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double-probe in gas kiln

updated sun 28 jan 01

 

Mark & Sylvia Mondloch on sat 27 jan 01


I think I'm in love with my new Fluke double-probe pyrometer. I mounted the
probe on the door of my MFT car-kiln. One probe I stuck in the top-back. For
the other probe I drilled two holes in the door- one towards the top and one
way at the bottom so I can take it out of one and stick in the other during
firing if I want. This thing is so sensitive that I can tell immediately
where the heat is going when I make a change with damper, pressure or gas
volume. By dampering in to increase pressure, I can push heat to the front.
By pulling the damper out just a bit, the front cools off and the back rises
quicker. Combined with the atmosphere readings from the oxy-probe I feel
like I've learned more in the last two firings then I had trying to figure
out what the heck I'm doing in this kiln for the last couple years. The
oxy-probe gives a temp reading too so I hadn't thought that this probe would
be as great as a help as it is. But there is no comparison. Although the
oxy-probe is great for atmosphere reading, the temp readings are very slow
to register and wildly inaccurate when it will give me a temp reading at
all.

Just so tickled pink today because I feel like I'm finally on the right
track,
Sylvia Mondloch

Mark & Sylvia Mondloch
Silver Creek Pottery & Forge
W6725 Hwy 144
Random Lake, WI 53075

silvercreek@execpc.com
http://www.execpc.com/silvercreek