Vince Pitelka on tue 6 jan 04
> I have heard from a supplier they cause a lot of problems and L&L service
isn't
> too good was ready to buy one and just trying to see what the overall
opinion is.
I appreciate you asking for opinions, because we can certainly offer that,
but it is very strange to make the above statement about a manufacturer
unless you also mention who the supplier was and specifically what the
supposed problems are. You could have simply asked for opinions without
spreading information potentially harmful to L&L. In my experience L&L is
an honorable and accommodating company, and the kilns are excellent. We
have three L&L toploaders at the Craft Center. Two date back at least
twenty years. That's twenty years heavy institutional use. The other is a
new programmable, and it is a beauty. I am completely sold on the L&L hard
refractory element holders. There are lots of good kilns on the market, but
no other kiln has such a good element holder system.
Best wishes -
- Vince
Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Craft
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
Home - vpitelka@dtccom.net
615/597-5376
Office - wpitelka@tntech.edu
615/597-6801 x111, FAX 615/597-6803
http://iweb.tntech.edu/wpitelka/
http://www.tntech.edu/craftcenter/
SUBSCRIBE CLAYART Anonymous on tue 6 jan 04
Hello, I am new to list. Finally able to get my own kiln :)!
Wondering if anyone has experience with the new easy-fire
L & L kilns? Any draw backs? How do you like the digital
control on it? Are the thermocouples as good
as they say? Are the element holders good or a pain?
I have heard from a supplier they cause I
a lot of problems and L&L service isn't too good.
was ready to buy one and just trying to see what the
overall opinion is. I checked archives but haven't
found info on the easy-fire or newer models
-Thanks -2snowdance
Lou Roess on tue 6 jan 04
on 1/6/04 8:29 AM, SUBSCRIBE CLAYART Anonymous at morninglight@MAIL.COM
wrote:
> Hello, I am new to list. Finally able to get my own kiln :)!
> Wondering if anyone has experience with the new easy-fire
> L & L kilns?
I have recently purchased a new L&L Easy-Fire kiln. I have fired it nine
times and am very satisfied with it. I have talked to their rep Robert
several times and always got help even when what I wanted to know was right
there in the manual that came with it. (He didn't say "Why didn't you check
the archives before you called me?") He helped me do a thermocouple offset
so the upper and lower thermocouple were more in tune - an easy adjustment
but he walked me through every step.
I like the fact that the thermocouples are protected - a chance bump with a
shelf isn't as likely to put one out of whack.
The channels for the elements look like they will be great at prolonging
element life.
I'd be interested in what the supplier had to say about specific problems.
I wouldn't accept "they cause a lot of problems."
As far as service is concerned I haven't needed any and hope I don't for a
long time.
So far I'm a happy camper.
Lou in Colorado
claybair on tue 6 jan 04
I love my L&L JD230
I've had it for 6 years.
Any issues I had with it
have been resolved in
the newer models.
I don't know what's your supplier's beef.....
I have always found them very responsive
support-wise.
I love the element holders
and have had no problems with them.
One suggestion... upgrade to the
heavy duty element and thermocouples.
When I bought mine not many suppliers
carried them that has changed.
Go to their web site www.hotkilns.com
You find lots of kiln and info.
Gayle Bair
Bainbridge Island, WA
http://claybair.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Anonymous
Hello, I am new to list. Finally able to get my own kiln :)!
Wondering if anyone has experience with the new easy-fire
L & L kilns? Any draw backs? How do you like the digital
control on it? Are the thermocouples as good
as they say? Are the element holders good or a pain?
I have heard from a supplier they cause I
a lot of problems and L&L service isn't too good.
was ready to buy one and just trying to see what the
overall opinion is. I checked archives but haven't
found info on the easy-fire or newer models
-Thanks -2snowdance
william schran on tue 6 jan 04
2snowdance wrote:>I have heard from a supplier they cause I
a lot of problems and L&L service isn't too good.
was ready to buy one and just trying to see what the
overall opinion is.<
You don't say who your supplier is or what problems they've
encountered. Perhaps they don't make as much profit selling L&L's as
they do other kilns.
