.
IF YOU ONLY LOOK AT PRICE, OR THE BEST DEAL, YOU MAY
NOT GET SERVICE. SERVICE IS CRITICAL, ALWAYS.
i will be happy to pay a bit more, buy from friends, and
make sure service is available. vendors cannot give major
equipment away without profit. it just does not make sense.
i want profit from my pots, i expect that my vendor will be
treated the same.
mel
From:
Minnetonka, Minnesota, U.S.A.
web site: my.pclink.com/~melpots
or try: http://www.pclink.com/melpots
Russel Fouts on sun 10 nov 02
>> it is a soft brick box, coils running to switches, running
to a main power source. <<
Right! a BIG toaster.
Russel (waiting for a pop-up version ;-)
-----------------------------
--
Russel Fouts
Mes Potes & Mes Pots
Brussels, Belgium
Tel: +32 2 223 02 75
Mobile: +32 476 55 38 75
Mailto:Russel.Fouts@Skynet.Be
Http://www.mypots.com
http://www.Japan-Net.ne.jp/~iwcat
"There is a theory which states that
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it will instantly disappear and be
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