WarmGlass.com

Hey all- I'm back for another questions since you're all so helpful.

I use a Quickfire kiln (ceramic test kiln) to fuse jewelry pieces. I'm wondering if anyone has tried using a rheostat to slow/hold temps on their Quikfires. I have a rheostat I use for my stained glass soldering iron. I was thinking about using it to control my heat in order to hold a temp at 960 for bead annealing. Currently, I just stand there, turning on and off as needed. That's okay for short firings, but if I forget to set my timer, it's all over but the crying.

The manufacturer of this kiln claims it can be used for bead annealing, porcelain painting, etc, but I believe to do that you need an expensive controller. If that's the case, I guess I just need to save for a bigger/better kiln. Just wondering.

Denise,

I recently purchased an infinite switch from EK Miller Co for $40 dollars. I have a cermanics kiln that is older than me and I'm old and it works great.

Richard

Denise S wrote: The manufacturer of this kiln claims it can be used for bead annealing, porcelain painting, etc, but I believe to do that you need an expensive controller. If that's the case, I guess I just need to save for a bigger/better kiln. Just wondering.

Years ago I bought an infinate switch specifically made for this kiln. It was $60. I just did a google search and it is still available at the same price. It works like a charm.

Carol

I bought a rheostat for my RapidFire. However, I don't believe you would be able to anneal with a rheostat. I set mine on "1" and let it climb for 90 minutes to reach 1550 for jewelry. Even on the lowest setting it will still climb. I don't anneal small items.

Judy

I have described one way of dealing with this in

Large Rural Mailbox Annealer, or Annealer Temperature Management for Jacks
http://www2.cemr.wvu.edu/~venable/rmi/s ... ailbox.pdf

This is cheaper than an "infinite heat switch". By the way, true rheostats are seldom used as controllers now.

The temperature measurement discussion is in
http://www2.cemr.wvu.edu/~venable/rmi/s ... ermo-1.pdf

I too bought the $40 EK Miller infinite switch, for an older kiln that is used ALOT! I LOVE IT more than I can say. It is wonderful, and makes an older kiln with no controls quite useful again! I cannot say enough about it. It's great!

molly wrote:I too bought the $40 EK Miller infinite switch, for an older kiln that is used ALOT! I LOVE IT more than I can say. It is wonderful, and makes an older kiln with no controls quite useful again! I cannot say enough about it. It's great!

me too

Works like a charm.

Ron