Earl Krueger on tue 16 dec 03
On Tuesday, Dec 16, 2003, at 08:54 US/Pacific, Bruce Girrell wrote:
> Could anyone tell me what differences exist between the Ultimax
> pyrometer
> and the Fluke that would justify the cost difference between the two?
Bruce,
No, I can't tell you the difference. However, back in my younger days,
when transistors were still fairly new and integrated circuits were
still a dream, I was an electronics technician working in an
engineering lab. Fluke instruments were considered to be the Mercedes
of the market. You couldn't get anything more accurate or reliable at
the time.
Is this still true today? I don't know. Been away from the business
too long. But a few years ago when I needed a multimeter I didn't
hesitate and bought a Fluke. Have not been sorry.
Earl...
Bothell, WA, USA
Bruce Girrell on tue 16 dec 03
Could anyone tell me what differences exist between the Ultimax pyrometer
and the Fluke that would justify the cost difference between the two? I just
finished searching the archives and found very few posts relating to the
Ultimax. A couple referred to a problem that apparently was quickly handled
by Axner and the others simply mentioned the Ultimax in an offhand manner.
I am not afraid to spend the money on quality. I have bought quality items
and, while I wished they had been less expensive, I have never regretted it
later. Still, I'd like to know what justifies a 2.5x price differential on
what is basically a voltmeter. I don't want to throw money away, either.
Thanks.
Bruce Girrell
in northern Michigan, playing Santa for himself.
John Anthony on tue 16 dec 03
Hi Bruce- I don't have the Fluke pyro, but I have had a couple of the
UEI models; I bought them
from Ward Burner Systems. The first one I mounted on a board so it
would be easy to see, and at some point late in the firing the board
shifted and the meter wound up leaning against the bottom of the
chimney.
Good By pyrometer. The second one worked fine until it got a little
wet during a firing that took place in a
torrential downpour. It started reading out gibberish and was useless
for the rest of the firing. It seems to be working now, however- I
guess it just needed to dry out. I bought one of the Ultimax
2-thermocouple meters
and while I haven't used it in a firing yet, I have heated it and
checked how it works. The main difference seems to be that you can only
display a reading for one thermocouple at a time- the UEI shows both at
the same time.
Also you need to be comfortable reading Centigrade because at high
temps it only reads out in C.
cheers
John Anthony
http://www.redhillpottery.com
http://www.majaaudiogroup.com
Bruce wrote:
>Could anyone tell me what differences exist between the Ultimax
pyrometer
>and the Fluke that would justify the cost difference between the two?
I >just
>finished searching the archives and found very few posts relatin
Charles Moore on tue 16 dec 03
Hi, Bruce,
I thought that the Fluke double thermocouple would run about $250, but when
I checked our usual pottery suppliers (Axner, Bailey, etc.--I forget which),
I got the set up for less than $200, including the protective ceramic
coverings of the actual termocouples. Following Paul Vernier's
recommendation, I bought the hand-held double thermocouple so that I can
check the top and bottom of my updraft gas kiln at the same time. I can
read the top, the bottom, and the difference between the two at any point in
the firing.
Not knowing the cost of the Ultimax pyrometer, I don't know if this is a
recommendation.
Charles Moore
Sacramento
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bruce Girrell"
To:
Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2003 8:54 AM
Subject: Digital pyrometers (again)
> Could anyone tell me what differences exist between the Ultimax pyrometer
> and the Fluke that would justify the cost difference between the two? I
just
> finished searching the archives and found very few posts relating to the
> Ultimax. A couple referred to a problem that apparently was quickly
handled
> by Axner and the others simply mentioned the Ultimax in an offhand manner.
>
> I am not afraid to spend the money on quality. I have bought quality items
> and, while I wished they had been less expensive, I have never regretted
it
> later. Still, I'd like to know what justifies a 2.5x price differential on
> what is basically a voltmeter. I don't want to throw money away, either.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Bruce Girrell
> in northern Michigan, playing Santa for himself.
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
__
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
dalecochoy on wed 17 dec 03
Bruce,
I bought the Fluke dual right off when starting to fire my smallish gas
kiln. I don't know how it could be done without it! One lead at top one at
bottom. You can read both at same time right up past cone 10 in F and
monitor tiny vent adjustments reactions at top and bottom. Great tracking.
I studied them a while and picked the Fluke ( yes, expensive, although some
have seen them cheaper on eBay). I didn't ever see them and procrastinated a
long time.