We have 4 L&L kilns at school that have all been used constantly for
years. Very few issues that were resolved as soon as I contacted
them. Have an L&L at home that I rely on for consistent results. If
we get a grant approved at school, we'll be getting our first kiln
with a controller (all the others are manual) and it will be an L&L.
Their products are made well and they stand behind them. I wouldn't
hesitate to purchase any of their products.
FYI - L&L manufactures industrial kilns (I'm sure they make more
money on these) and apply their building techniques to produce a
quality consumer item.
The element holders really do make it easier to replace the elements
- I've replaced quite a few in my time.
The only word of caution is for any kiln with a controller - you'll
get better results if the kiln is in a climate controlled
environment. In a small shed or other such building, you might
encounter problems if the ambient temperature becomes too hot or cold.
Bill
Shawn McGuire on tue 6 jan 04
Hi Snowdance,
L&L kilns are great! The easy-fire controls are very easy to use and
wonderfully versatile, especially if your doing something like crystalline glazes
that need a very controlled cycle. As far as the element holders go, in my
opinion it's a great feature, the elements just sit in the holders, no need for
element pins that are eventually going to cause wear to the brick from changing.
The element could not be easier to change! As far as customer service goes, I
would say you are better off dealing with them through a distributor, I think
L&L prefers it that way. That way they are not dealing with every thermocouple
that needs replacing, they'll do it but I think they would prefer to do
business through a distributor who can deal with the customers needs more directly.
Hope this helps, congrads on being able to get a kiln!
over-and-out,
~S~
SUBSCRIBE CLAYART Anonymous on tue 6 jan 04
Hi Thanks for information everyone. The complaint
I heard from the supplier I talked to was that the
element holders were a pain to deal with if a pot
explodes and glaze etc gets on element.
They said you end up having to take the whole
element out because it sticks to the holder
and burns out whereas a kiln without the holder
you can chip a small part of the fire brick out
with less effort. They also said they couldn't get
L&L to service very fast a problem with a customers
digital control nor could they get parts easily. So it
kind of scared me off(my first time buying a kiln)but
I heard there is some current competition going on with
Skutt losing business to L&L and suppliers getting info
from Skutt trying to knock L&L. I heard this from a different
supplier when I expressed concerns over what I heard
about L&L so I wonder if that had anything to do with
first suppliers information because I haven't heard any
bad reports here yet. I will have to deal with this
supplier for other things so I don't want to mention
names plus they have been great in the past so maybe
they just had bad experiences for some reason. I just
want to make sure about L&L before I do anything so if anyone
else has anything to say please let me know-Thanks so much 2snowdance
Brian Haviland on wed 7 jan 04
> I just
>want to make sure about L&L before I do anything so if anyone
>else has anything to say please let me know-Thanks so much 2snowdance
>
>Hello Snowdance
I bought an L&L kiln a little over two years ago and had one
element blow out
and burnt a hole through an element holder. When i took it into retailer
they called L&L
and were told to give me a new brick with holders to replace burnt one for
FREE.. Of course
I had to buy a couple new elements but that is expected. I am extremely
happy with L&L and
would recommend them to anyone buying their first kiln. It might be the
last kiln you buy....... unless your
like me and want to fire gas reduction to.. Good luck with whatever you
purchase..
Brian Haviland
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SUBSCRIBE CLAYART Anonymous on wed 7 jan 04
Vince, Thank you for your information but I am not "strange" and I
explained what I was told in my last post.-Maybe you didn't read that one?
I don't know the whole story only what I was told by two different
suppliers and thats what I wrote. If anyone looks bad it may be Skutt from
what I was told about the info they sent out to their dealers. I am just
trying to figure out what is what. If I just asked for opinions other
people wouldn't be questioning what they might be being told about L&L. So
I don't think I am hurting them if anything I think it may help them. I
also don't want to be put in the middle of naming places if I don't
absolutely know what is going on and I think people have a right to know
some of the things that happen when you are looking for equipment.-And to
question what you are told. If L&L is good then hopefully that will show
through and if Skutt is handing out info that is not appropriate maybe they
will think twice because eventually it will get out to the public. I know
it is business but I can't believe some of the things that go on. After
awhile you don't know who to believe. Sincerely-2snowdance
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