Earl Brunner on tue 13 jul 04
When I replace elements in our Skutts, I usually break the kiln all the way
down, ring by ring to the floor of the kiln. Take the old elements out, put
the new ones in, vacuum, then put everything back together. It's just a lot
easier to work on when I'm not hanging by my heels.
Earl Brunner
Las Vegas, NV
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of Paula Reynolds
Sent: Tuesday, July 13, 2004 5:46 PM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Replaced elements, worry about brick debris
I just learned how to replace the elements in the Skutt 1227 KM in my
classroom at school. The hardest part was getting a feel for the crimping
tool.
Pulling the old elements out created some brick debris most of which fell to
the floor of the kiln. After putting in the new elements, I was concerned
that tiny bits of fire brick could be in the channel. Do I need to worry
about any of this debris causing my elements to fail? I have vacuumed the
kiln thoroughly.
Paula
reynstudio@widomaker.com
Paula Reynolds on tue 13 jul 04
I just learned how to replace the elements in the Skutt 1227 KM in my =
classroom at school. The hardest part was getting a feel for the =
crimping tool. =20
Pulling the old elements out created some brick debris most of which =
fell to the floor of the kiln. After putting in the new elements, I was =
concerned that tiny bits of fire brick could be in the channel. Do I =
need to worry about any of this debris causing my elements to fail? I =
have vacuumed the kiln thoroughly.
Paula
reynstudio@widomaker.com
Randy McCall on wed 14 jul 04
Paula=20
How hard is it to replace the elements? I have an old 1027 that needs =
the elements replaced. Where did you get the crimping tool and how did =
you use it. Are there any instructions on the web?
I can get someone out of Charlotte to replace the elements but he wants =
$400 to come here and do it.
Randy McCall
----- Original Message -----=20
From: Paula Reynolds=20
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG=20
Sent: Tuesday, July 13, 2004 8:45 PM
Subject: Replaced elements, worry about brick debris
I just learned how to replace the elements in the Skutt 1227 KM in my =
classroom at school. The hardest part was getting a feel for the =
crimping tool. =20
Pulling the old elements out created some brick debris most of which =
fell to the floor of the kiln. After putting in the new elements, I was =
concerned that tiny bits of fire brick could be in the channel. Do I =
need to worry about any of this debris causing my elements to fail? I =
have vacuumed the kiln thoroughly.
Paula
reynstudio@widomaker.com
=
_________________________________________________________________________=
_____
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.
Julie Beutler on wed 14 jul 04
Randy-
It is super easy to replace elements...and to do it yourself....I am no =
electrician but I figured it all out by myself pretty easily. I would =
highly recommend to you or anyone on clayart a wonderful element =
supplier by the name of Stan Horton. He lives in the NW and will get =
you a quality product quickly. I have used him for 3 or 4 kilns now =
(both L&L and Skutt) and he is just out there trying to make it on his =
own. I always appreciate a small business person trying to make it being =
a small business owner myself. I use Skutt/L & L to buy my kilns and =
other parts and they couldn't be more helpful (I am a big fan of both =
companies and there incredible customer service, if only every company =
were a clay company) but with Stan you will save about money. I also =
bought my cripping tool from Skutt...his email address is =
stanhorton@hotmail.com. Hope this helps!
Julie B.
-----Original Message-----
From: Randy McCall [mailto:ranmcc@MSN.COM]
Sent: Wednesday, July 14, 2004 6:38 AM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Re: Replaced elements, worry about brick debris
Paula=20
How hard is it to replace the elements? I have an old 1027 that needs =
the elements replaced. Where did you get the crimping tool and how did =
you use it. Are there any instructions on the web?
I can get someone out of Charlotte to replace the elements but he wants =
$400 to come here and do it.
Randy McCall
----- Original Message -----=20
From: Paula Reynolds=20
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG=20
Sent: Tuesday, July 13, 2004 8:45 PM
Subject: Replaced elements, worry about brick debris
I just learned how to replace the elements in the Skutt 1227 KM in my =
classroom at school. The hardest part was getting a feel for the =
crimping tool. =20
Pulling the old elements out created some brick debris most of which =
fell to the floor of the kiln. After putting in the new elements, I was =
concerned that tiny bits of fire brick could be in the channel. Do I =
need to worry about any of this debris causing my elements to fail? I =
have vacuumed the kiln thoroughly.
Paula
reynstudio@widomaker.com
=
_________________________________________________________________________=
_____
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.
_________________________________________________________________________=
_____
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.
