Patricia A. Boerio on sat 14 sep 02
This is my first posting to clayart. I've been working with clay for over=
14 years at a local Rec. center and decided to dive in, feet first, by
buying my own kiln, wheel, etc. and setting up a studio at home. I'm
sitting here on Sat. night after doing my first test firing with my SKUTT=
1227. I babysat the kiln all day and recorded firing temps at each half
hour and monitored the room temp and humidity. I fired at cone 04, empty=
kiln except my freshly kilnwashed shelves and my new kiln posts.
All went according to plan. The firing took 7.5 hours to reach the top
temp of 1946. I got the CPLT ( complete ) message on the kilnmaster and t=
he
kiln temp started to decrease and has continued to decrease. The kiln is =
at
1617 degrees and it's been 50 minutes since I received the Complete
message. I've noticed that the elements are still glowing red and have
been for almost 1 hour.
I've read all the manuals provided, looked online and watched the Skutt
Video tape provided with the kiln. I thought I was prepared, but I guess
you don't know what you don't know, so you don't know what questions to a=
sk
until "something happens".
Bottom line: I don't know what to do next. Can someone provide some
guidance. I'm hoping this is how things are supposed to happen. =
Should I shut off the power to the kiln once it reaches the top temp and =
I
get the Complete message or should I let the kiln count down the temp eve=
n
though the elements are still red and should the elements still be red or=
should they have gone "off" as soon as the kiln hit top temp and I got th=
e
Complete message. =
Also, I monitored the kiln room temp during firing. At the end of firing
the room temp was 96 degrees - OUCH!!! We're sweating over here! The cats=
are whining and the dog fell asleep. I have a fan on and the kiln is set=
up with an Orton downdraft vent which has been on since the start of
firing. Is 96 degrees way out of line for the room temp? The room is smal=
l,
about 9 feet by 9 feet with two open doorways that go off to other parts =
of
my basement. The walls are cement block, floor cement, and ceiling
plasterboard.
I ended up adding a fan at one door way and pointed it in towards the roo=
m
to get air going. That seemed to slow the temp rise as the firing was
going. I noticed the kilnmaster has a max environment temp of 105 to 110
degrees. I was wondering if the room temp is to blame for the elements
staying red.
P.S. I can't tell you how much I have learned from the archive postings o=
f
clayart. I am so appreciative to find a group of people that share the sa=
me
interest and choose to see others with the same interest as friends and n=
ot
competitors. I've been in the corporate life and friends are hard to come=
by. It's all a game and everyone is the competition seems to be the
approach of the day
Ok, now it's been exactly an hour since the kiln showed the Complete
message. The elements are still red, but the temp has dropped to 1577.
Chris Schafale on sun 15 sep 02
Hi Patricia,
Congratulations on getting your first kiln! I remember that feeling
so vividly, as it was only a few years ago for me.
As far as your dilemma is concerned, here's what I think. At top
temperature, EVERYTHING is glowing in your kiln. As long as you
don't hear the clicking of the relays turning on and off, and the
temperature continues to drop, the elements are probably not still
being powered, even if they are red.
Normally, with this kiln, you should be able to go away and forget
about it once you get that CPLT message. From then on, it will
cool down on its own-- no need to shut off the power.
Happy firing! And feel free to keep asking questions.
Chris
Date sent: Sat, 14 Sep 2002 21:55:26 -0400
Send reply to: Ceramic Arts Discussion List
From: "Patricia A. Boerio"
Subject: Kiln elements still read after firing is
complete
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
> This is my first posting to clayart. I've been working with clay for over
> 14 years at a local Rec. center and decided to dive in, feet first, by
> buying my own kiln, wheel, etc. and setting up a studio at home. I'm
> sitting here on Sat. night after doing my first test firing with my SKUTT
> 1227. I babysat the kiln all day and recorded firing temps at each half
> hour and monitored the room temp and humidity. I fired at cone 04, empty
> kiln except my freshly kilnwashed shelves and my new kiln posts.
>
> All went according to plan. The firing took 7.5 hours to reach the top
> temp of 1946. I got the CPLT ( complete ) message on the kilnmaster and the
> kiln temp started to decrease and has continued to decrease. The kiln is at
> 1617 degrees and it's been 50 minutes since I received the Complete
> message. I've noticed that the elements are still glowing red and have
> been for almost 1 hour.
