pattip@HEMC.NET on sat 29 jan 05
I fire an old Cress Kiln=2E It was used when I purchased it=2E It has been =
reliable and user friendly=2E Since I now need to think about purchasing ano=
ther kiln this thread will be helpful=2E
I am looking for a reliable, well built and user friendly kiln=2E A Dawson =
Kiln Sitter is fine, I am sure computerized firing is nice, but I am comfort=
able with managing the schedule by hand=2E
Living near a kiln maufacturer, I am painfully aware of service or lack of s=
ervice for customers=2E Distance is not a big deal, but friendly competent =
service is absolutely necessary=2E
Good user manuals and technical assistance would be absolutely top of the li=
st=2E
Easy maintenance is another desirable=2E
Maybe I'll just keep my old Cress and when it needs help ask Arnold Howard t=
o come live with me in chilly NE GA=2E
Patti
http://www=2Erunningrabbitpottery=2Ecom=20
Judy Musicant on sun 30 jan 05
My first kiln, purchased over 20 years ago, was a Skutt 818. I bought =
it on the advice of a dear and respected teacher. I used that kiln for =
many years, and got breathtaking results.
When I decided I wanted a bigger kiln, I took the advice of many on =
Clayart recommending heavier insulation and slower cooling and purchased =
a Bailey (which was actually the Cone Art brand), because of its =
greater insulation. Alas, it turned out that the glazes I love prefer =
to be cooled faster, not slower. (What did I know?) Moreover, the =
controller that Bailey was using at that time was awful. They're using =
a different one now, so I won't go into the gory details. I must say, =
however, that the Bailey people were great about spending time with me =
on the phone on many occasions to adjust the controller so that it =
worked with a modicum of success. However, I wasn't ever satisfied with =
the results I was getting, even when it fired properly. So I bit the =
bullet, sold the Bailey and bought a new Skutt 1027 - 7 cubic ft., with =
the controller and with the regular insulation, not the extra heavy. I =
am one happy camper - again getting the results I love. The controller =
is a dream. The Skutt customer service is lovely - the thermocouple =
started to malfunction early on and they sent me a new one immediately, =
no cost (I'm sure it was covered by the warranty, but there were no =
issues and no questions asked.)
By the way, I still use my first little Skutt, having only replaced the =
elements when necessary, and I still get breathtaking results from that =
little sucker. It cools in about 15 minutes (metaphorically speaking.) =
So, there you are.
Happy potting.
Judy Musicant
Mountainview Pottery
pottersguildnj.org
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