Now what do I do?

A

akey

Well-Known Member
I bought this off of ebay for $175 on Monday and got it on Wednesday. I heated up a blade I had made for practice that was off of a giant old sawmill blade I bought at a garage sale. It took about 30 mins to get to non-magnetic. It has no control, just plug it in and let it heat up. The spec label says the max temp is 1650. Any tips or advice on using it to its max potential and a way to regulate the temp would be greatly appreciated. I know nothing about kilns so use words of 3 syllables or less, please! :biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:


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An oven without heat control is no better than a forge for HT. Put it back on ebay and save your money for one that will do the job.
 
LRB said:
An oven without heat control is no better than a forge for HT. Put it back on ebay and save your money for one that will do the job.
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People have been using forges for successful heat treating for a few years I have heard. :5: For the foreseeable future I will be using 1080 so I think I can manage with this from the comfort of my garage instead of in the backyard on my home made forge. I appreciate the advice and one day I will upgrade but for now this will have to do.
 
Rudy Joly said:
At the very least you need one of these wired in to your power supply and heating coils. Also a pyrometer of some sort.
http://www.debmark.com/Kilns/Evenheat/Infinite Switch Control.shtml
http://www.baileypottery.com/kilns/pyrometers.htm
http://www.clay-king.com/pyrometer.htm For the thrifty minded person.

You can step it up and join the 21st century with one of these.

http://www.debmark.com/Kilns/Evenheat/RM II Handheld.shtml

Good luck,
Rudy
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Good information here, thank you!!
 
I believe a temperature controller of some sort will be a must or you will still be in a "guess and by golly" state that won't help much. Rudy gave you lots of practical leads on that. Frank
 
That will be so easy to add a GOOD PID controller to. Perhaps a Auber ($50 or so) along with the Thermocouple and ceramic insulators - all from Auber for less than $100 and you'll have MUCH better temperature control than the typical knife oven.

I think this would work: http://www.auberins.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=106

and this: http://www.auberins.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=20_3&products_id=39

edit: I forgot to add the SSR for element control - that's another $15 or so, but will total cost will be around $100.

Again, total cost well less than $100 shipped.

Ken H>
 
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Frank Niro said:
I believe a temperature controller of some sort will be a must or you will still be in a "guess and by golly" state that won't help much. Rudy gave you lots of practical leads on that. Frank
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You are sure right there. Hopefully I can find a means of controlling the temp without getting a red card from my budget auditor (wife). :biggrin:
 
KenH said:
That will be so easy to add a GOOD PID controller to. Perhaps a Auber ($50 or so) along with the Thermocouple and ceramic insulators - all from Auber for less than $100 and you'll have MUCH better temperature control than the typical knife oven.

I think this would work: http://www.auberins.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=106

and this: http://www.auberins.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=20_3&products_id=39

edit: I forgot to add the SSR for element control - that's another $15 or so, but will total cost will be around $100.

Again, total cost well less than $100 shipped.

Ken H>
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info and links. I think my problem is I don't know what to do with these if I bought them. I am completely ignorant when it comes to this stuff.
 
The simplest solution would be to get the infinite switch and wire one leg from your power IN To the switch, leave the other power line connected in the junction box on the back of your unit. Run one wire from the OUT side of the switch back to the heating coil. If you can't afford the "project box"....use tupperware. Get the cheap pyrometer and stick the sensor in that little hole in the oven. THIS MAY BE UNSAFE, but I'd try it just to get going....you never know till you try.

Rudy

Rudy
 
Akey,
I have a similar kiln I found on Ebay. IMHO, get a thermometer for checking the blade temperature. Here is a basic one that is good to 1000 degrees C.
http://www.auberins.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=17&products_id=199
I have my kiln plugged into a surge protector with its own circuit breaker. I have been using O1 and 1080+. Recommended temperature on both is 1450F to 1500F. when the temp hits 1475, I turn the kiln off, when temp hits 1460, i turn it back on(same thing the PID controller would do). I have a PID controller from Aubrins. At the office I work with controllers from Watlow, allen/bradley, Red Lion, and Omega. they have to be the most user unfriendly electronic components I have worked with in 40 years of electronic repair.
 
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