>
> I've read all the manuals provided, looked online and watched the Skutt
> Video tape provided with the kiln. I thought I was prepared, but I guess
> you don't know what you don't know, so you don't know what questions to ask
> until "something happens".
>
> Bottom line: I don't know what to do next. Can someone provide some
> guidance. I'm hoping this is how things are supposed to happen.
>
> Should I shut off the power to the kiln once it reaches the top temp and I
> get the Complete message or should I let the kiln count down the temp even
> though the elements are still red and should the elements still be red or
> should they have gone "off" as soon as the kiln hit top temp and I got the
> Complete message.
>
> Also, I monitored the kiln room temp during firing. At the end of firing
> the room temp was 96 degrees - OUCH!!! We're sweating over here! The cats
> are whining and the dog fell asleep. I have a fan on and the kiln is set
> up with an Orton downdraft vent which has been on since the start of
> firing. Is 96 degrees way out of line for the room temp? The room is small,
> about 9 feet by 9 feet with two open doorways that go off to other parts of
> my basement. The walls are cement block, floor cement, and ceiling
> plasterboard.
> I ended up adding a fan at one door way and pointed it in towards the room
> to get air going. That seemed to slow the temp rise as the firing was
> going. I noticed the kilnmaster has a max environment temp of 105 to 110
> degrees. I was wondering if the room temp is to blame for the elements
> staying red.
>
> P.S. I can't tell you how much I have learned from the archive postings of
> clayart. I am so appreciative to find a group of people that share the same
> interest and choose to see others with the same interest as friends and not
> competitors. I've been in the corporate life and friends are hard to come
> by. It's all a game and everyone is the competition seems to be the
> approach of the day
>
> Ok, now it's been exactly an hour since the kiln showed the Complete
> message. The elements are still red, but the temp has dropped to 1577.
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> 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.
>
Light One Candle Pottery
Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, USA
(south of Raleigh)
candle@intrex.net
http://www.lightonecandle.com
Chris Schafale on sun 15 sep 02
Oh, forgot to address your question about heat in the room. No,
that isn't unusual, especially in such a small room. My basement
studio is more like 15x16, and it still gets really warm in there when
I fire. It's usually pretty unpleasant to be there during a firing and
for most of the day afterwards in the summer. It also heats up my
house noticeably, especially in the room immediately above the
kiln, where the floor is actually warm. In the wintertime, several
hours after a firing is the best time to be in the studio, since it's nice
and toasty warm (no heat in there otherwise).
The room temp would have nothing to do with the elements staying
red. It's WAY hotter inside the kiln. It's just that everything in the
kiln is that hot. Just wait until you fire real pots and can see the
whole load, pots, bricks, and all, glowing yellow. Quite a sight.
Chris
Date sent: Sat, 14 Sep 2002 21:55:26 -0400
Send reply to: Ceramic Arts Discussion List
From: "Patricia A. Boerio"
Subject: Kiln elements still read after firing is
complete
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
> This is my first posting to clayart. I've been working with clay for over
> 14 years at a local Rec. center and decided to dive in, feet first, by
> buying my own kiln, wheel, etc. and setting up a studio at home. I'm
> sitting here on Sat. night after doing my first test firing with my SKUTT
> 1227. I babysat the kiln all day and recorded firing temps at each half
> hour and monitored the room temp and humidity. I fired at cone 04, empty
> kiln except my freshly kilnwashed shelves and my new kiln posts.
>
> All went according to plan. The firing took 7.5 hours to reach the top
> temp of 1946. I got the CPLT ( complete ) message on the kilnmaster and the
> kiln temp started to decrease and has continued to decrease. The kiln is at
> 1617 degrees and it's been 50 minutes since I received the Complete
> message. I've noticed that the elements are still glowing red and have
> been for almost 1 hour.
>
> I've read all the manuals provided, looked online and watched the Skutt
> Video tape provided with the kiln. I thought I was prepared, but I guess
> you don't know what you don't know, so you don't know what questions to ask
> until "something happens".
>
> Bottom line: I don't know what to do next. Can someone provide some
> guidance. I'm hoping this is how things are supposed to happen.
>
> Should I shut off the power to the kiln once it reaches the top temp and I
> get the Complete message or should I let the kiln count down the temp even
> though the elements are still red and should the elements still be red or
> should they have gone "off" as soon as the kiln hit top temp and I got the
> Complete message.
