Ryan Clyde-Rich on sat 30 jul 05
Hi,
When replacing elements in electric kilns the most tedious part is always
removing and replacing the pins. I doubt there is any way to speed up the
process of removing. I usually use a pair of needle-nose pliers and a
flashlight. Putting the new pins in is where I am hoping to save some time
and aggravation. I have heard that people use thimbles (for sewing) to push
the pins in, but that method has never worked very well for me. I usually
end up armed with the needle-nose pliers and flashlight again hunched over
in the kiln. So the question is: Does anybody have any tips on how they
replace pins or even better a tool that holds pins (maybe even
automatically feeds them)?
Thanks,
Ryan Clyde-Rich
Krueger Pottery, Inc.
www.kruegerpottery.com
Wayne Seidl on sat 30 jul 05
Ok, Ryan, since you asked :
I use a piece of a wooden clothespin. The kind with the spring in
the middle. Take it apart.
Throw away one leg and the spring.
Now you have one "leg" left. In the skinny end, (the part you would
grip with your fingers, not the jaw end) cut a notch like a "V"
(from side to side). Use a knife (or whatever) and round that notch
so that you have a curve that approximates the curve of the pins.
Now for the hard part...
Along that curve, carve in a groove, thinner than the diameter of
the element pin wire. (You might be able to split the end so that
when wrapped with an elastic, it will hold the pin in place at the
curve. I used a soldering iron to get the groove I wanted, without
splitting the wood.
Insert the pin into your "tool", and then into the kiln around the
element. Pushing the tool up toward the lid or down toward the
bottom of the kiln once the pin is inserted will loosen it enough to
remove it without disturbing the pin or the element.
Pliers can nick the element wire. I wouldn't recommend using metal
pliers, as wood is so much safer. Obviously, the kiln should be
unplugged for this whole deal ...and cold.
Hope that helps,
Wayne Seidl
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of Ryan
Clyde-Rich
Sent: Saturday, July 30, 2005 2:48 PM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Kiln Element Pin Tool
Hi,
When replacing elements in electric kilns the most tedious part is
always
removing and replacing the pins. I doubt there is any way to speed
up the
process of removing. I usually use a pair of needle-nose pliers and
a
flashlight. Putting the new pins in is where I am hoping to save
some time
and aggravation. I have heard that people use thimbles (for sewing)
to push
the pins in, but that method has never worked very well for me. I
usually
end up armed with the needle-nose pliers and flashlight again
hunched over
in the kiln. So the question is: Does anybody have any tips on how
they
replace pins or even better a tool that holds pins (maybe even
automatically feeds them)?
Thanks,
Ryan Clyde-Rich
Krueger Pottery, Inc.
www.kruegerpottery.com
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Earl Brunner on sun 31 jul 05
Don't know about the tool idea, but if your kiln is built out of rings, take
it apart and get the ring you are working on up higher so you aren't hanging
down inside the kiln upside down..... I never do one element without doing
them all anyway.
Earl Brunner
Las Vegas, NV
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of Ryan Clyde-Rich
Sent: Saturday, July 30, 2005 11:48 AM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Kiln Element Pin Tool
Hi,
When replacing elements in electric kilns the most tedious part is always
removing and replacing the pins. I doubt there is any way to speed up the
process of removing. I usually use a pair of needle-nose pliers and a
flashlight. Putting the new pins in is where I am hoping to save some time
and aggravation. I have heard that people use thimbles (for sewing) to push
the pins in, but that method has never worked very well for me. I usually
end up armed with the needle-nose pliers and flashlight again hunched over
in the kiln. So the question is: Does anybody have any tips on how they
replace pins or even better a tool that holds pins (maybe even
automatically feeds them)?
Thanks,
Ryan Clyde-Rich
Krueger Pottery, Inc.
www.kruegerpottery.com
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