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Hi: A Firing to Long (FTL) alarm may suggest you have an element that is no longer functioning properly. Do you have additional switches on your kiln, one that might have got turned down? As mentioned previously, check that your thermocouple is installed correctly. Check the thermocouple for small h...

Kevin: I also use side element ceramic kilns for glass work. I ramp up a little slower, hold to let the heat even out at 1050 degrees ( Spectrum 96) and fuse or slump with no problem. It depends on what you are trying to do. It's hard to do anything with FRIT or ClearCapping without top elements as ...

Hi:
Tell me more informatiion. Elements can be replaced, electrical can be repaired. Broken bricks can be replaced. All depends how much, time versus money, you wish to spend. I have almost ten years experience in repairing ceramic and glass kilns. Would be happy to share info.
Rich

Jerry: I would check for loose connections. Bad crimp, loose wire, etc. If #6 element was bad from the start, this makes bad connections a distinct possibility. Pull on all the wires, gently, see if anything else falls apart. Does anybody apply glaze in the kiln? (some do). Glaze on elements will ma...

Jerry: Tell us more information. The two elements that burned out, where?, in the middle or at the ends where the connectors are at? Are you just doing Glass or are you doing other things in the kiln? Carbon burnouts? Wax casting? What temperature? Some atmospheres are detrimental to elements. Therm...

Phil:
I agree, what I meant was that I did not remember if Paragon included the thermocouple with the controller or charged extra for it as an add on item.
I'm assuming Kay bought a TnF-2 series, which is Paragon's Portable Controller.
Rich

Mike: Check with Bart Turner "www.turnerironandglass.com", or E-mail him at "turner@turneronfire". Bart has been doing hand forged iron and float glass for years. You will be amazed at what people like Bart Turner, Bert Weiss, and many others, can do with Iron and Glass. Rich Ede...

Kay: The wiring diagrams may just be for future reference. Most company's include them so your controller can be repaired in later years, if need be. I agree with Phil, if the controller has a receptacle for your plug, and is in a stand-alone-box, it should be complete and ready to go. You may or ma...

Molly: Since both kilns are 115-120 volt, and both plug into the same standard 15 amp outlet, you can use one controller for both. Firing kiln#1 - Plug controller into outlet, insert thermocouple into kiln, plug kiln#1 into controller. Fire! After cool down, controller shuts off, usually says "...

Check out KILN-TEC Controllers at http://www.kilntec.com. Let me know the amperage & voltage, I would be glad to give you a quote. I've been building controllers since 1994. Even if you buy somewhere else, feel free to pick my brain. Bartlett makes two different circuit boards, the V6-CF, which ...

Bob: Make sure you inform your element designer that you want higher temp's than normal for glass fusing. A lot of glass kilns are built with "nichrome" elements which top out at about 1900 degrees. Fine for most work, but not if you're melting glass. If you use "Kanthol A-1" wir...

Michelle:
Check out "www.pattygray.com". A very nice site (and person) full of information on combing. Patty Gray's website will give you a tour and teach you a lot, including a "how to" section.
Rich Edelman http://www.kilntec.com

Luiza: Use Sairset (refractory cement) to patch the floor. If you have large cracks or holes, leave some out until it semi-hardens then press into cracks. Then heat with a propane torch until it hardens completely. Then take a sanding block and sand down the rough edges. Do not get the refractory ce...

Dear Pam: Listen to Kitty, I agree 100%. In a previous life (b4 Glass), I had the Fire Dept. write me up for having a plastic wastebasket in the washroom. ( Kent, Wa.) I mentioned that the Toilet Paper & Paper Towels might be more flammable than the wastebasket. Fire Dept. not amused. Me neither...

Congratulations Becky Bergsma! Very nice article for some very nice work.
Rich Edelman KILN-TEC

Steve: You must have a Bartlett V6-CF controller which is geared towards ceramics. Try the Bartlett RTC-1000 circuit board, same wiring hook-up, but you can "edit on the fly' while running, ie: change temp., rate of rise, etc. I have both and the RTC-1000 is much better for glass work. You coul...

I agree with Jerry. We have tried using super spray while slumping Spectrum, and it does not get hot enough at slumping temperatures. You will have to fire to fusing temp.
Rich Edelman http://www.kilntec.com

Geo: I bought a used lid and bottom and then took my 23 x 18 ceramic kiln and made it two 23 x 9 glass kilns. Glass kilns like to be wide and shallow (in my world) while ceramic kilns like to be deep and narrow. I don't like stacking shelves because I get too much heat work at the top. I only have s...

Welcome to the world of kilnformed glass! You do need to control how fast you ramp up and down, the larger the piece, the slower you go. You will also need to hold & anneal your glass on the cool down side. Is your kiln fiber or bricks? It makes a difference on how far down you have to control i...

Has anyone tried cutting 3/4" & 1" mullite rods with inexpensive wet tile cutters such as Harbor Freight, Lowes,etc.
Rich Edelman http://www.kilntec.com
http://www.artnglasstudio.com