Kim Lindaberry on thu 24 mar 05
Hello All,
A quick question about using my Orton Vent on an electric kiln. Is it
normal to leave the vent on during the entire firing to say, cone 6 glaze?
I'm having difficulty reaching temp, getting within 100 degrees F, but it
just doesn't make it. I thought the vent was supposed to be left on for
the duration of a firing to help even out the temp from top to bottom.
Everything on the kiln has been checked, from relays, to the resistance of
the elements, to voltage and amps. The kiln manufacturer has said to just
turn off the vent at 1000 degrees F. Is it just that simple.
Kim Lindaberry
Arnold Howard on thu 24 mar 05
Kim, I suggest leaving your vent on throughout the entire firing. The vent
lengthens firing time by only a few minutes.
You mentioned that you checked voltage and amperage. Have you done an actual
ammeter test while the kiln is firing?
Sincerely,
Arnold Howard
Paragon Industries, L.P., Mesquite, Texas USA
arnoldhoward@att.net / www.paragonweb.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kim Lindaberry"
> A quick question about using my Orton Vent on an electric kiln. Is it
> normal to leave the vent on during the entire firing to say, cone 6 glaze?
> I'm having difficulty reaching temp, getting within 100 degrees F, but it
> just doesn't make it. I thought the vent was supposed to be left on for
> the duration of a firing to help even out the temp from top to bottom.
> Everything on the kiln has been checked, from relays, to the resistance of
> the elements, to voltage and amps. The kiln manufacturer has said to just
> turn off the vent at 1000 degrees F. Is it just that simple.
Donna Nicosia on thu 24 mar 05
Hi Kim, I'm self taught when it comes to the kiln. I've tried it
different ways and found a truer, nicer glaze when I leave the vent on the
whole time. I do know that when my kiln comes close to the specified temp.,
it does slow down and when I checked into it, the company states that this
is the normal process. I haven't encountered any problems with it not
reaching the temp. so maybe someone out there can help. Donna
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of Kim Lindaberry
Sent: Thursday, March 24, 2005 12:11 PM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Electric Kiln Ventilation
Hello All,
A quick question about using my Orton Vent on an electric kiln. Is it
normal to leave the vent on during the entire firing to say, cone 6 glaze?
I'm having difficulty reaching temp, getting within 100 degrees F, but it
just doesn't make it. I thought the vent was supposed to be left on for
the duration of a firing to help even out the temp from top to bottom.
Everything on the kiln has been checked, from relays, to the resistance of
the elements, to voltage and amps. The kiln manufacturer has said to just
turn off the vent at 1000 degrees F. Is it just that simple.
Kim Lindaberry
____________________________________________________________________________
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Kim Lindaberry on fri 25 mar 05
Hi Howard,
I had our school electrician (who is classified as a master
electrician) check the volts, amps & resistance of the kiln. The kiln
is 208 V 50 Amp and we have it on a 60 Amp breaker circuit. Voltage at
the plug while the kiln is off ranges between 208 - 210. Voltage at the
plug when the kiln is running in full power mode 201. The electrician
says that is within a normally acceptable tolerance and the
manufacturer did not disagree.
Kim
On Mar 24, 2005, at 1:47 PM, Arnold Howard wrote:
> Kim, I suggest leaving your vent on throughout the entire firing. The
> vent
> lengthens firing time by only a few minutes.
>
> You mentioned that you checked voltage and amperage. Have you done an
> actual
> ammeter test while the kiln is firing?
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Arnold Howard
> Paragon Industries, L.P., Mesquite, Texas USA
> arnoldhoward@att.net / www.paragonweb.com
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Kim Lindaberry"
>> A quick question about using my Orton Vent on an electric kiln. Is it
>> normal to leave the vent on during the entire firing to say, cone 6
>> glaze?
>> I'm having difficulty reaching temp, getting within 100 degrees F,
>> but it
>> just doesn't make it. I thought the vent was supposed to be left on
>> for
>> the duration of a firing to help even out the temp from top to bottom.
>> Everything on the kiln has been checked, from relays, to the
>> resistance of
>> the elements, to voltage and amps. The kiln manufacturer has said to
>> just
>> turn off the vent at 1000 degrees F. Is it just that simple.
>
> _______________________________________________________________________
> _______
> 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.
