Arnold Howard on tue 3 may 05
Cone 10 electric kilns ordinarily draw more amperage than equivalent cone 8
kilns. If you fired a cone 10 kiln side by side with a cone 8 kiln of equal
size and insulation to the same cone number, the firing cost should be the
same.
If the kilns are digital and programmed the same, they should shut off at
roughly the same time. So it is only logical that the cone 10 would cost
more to fire. But the reason firing cost would be the same is that the cone
10 kiln would cycle on for shorter periods than would the cone 8 kiln.
(Digital kilns cycle on and off throughout most of the firing. That's why
they make a clicking noise.)
Many cone 10 kilns use mercury relays instead of mechanical relays. The
mercury relay lasts many times longer than the mechanical. Elements are also
heavier and draw more amperage, so they last longer.
If I were firing to cone 6 and had the money, I would buy a cone 10 kiln.
Sincerely,
Arnold Howard
Paragon Industries, L.P., Mesquite, Texas USA
arnoldhoward@att.net / www.paragonweb.com
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From: "Meera Vaidyanathan"
We are divided on
what type of kiln to purchase for the studio. One that fires to cone 8 or
cone 10? I have read that cone 10 kilns are expensive to fire--is that true?
We will mostly be using cone 6 glazes and lustres. One of the kilns that we
are considering is a Skutt 1227-3, but I believe that they only fire to cone
8. Are there any advantages to paying more for a kiln that fires to cone 10?
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