July 2, 2024

KILN FIRING SUPPORT

KILN FIRING SUPPORT

KILN FIRING SUPPORT

This firing problems support page offers a concise troubleshooting guide to help kiln operators identify and resolve common issues during the firing process. This resource is a valuable reference for understanding and efficiently addressing firing problems.

  1. Problem Identification: The guide emphasizes accurately identifying firing issues, such as uneven heat distribution, glaze defects, or incomplete firings.

  2. Potential Causes: It highlights various factors that can contribute to firing problems, including kiln temperature fluctuations, improper ventilation, inadequate kiln maintenance, or incorrect firing schedules.

  3. Solutions and Tips: The guides provide practical solutions and tips for firing problems. It covers topics such as adjusting kiln ventilation, loading properly, optimizing firing schedules, inspecting heating elements, or troubleshooting glaze application techniques.

  4. Safety Precautions: Safety measures remind operators to prioritize proper protective gear, kiln maintenance, and following manufacturer guidelines.

  5. Additional Support: The page offers other resources such as FAQs, customer support contact information, and access to technical manuals for further assistance.

FIRING VIDEOS

Firing a Kiln with Witness Cones (Video)
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See https://www.youtube.com/video/-8E-YkZ45EA?ecver=2

This video shows you how to use witness cones to check the accuracy of the control and your kiln in an L&L Easy-Fire kiln. This video applies to any kiln.

Loading a kiln (Video)
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See https://www.youtube.com/video/F6chfrsLHkU

This video goes into the principles of how to load an electric kiln. In this case it is an L&L Easy-fire e23T kiln.

For More Information
  • See this page for text.
    • Problems
  • See this for an error code you may get if you load too close to thermocouples or unevenly.
    • Placing Posts
  • Place posts a few inches in from the edge of the shelf. Posts positioned on the shelf edges tend to allow the shelves to warp sooner.
  • Use 3 posts per shelf, this will allow the shelf to sit without a wobble. Use 4 for heavier loads, especially on the very bottom. Using more than four posts may cause your shelves to crack or warp prematurely.
  • Always put the posts for the next shelf right on top of where the posts are holding up the shelf below. All the posts should be in a line from top to bottom.
  • Placing posts on their sides
    • How To Set the Bottom Kiln Shelf In Your Kiln
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    See https://www.youtube.com/video//apbImpQjA_I

    From Jessica Putnam-Philips from Clayshare:

    Learn how and why it is so important to set the bottom kiln shelf correctly. With this simple tip you will prolong the life of your kiln, get better more even firings and better glaze results no matter what size your kiln is.

    FIRING PDFS

    FIRING KNOWLEDGEBASE

    Thermocouple Offset Setting and Cone Offset Setting
    What they are, how to find them, and when to use which setting.
  • Thermocouple Offset and
    • What do I do if I overfire and melt clay and/ or glaze all over the inside of the kiln?
  • Overfires are not covered under the warranty.
  • It's best to extract all of the clay
    • What does it cost ($) for the electricity to fire the kiln?

    The only way to figure this out accurately is to have a kilowatt meter installed in the power

    What happens if the power goes out while I am firing?
  • If the power goes off during the Delay countdown, the controller will remember where it was
    • What is an Automatic Control Box?
    Similarity of Automatic Control Box with Manual Control Box
  • The similarities between the
    • What the final temperature reached in a program on a DynaTrol?
  • After your kiln has fired press the REVIEW PROGRAM button. You will see, along with other
    • What to do if the kiln fires slowly?
    Incorrect loading
  • If your kiln is loaded unevenly it can cause the 3-zone control to slow
    • What's the worst thing that can happen from restarting after an Error Code?

    Keep in mind that you run the risk of over-firing if you restart while the kiln is very close to

    Why does my kiln jump over the Preheat without holding at the Preheat temp?
  • It is possible to confuse the Hold Time in the original program with the Hold Time for the
    • Why does my kiln jump over the Preheat without holding at the Preheat temp?
  • It is possible to confuse the Hold Time in the original program with the Hold Time for the
    • Why does my kiln seem like it overfires the pottery?

    The work is overfired but there is no error code. Here are some things to look for:

    Why does my kiln seem like it overfires the pottery?

    The work is overfired but there is no error code. Here are some things to look for:

    Why does my kiln seem like it underfires the pottery?

    If your kiln underfires with no error code:

  • Cones placed wrongly in cone pack-
    • Why does my kiln seem like it underfires the pottery?

    If your kiln underfires with no error code:

  • Cones placed wrongly in cone pack-
    • Why use slow bisque over fast bisque? Is it just a moisture issue?
  • Slow bisque is the safest to use and ensures a better firing to get out fumes and water