Arnold Howard on wed 14 jul 04
I would not worry about any remaining tiny brick debris in the element
grooves after you have vacuumed the kiln. But look into the groove at the
point where the element burned out. If you see a discolored spot there,
remove it with a screw driver. Otherwise the new element could burn out in
the same spot.
Sincerely,
Arnold Howard
Paragon Industries, L.P., Mesquite, Texas USA
arnoldhoward@att.net / www.paragonweb.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Paula Reynolds"
Pulling the old elements out created some brick debris most of which fell to
the floor of the kiln. After putting in the new elements, I was concerned
that tiny bits of fire brick could be in the channel. Do I need to worry
about any of this debris causing my elements to fail? I have vacuumed the
kiln thoroughly.
Arnold Howard on wed 14 jul 04
From: "Randy McCall"
How hard is it to replace the elements?
-------------
You may feel a little apprehension at replacing an element the first time.
However, that feeling will leave after you replace the first one. With a
little practice, replacing an element takes only a few minutes.
These pointers probably apply to any brand of top-loading kiln:
Push the element into the back of each corner. Otherwise the elements may
bulge out of the corners later.
As you feed the element into the groove, keep a steady pressure against the
element. If you let go of the element, it will pop out of the corners. The
new element stays in place with spring pressure.
Press the element connector snug against the porcelain insulator. The
insulator prevents the element from touching the kiln case. If the insulator
has slack, it could work its way out and cause a short.
After you tighten the element connector, cut off the excess element end.
Otherwise it could short out against a switch box component.
Before fastening the switch box in place, make sure none of the wires will
touch the kiln case or an element connector. The heat can burn out wires.
Good luck with your project.
Sincerely,
Arnold Howard
Paragon Industries, L.P., Mesquite, Texas USA
arnoldhoward@att.net / www.paragonweb.com
Fredrick Paget on wed 14 jul 04
There are hundreds of different crimpers in use - different one for
every brand of connector and some even only take a few sizes of each
brand. Really good crimpers that are used a lot in industry cost a
bundle. Hundreds of dollars.Especially in the larger sizes. Good ones
put a predetermined pressure on to the lug and won't let go of the
lug until they are squeezed down tight enough. Then there are the
air or electric operated ones, etc.
If you don't afford one of the good crimpers the best thing is to
take Mel's advice and use the screw down type. You should use a
freshly skinned section of wire every time as the lug is hard on the
wire. (When the lead wire gets too short be sure to replace it with
one that has the same high temperature insulation as the original).
Put the element next to the screw and the wire underneath so the
harder element wire takes the brunt of the screwing. Some brands of
these screw types have a little saddle that rides under the screw to
take the abuse, and an Allen screw is good too - easier to get tight.
Fred Paget
--
From Fred Paget, Marin County, California, USA
fredrick@well.com
Paula Reynolds on fri 16 jul 04
Randy,
It was easy, but take Mel's advice about marking the channel you are
working on. The elements bought from Skutt are kind of bent at an angle at
the intervals where they need to be. I did have to stretch the element a
bit to fit as I got around to the end. The elements are sturdy and I was
surprised at how hard I had to pull to stretch. Did not want to
overstretch.
I talked to Neil [kiln tech] at Skutt yesterday and asked if they sold a
screw-down connector instead of the crimp. They don't. Next time I change
elements I will definitely be using the screw-down type from the hardware
store. That was the worst part. I was using a crimp tool borrowed from the
school electrician and it was a big bulky thing. I just didn't get a feel
for whether I was doing it right. I had the electrician check the crimps
for me before I fired.
Good Luck,
Paula
----- Original Message -----
From: "Randy McCall"
To:
Sent: Wednesday, July 14, 2004 6:37 AM
Subject: Re: Replaced elements, worry about brick debris
Paula
How hard is it to replace the elements? I have an old 1027 that needs the
elements replaced. Where did you get the crimping tool and how did you use
it. Are there any instructions on the web?
I can get someone out of Charlotte to replace the elements but he wants $400
to come here and do it.
Randy McCall
----- Original Message -----
From: Paula Reynolds
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Sent: Tuesday, July 13, 2004 8:45 PM
Subject: Replaced elements, worry about brick debris
I just learned how to replace the elements in the Skutt 1227 KM in my
classroom at school. The hardest part was getting a feel for the crimping
tool.
Pulling the old elements out created some brick debris most of which fell
to the floor of the kiln. After putting in the new elements, I was
concerned that tiny bits of fire brick could be in the channel. Do I need
to worry about any of this debris causing my elements to fail? I have
vacuumed the kiln thoroughly.
Paula
reynstudio@widomaker.com
____________________________________________________________________________
__
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.
____________________________________________________________________________
__
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.
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