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Posted by Brad Sondahl on April 20, 2007, 7:24 pm
Please log in for more thread options Boris Mohar wrote:
> wrote:
>
>> Hi Folks,
>>
>> My firing times are increasing and the final ramp temperatures are
>> falling below those programmed so I'm thinking it's time for new
>> elements. Since this will be the first new set since I bought the
>> kiln, do you have any helpful advise for me?
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>> Sue - SRDura@hiwaay.net
>
>
> You will find the old elements to be very brittle and if thy are fitted
> snugly thy will not come out easily in one piece. First time when I tried to
> replace the elements in my wife's kiln, I was pulling out little bits at a
> time and it was talking forever. The solution is to heat the wire wit a
> propane torch as you are puling it put using long nose pliers. Heat makes
> the wire temporarly pliable and it comes out in one piece.
> When installing the wire, find a midpoint and insert it in the groove there,
> working towards both ends. That way the distribution will be better
> balanced. Make very sure that all of the coils are evenly distributed.
>
> --
> Boris
>
That's a good suggestion, that I wished I read before servicing my two
kilns yesterday. But it occurs to me that, assuming the elements aren't
already burned out, you could achieve a similar effect by turning them
on high for a couple minutes before removing them. In either case heavy
leather gloves and needlenose pliers to avoid burns would be essential.
This also might be the time to replace the thermocouple for the kind of
shut off you use, if it's in the housing for the elements.
As to replacing kiln elements, brands vary as to how to do it, what kind
of connectors, etc. Stainless steel crimp connections are common, and
if that's what you have, you'll need a crimping tool to tighten them.
Brad Sondahl
--
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