Using kiln for the first time

[DragonflyLynne]

Well, I'm up to 520 degrees C, and holding. (I'm running through my annealing program, firing empty). The temp is fluctuating around 520. I knew it would do this - does anyone know how many degrees above and below is acceptable? I saw it go to 526 - is this too high, and should I perhaps change 520 to say 515 ish??

Sorry to be a pain. 

[June]

Well, I'm up to 520 degrees C, and holding. (I'm running through my annealing program, firing empty). The temp is fluctuating around 520. I knew it would do this - does anyone know how many degrees above and below is acceptable? I saw it go to 526 - is this too high, and should I perhaps change 520 to say 515 ish??

Sorry to be a pain. 

Lynne,
I ran mine dry to the 3rd setting, which was due to take it to 555 degrees and we've now just turned it off, so it has taken quite some time to cool down.  I will have a go with a couple of beads to about 520 degrees tomorrow, as was suggested in another thread.  I have also just got a pair of polarising filters from Sally, so I am going to try those with a transparent bead, too.  Will let you know!! 

[DragonflyLynne]

Thanks June, although I'm not sure what you are going to do with the filter!

Mine is cooling now. I knew it would fluctuate around 520 as the kiln maintained temperature, but I was worried that 6 degrees over was too much.

I'm sure we will look back in weeks to come and smile about our first firings! 

[Zeldazog]

I could be wrong on this, as I am neither a beadie or a kiln expert - but I don't think a few degrees matters too much

And also, I know that some in some kilns, the reading on the pyrometer/gauge isn't a true reading of the temperature where your glass actually is

I can't remember if it was on the Skutt Hotbox or on the Caldera (seen both in the flesh) it does say that the temperature reading at the thermocouple is a few degrees different to what the glass will be at.

And even the exact same models, two kilns will have differences. 

Remember to keep a log of your firing schedules when you do start, so you know what has worked, whether it has to be tweaked etc (hmm, and I am being really good and keeping a firing log of everything I have been doing......)

Lynne, the polarizing filters show up if there is any stresses in the glass

[glassworks]

6 degrees is no huge problem - did you use the "full" ramp to get up to 520?... the reason i ask is that if you do that the kin will ALWAYS overshoot slightly.. we use the ramp speed of 700 max - as this was suggested by the factory support guys to avoid the overshoot..

on the big pearl18 we have here for demo work, if you ramp at full it can overshoot by 100 as it really pours heat into the kiln - the controller is supposed to "learn" and this overshoot will progressively get smaller - but switching to 700 cut the overshoot and added only a few minutes to the warm up?..

[DragonflyLynne]

Thank you both.

I ramped slowly. I have only put in one program, for batch annealing, and I used that for the empty firing. I thought 6 degs C was a big difference - I'm glad it's not. When I saw it at 526, it was 19 minutes into the hold at 520.

And now the kiln is cold, the first firing is over, nothing drastic happened and the house is still standing. 

[mariag]

Glad that the "dry" run went OK Lynne. I've only done a few batch anneals & every time I keep running to the shed & checking

[DragonflyLynne]

Glad that the "dry" run went OK Lynne. I've only done a few batch anneals & every time I keep running to the shed & checking

Thanks Maria. I'm sure I'll keep checking too. 

[Kaz]

I have run about 4 batch anneals now and all has gone well. The only thing I would say is that I did use a piece of the sheet metal with the holes in to support the kebabs recommended in another thread and that oxidised a lot in the firing and sent out fumes and black bits. The beads looked horribly fumed when they came out but I ran them through the dishwasher on a hot cycle and they are fine now. Just waiting to clean off the bead release - my electric reamer from Martin came without the correct chuck for the diamond tips so I am stuck until he responds to my email about it. I will show and tell once I have had chance to clean and photograph my little productions!!!
Kaz

[DragonflyLynne]

I'm glad they cleaned up Kaz - dishwashers are very versatile! 

[June]

Thank you both.

I ramped slowly. I have only put in one program, for batch annealing, and I used that for the empty firing. I thought 6 degs C was a big difference - I'm glad it's not. When I saw it at 526, it was 19 minutes into the hold at 520.

And now the kiln is cold, the first firing is over, nothing drastic happened and the house is still standing. 

How did it go Lynne?  I've been playing catch up with all those I have made so far and run the programme through three or four times now - and, so far so good!   

[DragonflyLynne]

How did it go Lynne?  I've been playing catch up with all those I have made so far and run the programme through three or four times now - and, so far so good!   

So far so good, and regarding beads, I'm learning from my mistakes heehee! 

[June]

That'll be you and me both, then !!   

By the way, we're not that far away - I'm in Chesterfield.

Cheers,
June

[DragonflyLynne]

By the way, we're not that far away - I'm in Chesterfield.

Oh great, another neighbour!! Not far at all. 

[June]

We're gaining in numbers, us Midlands folk !!   (I'm originally from south of Watford Gap, so I can't quite get as far as describing myself as a northerner !!)