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electric kiln setup query

updated tue 20 may 03

 

Cindi Anderson on sat 17 may 03


I bought a big dolly at the hardware store and sat the kiln stand and vent
on top of it. It was about $80 I think. It has nice big casters, and the
nice thing is it has a big metal handle across one side to grab onto and
move it. You don't really want to be pushing on the kiln itself so that is
nice.

Cindi

Linda Knapp on sat 17 may 03


Something good has come out of something bad!
My Sister is being forced to quit or relocate at her high tech company.
She is trying the relocate option and in the process has decided to
lighten her load.
The upside is that she is giving me her kiln! It is a Skutt Model
KM-1018. A ^10 electric about 5cu ft. All I have to do is drive down to
Oregon and help her clean house and get the kiln.

I have a shed which is not finished inside (guess I better get to work)
We wired it with a 50 amp circuit just in case we decided to use a kiln
in it so after installing the correct outlet we will be set
electrically. I am a little worried about heat under the kiln though.
Shed floor is plywood on joists on concrete piers over the ground. I was
thinking maybe I should put a half a sheet of concrete backer board down
under it. Also have any of you managed to put these on rollers? The shed
is small and it would be nice to shove it against the wall when not
firing. If you have any other tricks or tips you can send me please do -
this is my first kiln!

Linda
In blustery Seattle

Sam or Mary Yancy on sat 17 may 03


I have the same kiln and have put it on wheels. Cost me about $30 materials and well worth it. All materials from home depo or another local hardware source. I bought 2 inch angle iron of about 1/8 inch thickness with length enough to box in the kiln legs. Cut ends to 45 degree angles and made some angle iron tabs to bolt them together in a box fashion (can also easilly weld them). Teh box angle iron flanges point up like the letter "L". Since the kiln is heavy I bought four heavy duty rotationable wheels with locking devises and bolted them to the box frame X. Then I lifted the kiln into the box frame. Inside the space of the box frame I placed cement board which serves somewhat as a heat barrier - but it also gets quite hot in that area due to radiant from the kiln when firing (I know the top and sides do from experience-ouch!). I use that space for small kiln fixtures. I fire on a cement floor. Suggest that you contact the manufacturer of the kiln before firing on a wood floor to check if it is ok to do and get some sugestions on procting your shed and floor (perhaps one of the other clayarters?). Also suggest get info on the C/B from the kiln manufacture as it seems kind of

light. Also you will need some ventelation/air flow for the fumes from firing. sam in daly city

Linda Knapp wrote:Something good has come out of something bad!
My Sister is being forced to quit or relocate at her high tech company.
She is trying the relocate option and in the process has decided to
lighten her load.
The upside is that she is giving me her kiln! It is a Skutt Model
KM-1018. A ^10 electric about 5cu ft. All I have to do is drive down to
Oregon and help her clean house and get the kiln.

I have a shed which is not finished inside (guess I better get to work)
We wired it with a 50 amp circuit just in case we decided to use a kiln
in it so after installing the correct outlet we will be set
electrically. I am a little worried about heat under the kiln though.
Shed floor is plywood on joists on concrete piers over the ground. I was
thinking maybe I should put a half a sheet of concrete backer board down
under it. Also have any of you managed to put these on rollers? The shed
is small and it would be nice to shove it against the wall when not
firing. If you have any other tricks or tips you can send me please do -
this is my first kiln!

Linda
In blustery Seattle

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william schran on sat 17 may 03


Linda asks about installing an electric kiln in a wooden shed.
I would recommend using cement board as you suggest, plus some thin
bricks/cement blocks under the kiln stand and using the cement boards
on the walls with thin spacers for air flow. Be a good idea to have
some ventilation entering from low on the wall and exiting near the
roof line.
Bill

Arnold Howard on mon 19 may 03


Linda, I agree that you should put concrete backer board under your
kiln. Be sure your kiln is on a kiln stand. That is essential for good
air circulation under the kiln. The UL listing requires the kiln stand.

Also, have good ventilation inside your shed. I know of a case at a
school where a Paragon kiln was fired inside a small room. The windows
and doors were closed and the kiln was fired at night. The ambient room
temperture was so high that the plastic switch knobs distorted. The
customer returned burned-out switches to us. That's when we saw the
distorted plastic knobs. Ambient temperature was probably over 120 deg.
F, a definite fire hazard.

We published a 4-page guideline called "Safe Installation of the
Electric Kiln," which you can download:

http://paragonweb.com/catalog.cfm?type=manuals

If anyone on Clayart would prefer a paper copy, I will be glad to send
it. Let me know how many copies you want. I also have an 11" x 17"
poster of kiln firing guidelines which I will be glad to mail anyone.

Sincerely,

Arnold Howard
Paragon Industries, L.P.
www.paragonweb.com





From: Linda Knapp
> I have a shed which is not finished inside (guess I better get to
work)
> We wired it with a 50 amp circuit just in case we decided to use a
kiln
> in it so after installing the correct outlet we will be set
> electrically. I am a little worried about heat under the kiln though.
> Shed floor is plywood on joists on concrete piers over the ground. I
was
> thinking maybe I should put a half a sheet of concrete backer board
down
> under it. Also have any of you managed to put these on rollers? The
shed
> is small and it would be nice to shove it against the wall when not
> firing. If you have any other tricks or tips you can send me please
do -
> this is my first kiln!