Jonathan, i know you've already recieved good advice to wait for the parts. for me your post waved a reminder flag about efficency in our business and safety as well.
Mell posted something last week about keeping replacement parts and anticipating future inevitables. in his kind but straight talking way he said we were pretty dumb ( my translation) if we didnt pay heed. whenever i've carelessly chosen to ignore the signs with the excuses, "to busy, lack of funding, or just lapsed into"hopeful denial" that " it won't happen for awhile yet" there has been a price to pay and that price translates to dollars missing in my pocket no matter what other time or loss causeing frustration.
what concerns me most immediate, is the smokey trail up the wall. this translates to fire. this is a common problem for kilns with plug in power cords. It will happen again. arcing and corrosion start between the contact parts of plug and recepticle. the electricity must force it's way past this added resistance with more arcing and heat build up until something starts to burn. number one cause of serious electrical fires that destroy lives and property. The solution is to get a qualified person to "hard wire" your kiln to the power source.
In place of the recepticle, a splicing box is installed and the wires are joined inside this box with solderless connecters, taped securely, and a cover is installed .
simple to do but serious.
Shouldnt be very expensive if an electrician does it. or if you have no codes or restrictions to limit you, and can find an old time potter who has a reputation for knowing what he or she is doing in this regard , do it yourselves. make sure the breaker switch is off and test for current before proceeding. don't ask happy harry the handyman next door.
happy trails... on your pot, not up the wall.
David McNulty-Woof
Clarkdale, Arizona
928-649-5927
Always peering over the edge, reverently takeing an irreverent look at everything.