I noted that some didn't read in F up at top of scale . I didn't want this.
Also, I used Fluke equipment for years in my other life of Medical Xray
repair. Good stuff.
BTW, I have an analog meter I got a few years ago. A waste of money IMHO. I
use it now to see how hot the floor gets under my kiln!! That's about all
it's good for. Maybe we could use it to cook the Christmas turkey?! :>)
Dale Cochoy, Wild Things Bonsai Studio, Hartville, Ohio
DaleCochoy@Prodigy.Net http://www.WildThingsBonsai.Com
Specializing in power wood carving tools.
Yakimono no Kokoro bonsai pottery of hand-built stoneware
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bruce Girrell"
To:
Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2003 11:54 AM
Subject: Digital pyrometers (again)
> Could anyone tell me what differences exist between the Ultimax pyrometer
> and the Fluke that would justify the cost difference between the two? I
just
> finished searching the archives and found very few posts relating to the
> Ultimax. A couple referred to a problem that apparently was quickly
handled
> by Axner and the others simply mentioned the Ultimax in an offhand manner.
>
> I am not afraid to spend the money on quality. I have bought quality items
> and, while I wished they had been less expensive, I have never regretted
it
> later. Still, I'd like to know what justifies a 2.5x price differential on
> what is basically a voltmeter. I don't want to throw money away, either.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Bruce Girrell
> in northern Michigan, playing Santa for himself.
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
__
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
dalecochoy on wed 17 dec 03
Charles, that's a good price ( below) . Perhaps you can put Bruce in touch
with your supplier.
BTW, I got my dual fluke through www.web-tronics.com which was cheaper than
most ceramic dealers although your $200 for everything sounds unbeatable!
I also got the protecting tubes but they didn't fit through the peep holes.
I have been thinking of simply drilling them out to accomodate at top,
bottom and middle but have procrastinated on that . I did drill out a peep
plug to possibly permanently mount the ceramic tubes in some plugs but
decided not to bother with that.
But, I do recommend them since both my 12" probes are "slouching" badly now
and I'll need to try to straighten them while heated so I can get them back
into tubes which will keep them straight forever.
Also, The tubes MIGHT slow down reaction time but I doubt this will be much
trouble( at least for me)
Dale
----- Original Message -----
From: "Charles Moore" Subject: Re: Digital pyrometers (again)
> Hi, Bruce,
> I thought that the Fluke double thermocouple would run about $250, but
when
> I checked our usual pottery suppliers (Axner, Bailey, etc.--I forget
which),
> I got the set up for less than $200, including the protective ceramic
> coverings of the actual termocouples.
> Charles Moore
> Sacramento
iandol on thu 18 dec 03
Dear Bruce Girrell,
Given that I know nothing of the brands you mention I can think of two =
things which might account for the price differential.
First is that one might be a base metal thermocouple while the other is =
noble metal. The other is the gauge of metal selected. Fine gauge would =
cost less than stout. With Platinum well beyond the $US 600:00 per Troy =
Ounce. Just a couple of notches on the scale could more than double the =
price. But then,it might give ten times the service life.
But there may be other reasons.
Best regards,
Ivor Lewis. Redhill, South Australia
Gail Dapogny on fri 19 dec 03
Recently we (our guild) purchased the Ultimax from Axner and I used it
in a cone 10 firing. We wired it carefully and then rewired it
another three times but each time at just over 400 fahr. the projected
temperature started falling after working just fine up to that point.
We could never get it to rise above 450. Meanwhile the kiln
temperature increased as expected and we ended up firing it by color,
smell, etc.
I haven't yet written to Axner to send it back, but I would like to get
the Fluke and not bother anymore with the Ultimax. Just hope we can
get something like the price Charles paid.
---Gail
Gail Dapogny gdapogny@umich.edu
1154 Olden Road
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48103
On 16 Dec 2003, at 8:54 AM, Bruce Girrell wrote:
> Could anyone tell me what differences exist between the Ultimax
> pyrometer
> and the Fluke that would justify the cost difference between the two?
> I just
> finished searching the archives and found very few posts relating to
> the
> Ultimax. A couple referred to a problem that apparently was quickly
> handled
> by Axner and the others simply mentioned the Ultimax in an offhand
> manner.
> ...I'd like to know what justifies a 2.5x price differential on
> what is basically a voltmeter. I don't want to throw money away,
> either.
>
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