Holly Shaw on fri 3 jun 05
I usually just lurk but this is actually my second posting this year, my
timidity is waning!
We are looking to purchase a test kiln and are considering the Aim
1110 from Baileys. It's listed as having 2 1/2" brick plus a 1/2" fiber
blanket lining. Goes to ^8, has 1 infinite switch and a Kiln Sitter shut
off. Interior is 11" D x 10" H.
Anyone with knowledge or experience using this kiln, or comments
about it's features or Aim in general? Any suggestions of a better
choice?
Thanks !
Holly in CT.
John Hesselberth on fri 3 jun 05
On Jun 3, 2005, at 11:05 AM, Holly Shaw wrote:
> Anyone with knowledge or experience using this kiln, or comments
> about it's features or Aim in general? Any suggestions of a better
> choice?
Hi Holly,
I don't have any experience with Aim kilns; however, I have a caution
about buying a test kiln. If you want to match results from it in a
bigger kiln it is essential to be able to match the heating and cooling
profiles (cooling more so than heating) between the test and larger
kiln. Since test kilns have very little mass they tend to cool very
rapidly. While you can fire down manually if you have a thermocouple
and try to match the cooling profile of your larger kiln, that requires
constant attention every firing. I personally would not have a test
kiln that was not computer controlled--it makes reproducing your
results in your larger kiln much, much easier.
Regards,
John
John Hesselberth
http://www.frogpondpottery.com
http://www.masteringglazes.com
Marcia Selsor on fri 3 jun 05
I have a small crucible test kiln and a friend has a Paragon. I
personally love having a test kiln large enough to fire small pieces.
I just fired six "postcards" for a postcard show at my local gallery.
They all fit into my test kiln. I put a 2" thick piece of ceramic
fiber on the lid and sometimes an extra shelf inside to slow the
cooling.
Marcia Selsor
Montana
On Jun 3, 2005, at 9:05 AM, Holly Shaw wrote:
> I usually just lurk but this is actually my second posting this
> year, my
> timidity is waning!
> We are looking to purchase a test kiln and are considering the Aim
> 1110 from Baileys. It's listed as having 2 1/2" brick plus a 1/2"
> fiber
> blanket lining. Goes to ^8, has 1 infinite switch and a Kiln Sitter
> shut
> off. Interior is 11" D x 10" H.
> Anyone with knowledge or experience using this kiln, or comments
> about it's features or Aim in general? Any suggestions of a better
> choice?
> Thanks !
>
> Holly in CT.
>
> ______________________________________________________________________
> ________
> 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.
>
>
linda on fri 3 jun 05
Hi Holly - I used an Aim 88 for a test kiln (cone 6 ox.) for quite some
time. When I used the same glazes in a larger kiln, I saw different results.
Eventhough I loved the kiln, I sold it and bought a Skutt KM 818 that I use
as a test kiln and a small batch bisque kiln. The kiln controller allows me
to come close to the results I get in my KM 1027, but there are still
some differences.
The best thing I ever did was to call Tech Support at Skutt. They were terrific!!
They helped me to design a ramp/hold program for both kilns that allows
me to get the same results in both kilns - Good Luck
Linda
-----Original Message-----
From: John Hesselberth
Sent: Jun 3, 2005 2:53 PM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Re: Aim test kiln
On Jun 3, 2005, at 11:05 AM, Holly Shaw wrote:
> Anyone with knowledge or experience using this kiln, or comments
> about it's features or Aim in general? Any suggestions of a better
> choice?
Hi Holly,
I don't have any experience with Aim kilns; however, I have a caution
about buying a test kiln. If you want to match results from it in a
bigger kiln it is essential to be able to match the heating and cooling
profiles (cooling more so than heating) between the test and larger
kiln. Since test kilns have very little mass they tend to cool very
rapidly. While you can fire down manually if you have a thermocouple
and try to match the cooling profile of your larger kiln, that requires
constant attention every firing. I personally would not have a test
kiln that was not computer controlled--it makes reproducing your
results in your larger kiln much, much easier.
Regards,
John
John Hesselberth
http://www.frogpondpottery.com
http://www.masteringglazes.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.
Gail Heilmann on mon 6 jun 05
Hi Holly!
I have an Aim Test Kiln just as you described and have used
it for probably 6-8 years. It has been a faithful work-horse for me.
I use it for firing clay jewelry pieces. I will say that because the
elements are so close to the piece being fired that I do get
different results that in my larger kilns. It certainly helps me as
a test for glazes and clays because I get a 'generic' result, but
it is not totally, exactly like the same glazein my
Skuttt KM-1027 and Skutt-1227PK.
gail j. heilmann
potter in the black hills of south dakota
Al Strauss on mon 13 jun 05
On Fri, 3 Jun 2005 11:05:42 -0400, Holly Shaw wrote:
>I usually just lurk but this is actually my second posting this year, my
>timidity is waning!
>We are looking to purchase a test kiln and are considering the Aim
>1110 from Baileys. It's listed as having 2 1/2" brick plus a 1/2" fiber
>blanket lining. Goes to ^8, has 1 infinite switch and a Kiln Sitter shut
>off. Interior is 11" D x 10" H.
>Anyone with knowledge or experience using this kiln, or comments
>about it's features or Aim in general? Any suggestions of a better
>choice?
>Thanks !
>
>Holly in CT.
>
>__________________________________________________________________________
____
>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.
I have this kiln but with an electronic controller - It is the 120V model.
In order to keep it within the standard household wall outlet current I
found that it is under powered and barely makes it to cone 6. Temperature
change at this point is about 1 degree per minute. So I would recommend it
only for earthenware applicatrions which only require cone 04.
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