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new kiln sitter

updated fri 25 jun 04

 

Karen Sullivan on thu 24 jun 04


Carole...

I just replaced my kiln sitter
two days ago....

What you need is the tube assembly...
it comprises the tube and the prongs
that hold the cone. I got one for
$23.00...

You can contact WP Dawson,
and his company Kiln Sitter...
do a google search and the info
will come up...he is in Brea, California.
I think his site also has a pdf file
of drawings of the whole box and
you can see the parts that comprise
the kiln sitter...

ask for directions to install...
it took me about 3 minutes....
except I needed an allen wrench
for a couple of parts....that took more
time to find and apply to the needed
adjustments....the small metal
plate that sits in the middle of the
kiln sitter you take off...you unscrew
the box...pull to the side and remove
the tube assembly...then replace with
the new one...the entire box is probably fine...

So...yes you were taken....
the mis firing of cones is relatively
common...and mine did exactly what you
described...the cone melted and caused
the prongs to get stuck and the kiln
over fired.....
I do try to supervise the end phase
of a bisque firing just in case the
cones don't function correctly....
and I have manually turned off many kilns
and found cones that were beginning to
become blobs of goo...the cones boil and
become potential bloated wads the prevent
the kiln sitter from functioning correctly.

In the life of an electric kiln...the tube
assembly could be replaced a few times...
I had a 30 year old skutt..I think I replaced
the tube assembly twice....the kiln just kept
firing...sort of like the energizer bunny...
it kept going and going....
bamboo karen