>
> Also, I monitored the kiln room temp during firing. At the end of firing
> the room temp was 96 degrees - OUCH!!! We're sweating over here! The cats
> are whining and the dog fell asleep. I have a fan on and the kiln is set
> up with an Orton downdraft vent which has been on since the start of
> firing. Is 96 degrees way out of line for the room temp? The room is small,
> about 9 feet by 9 feet with two open doorways that go off to other parts of
> my basement. The walls are cement block, floor cement, and ceiling
> plasterboard.
> I ended up adding a fan at one door way and pointed it in towards the room
> to get air going. That seemed to slow the temp rise as the firing was
> going. I noticed the kilnmaster has a max environment temp of 105 to 110
> degrees. I was wondering if the room temp is to blame for the elements
> staying red.
>
> P.S. I can't tell you how much I have learned from the archive postings of
> clayart. I am so appreciative to find a group of people that share the same
> interest and choose to see others with the same interest as friends and not
> competitors. I've been in the corporate life and friends are hard to come
> by. It's all a game and everyone is the competition seems to be the
> approach of the day
>
> Ok, now it's been exactly an hour since the kiln showed the Complete
> message. The elements are still red, but the temp has dropped to 1577.
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> 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.
>
Light One Candle Pottery
Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, USA
(south of Raleigh)
candle@intrex.net
http://www.lightonecandle.com
Arnold Howard on mon 16 sep 02
--- "Patricia A. Boerio" wrote:
I fired at cone
> 04, empty
> kiln except my freshly kilnwashed shelves and my new kiln posts.
>
> All went according to plan. The firing took 7.5 hours to reach
> the top
> temp of 1946. I got the CPLT ( complete ) message on the
> kilnmaster and the
> kiln temp started to decrease and has continued to decrease. The
> kiln is at
> 1617 degrees and it's been 50 minutes since I received the
> Complete
> message. I've noticed that the elements are still glowing red
> and have
> been for almost 1 hour.
>
> Should I shut off the power to the kiln once it reaches the top
> temp and I
> get the Complete message or should I let the kiln count down the
> temp even
> though the elements are still red and should the elements still
> be red or
> should they have gone "off" as soon as the kiln hit top temp and
> I got the
> Complete message.
It would cause no harm to manually turn off the power after the
CPLT message appears. The power to the elements has turned off,
anyway. The way you can tell that the power has turned off: has the
kiln temperature stopped rising? If the temperature is dropping,
the power is off.
Someone else on Clayart mentioned that if you still hear the
clicking sound, the elements are still powered. That's correct.
Even most kilns with silent mercury relays use a driver relay that
clicks.
Whenever the elements turn on, you will probably hear a faint
humming sound. That is another sign that they are under power.
You should definitely disconnect the power after the kiln has
cooled to room temperature. I would never leave a kiln connected to
the power when not in use. The easiest way to disconnect the power
is to have a power disconnect box near the kiln. Otherwise you will
need to unplug the kiln, which eventually causes wear in the wall
outlet.
> Also, I monitored the kiln room temp during firing. At the end of
> firing
> the room temp was 96 degrees - OUCH!!! We're sweating over here!
Is 96 degrees way out of line for the room temp? The room
> is small,
> about 9 feet by 9 feet with two open doorways that go off to
> other parts of
> my basement. The walls are cement block, floor cement, and
> ceiling
> plasterboard.
> I ended up adding a fan at one door way and pointed it in towards
> the room
> to get air going.
Using fans at the doorways is an excellent way to lower room
temperature.
Where did you measure 96 deg. F? If it was across the room from the
kiln, then the temperature may, indeed, be too high. You should
measure temperature about 3' from the kiln. The temperature at that
distance should never exceed approx. 110 deg. F. If it does, the
kiln switch box is getting too hot. Excess room temperature will
damage the digital controller.
110 deg. F. and below is okay.
Someone in Oklahoma two summers ago complained of switches burning
out on their studio kilns. I discovered that the room temperature
was around 125 - 130 deg. F. That is very hard on a kiln and also a
possible fire hazard.
That seemed to slow the temp rise as the firing
> was
> going. I noticed the kilnmaster has a max environment temp of 105
> to 110
> degrees. I was wondering if the room temp is to blame for the
> elements
> staying red.
Room temperature would not cause the redness of the elements.
Patricia, you've asked some very good questions. Good luck with
your firings!
Arnold Howard
Paragon Industries, Inc.
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