>
Eric Serritella on fri 25 mar 05
Kim, I leave my vent on the whole time, form start to unloading. My
experience with not reaching temp. always seems to be element related (i.e.,
time for a replacement). I also remember reading once that the vent must be
left on during firing and cooling so that it doesn't get damaged from the
high temperature of the kiln above it. By keeping it on, it is continuously
pulling cool air through the vent motor/mechanisms. I think I read this in
the Orton info/instrux when I first got it. You might want to check with
Orton about that before shutting it off with the kiln at a high temperature.
It'd be a shame to ruin it. If your glazes need to mature differently than
the venting system will allow, the Bailey vent motor is external and
therefore doesn't need to be on the whole time, and might be a good future
option.
Eric
Muddy Paws Pottery
528 Sebring Road
Newfield, NY 14867
607.564.7810
www.muddypawspottery.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kim Lindaberry"
To:
Sent: Thursday, March 24, 2005 12:11 PM
Subject: Electric Kiln Ventilation
> Hello All,
>
> A quick question about using my Orton Vent on an electric kiln. Is it
> normal to leave the vent on during the entire firing to say, cone 6 glaze?
> I'm having difficulty reaching temp, getting within 100 degrees F, but it
> just doesn't make it. I thought the vent was supposed to be left on for
> the duration of a firing to help even out the temp from top to bottom.
> Everything on the kiln has been checked, from relays, to the resistance of
> the elements, to voltage and amps. The kiln manufacturer has said to just
> turn off the vent at 1000 degrees F. Is it just that simple.
>
> Kim Lindaberry
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
__
> 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.
>
Kim Lindaberry on fri 25 mar 05
The resistance of each element has been checked and they are actually
in better shape than the manufacturers specs. . . I also did test
firings with cone packs in: ^4 ^5 ^6 ^7 ^8 in the top and bottom. In
one test the bottom ^4 went half way over while the top cone had just a
slight bend to it. For all practical purposes the top cone was
straight.
On Mar 25, 2005, at 8:18 AM, Eric Serritella wrote:
> Kim, I leave my vent on the whole time, form start to unloading. My
> experience with not reaching temp. always seems to be element related
> (i.e.,
> time for a replacement). I also remember reading once that the vent
> must be
> left on during firing and cooling so that it doesn't get damaged from
> the
> high temperature of the kiln above it. By keeping it on, it is
> continuously
> pulling cool air through the vent motor/mechanisms. I think I read
> this in
> the Orton info/instrux when I first got it. You might want to check
> with
> Orton about that before shutting it off with the kiln at a high
> temperature.
> It'd be a shame to ruin it. If your glazes need to mature differently
> than
> the venting system will allow, the Bailey vent motor is external and
> therefore doesn't need to be on the whole time, and might be a good
> future
> option.
>
> Eric
>
> Muddy Paws Pottery
> 528 Sebring Road
> Newfield, NY 14867
> 607.564.7810
> www.muddypawspottery.com
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Kim Lindaberry"
> To:
> Sent: Thursday, March 24, 2005 12:11 PM
> Subject: Electric Kiln Ventilation
>
>
>> Hello All,
>>
>> A quick question about using my Orton Vent on an electric kiln. Is it
>> normal to leave the vent on during the entire firing to say, cone 6
>> glaze?
>> I'm having difficulty reaching temp, getting within 100 degrees F,
>> but it
>> just doesn't make it. I thought the vent was supposed to be left on
>> for
>> the duration of a firing to help even out the temp from top to bottom.
>> Everything on the kiln has been checked, from relays, to the
>> resistance of
>> the elements, to voltage and amps. The kiln manufacturer has said to
>> just
>> turn off the vent at 1000 degrees F. Is it just that simple.
>>
>> Kim Lindaberry
Dorie Mickelson on fri 25 mar 05
Hi Kim,
I fire my electric Skutt kiln to cone 6 and always leave the kiln vent and
the room vent running throughout the entire glaze firing. It does not make
sense to me to turn the vents off when the kiln reaches 1000 degrees if you
are firing to over 2000 degrees since it is my understanding that the kiln
is producing fumes and burning off organic materials and potentially toxic
substances throughout the entire glaze firing (not sure if that is actually
true or not but I'd rather err on the side of caution). It is also my
understanding that the kiln vent helps to even out the temperature within
the kiln and provide more even heat distribution. I have never had any
trouble reaching temp with the vents on throughout the entire glaze
firing...
Dorie Mickelson in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where it appears that Spring has
finally sprung!
www.FreeSpiritCreations.com
From: Kim Lindaberry
Subject: Electric Kiln Ventilation
Hello All, A quick question about using my Orton Vent on an electric kiln.
