Hard Ceramic Element Holders for Durability

If you recognize these Broken Bricks and Sagging Elements:

This is a typical non-L&L kiln without hard ceramic element holders. You can see what happens from constant loading. The brick starts to break and the elements can no longer be properly supported.

Then you Understand the value of an L&L Kiln with a clean Interior:

This is an untouched photograph of an L&L Kiln from 1968 that a customer sent us.

Hard Ceramic Holders Protect Firebrick

• The hard ceramic element holders protect the soft fragile firebrick.
• Replacing elements repeatedly does not damage the brick.
• Elements don't sag or fall out of broken grooves.
• You do not need metal pins to hold elements into broken grooves.
• Customers often say their L&L kilns look new after 30 years of hard use!

Smooth Hard Surface of Holder allows elements to expand and contract

• Ceramic element holders have a smooth, hard surface which allows the elements to expand and contract freely.
• No loose brick particles will fall in the kiln and ruin ware.
• Your elements will last longer because elements do not get easily snagged, bunched-up, and burned-out.
• It is harder for glaze, clay particles and firebrick to touch and damage elements.

Dense Ceramic Transmits Heat Better

• The thin, dense wall of the holders reflects the infrared heat into the kiln.
• Elements operate at a lower temperature relative to the internal kiln temperature.
• L&L kilns require less firebrick insulation to be cut out which increases insulating ability, energy efficiency and strength of the kiln.

Durability Rules

Cost of Maintenance

• How hard are you going to use the kiln?
• If you are a school, an institution, a factory or a serious artist who depends on your kiln for a living, then you should seriously invest in the most trouble-free kiln you can buy.
• Even if you are hobbyist why not get the best kiln made?
• Although the exact cost of maintenance savings is hard to calculate - it can add up to major savings in time and money.

Fixes the Fundamental Problem of Electric Kilns

• Most electric kilns have grooves routed in the firebrick for the elements to lay in.
• The elements are often pinned in for further support.
• There are a number of well known problems with this.
• First, the firebrick "wall" that supports the element also insulates the heat of the element from the kiln (creating energy efficiency problems and element life problems).
• After one or two element changes and a few years the fragile firebrick starts to fall apart and pins become the primary element support.
• It only takes one accidental bump with a kiln shelf to permanently damage a kiln around the element groove.

Replaces troublesome Metal Pins

• Pins can actually make the problem worse because as they expand and contract (at a different rate than the brick) the pins fracture the firebrick more.