Lili Krakowski on thu 23 sep 04
True story. A young potter friend had worked at an institution that =
decided to give up clay. They offered her the old kiln for something =
like $250. She asked me, and I said NO. Too much. A few weeks went =
by, they called, and said "She is yours for $100." She said no. A few =
weeks more and they said "Kiln is yours for free, will you come get it?" =
I told her to get gas money--don't know if she did.
The kiln you describe is a wreck. The dangling element is an indicator =
of ill health. The chipped brick, ditto. If some brick is bad the =
rest, most likely, is not well either. =20
There is a way of testing how good elements are, how much life is left =
in them. It requires meters I do not know how to use, and is =
electrician territory. If the elements are discouraged the switches and =
the connection between the element pigtails and the switches are likely =
to be poor as well. nd then the plug might be too old.
Basically a kiln is the sum of its parts. And basically a kiln is like =
a person. If one part is really unhealthy, other parts likely are =
affected.
An old electric kiln can be rebuilt. I am sure several Clayarters have =
done it. I bet they will tell you, and it is a good learning =
experience.
Lili Krakowski
Be of good courage
Donna Nicosia on fri 24 sep 04
BOTH MY KILNS WERE PURCHASED USED AND DON'T KNOW HOW OLD THEY ARE. BUT I
FIGURED I WOULD TAKE THE CHANCE. I WAS A NEW POTTER AND THOUGHT "WHAT
THE HECK". I BOUGHT THE LARGE STUDIO SIZE KILN FOR $350.- AND TRIED TO
BARGAIN FOR A LOWER PRICE . THEY WOULDN'T BUDGE SO I ASKED IF THEY WOULD
DELIVER IT AND HOOK IT UP FOR ME. THEY AGREED. WHAT WAS NICE WAS THAT
THE HUSBAND IS AN ELECTRICIAN. THEY DIRECT WIRED IT FOR ME ON ITS OWN
LINE WITH A SAFETY SWITCH AND ALSO GAVE ME THE VENT AND VENTED IT OUT
FOR ME. SO , I FEEL I GOT A VERY GOOD BARGAIN. IT'S BEEN WORKING FINE
UNTIL WE HAD A POWER OUTAGE AND THE TRANSFORMER BURNT. I ORDERED A NEW
ONE AND REPLACED IT MYSELF AND IT'S AS GOOD AS NEW. I GUESS WHAT I'M
SAYING IS THAT LIKE WITH ANYTHING ELSE, YOU TAKE A CHANCE. THEY ARE
PRETTY BASIC MACHINES. OF COURSE, IT WOULD BE NICE TO BUY A BRAND NEW
ONE OF THESE DAYS. WHEN THESE GET BEYOND REPAIR I GUESS I WILL HAVE TO.
USED KILNS IN MY AREA ARE HARD TO COME BY. DONNA
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of Lili
Krakowski
Sent: Thursday, September 23, 2004 4:54 PM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Kiln for $350
True story. A young potter friend had worked at an institution that
decided to give up clay. They offered her the old kiln for something
like $250. She asked me, and I said NO. Too much. A few weeks went
by, they called, and said "She is yours for $100." She said no. A few
weeks more and they said "Kiln is yours for free, will you come get it?"
I told her to get gas money--don't know if she did.
The kiln you describe is a wreck. The dangling element is an indicator
of ill health. The chipped brick, ditto. If some brick is bad the
rest, most likely, is not well either.
There is a way of testing how good elements are, how much life is left
in them. It requires meters I do not know how to use, and is
electrician territory. If the elements are discouraged the switches and
the connection between the element pigtails and the switches are likely
to be poor as well. nd then the plug might be too old.
Basically a kiln is the sum of its parts. And basically a kiln is like
a person. If one part is really unhealthy, other parts likely are
affected.
An old electric kiln can be rebuilt. I am sure several Clayarters have
done it. I bet they will tell you, and it is a good learning
experience.
Lili Krakowski
Be of good courage
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