Is it normal to leave the vent on during the entire firing to say, cone 6
glaze? I'm having difficulty reaching temp, getting within 100 degrees F,
but it just doesn't make it. I thought the vent was supposed to be left on
for the duration of a firing to help even out the temp from top to bottom.
Everything on the kiln has been checked, from relays, to the resistance of
the elements, to voltage and amps. The kiln manufacturer has said to just
turn off the vent at 1000 degrees F. Is it just that simple.
Cindy in SD on fri 25 mar 05
Kim says:
>>I'm having difficulty reaching temp, getting within 100 degrees F, but it
>>just doesn't make it. I thought the vent was supposed to be left on for
>>the duration of a firing to help even out the temp from top to bottom.
>>Everything on the kiln has been checked, from relays, to the resistance of
>>the elements, to voltage and amps. The kiln manufacturer has said to just
>>turn off the vent at 1000 degrees F. Is it just that simple.
>>
>>Kim Lindaberry
>>
>>
Dear Kim,
It is possible that your kiln is underpowered. I had one of those. They
are fixable, but they will no longer be UL approved. As for leaving the
vent on, I have a double vent system from Orton, so the actual fan does
not live under the kiln. There's a metallic hose leading from the fan
box to another box that gets wedged under the holes in the bottom of the
kiln. (There are two hoses--one for each kiln.) If you're going to need
to turn the vent off, I'm sure Orton could help you with getting a setup
put together that will work for a single kiln. The really expensive part
of the vent system will always be the fan itself, and you have that.
Best of luck,
Cindy in SD
Gayle Bair on fri 25 mar 05
Eric,
My vent (vent-tor for L&L kilns) fan is wall mounted. This enables me to
turn off the fan without damaging it. I usually shut it off around 2000F.
I don't usually fire down so having it off also slows the cool down.
Gayle Bair
Tucson AZ .... lizards, bob cats and rattlers Oh My!!!!
Bainbridge Island WA ..... high winds, weeds and what are my kids doing to
the house while I'm gone...... Oh My!!!!
-----Original Message-----
From: Serritella
Kim, I leave my vent on the whole time, form start to unloading. My
experience with not reaching temp. always seems to be element related (i.e.,
time for a replacement). I also remember reading once that the vent must be
left on during firing and cooling so that it doesn't get damaged from the
high temperature of the kiln above it. By keeping it on, it is continuously
pulling cool air through the vent motor/mechanisms. I think I read this in
the Orton info/instrux when I first got it. You might want to check with
Orton about that before shutting it off with the kiln at a high temperature.
It'd be a shame to ruin it. If your glazes need to mature differently than
the venting system will allow, the Bailey vent motor is external and
therefore doesn't need to be on the whole time, and might be a good future
option.
Eric
Kim Lindaberry on fri 25 mar 05
>>>
I don't believe that the kiln is underpowered. As I sated previously I
went through the whole check list of voltage, amps, element resistance,
etc, and all are within the manufacturers specs. I'm thinking where the
problem maybe is with the Bartlet Controller. I have been getting Error
1 messages which means the kiln is not raising at least 12 degrees per
22 minutes. This is only happening as the kiln approaches cone 4 which
isn't very far at all from cone 6 in temperature. If the kiln fails to
do that the controller automatically turns off the kiln. It seems that
the fan must be sucking too much hot air from the kiln, thus slowing
the rate of temperature rise, thus causing the controller to turn off
the kiln. . . Since this is a glaze firing and not a bisque I am not
concerned with organic materials burning off too much. I will probably
do a test firing on Monday and not even turn on the fan to see what
happens.
Thanks to everyone that replied,
Kim
> Dear Kim,
>
> It is possible that your kiln is underpowered. I had one of those. They
> are fixable, but they will no longer be UL approved. As for leaving the
> vent on, I have a double vent system from Orton, so the actual fan does
> not live under the kiln. There's a metallic hose leading from the fan
> box to another box that gets wedged under the holes in the bottom of
> the
> kiln. (There are two hoses--one for each kiln.) If you're going to need
> to turn the vent off, I'm sure Orton could help you with getting a
> setup
> put together that will work for a single kiln. The really expensive
> part
> of the vent system will always be the fan itself, and you have that.
>
> Best of luck,
>
> Cindy in SD
>
> _______________________________________________________________________
> _______
> 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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