Dave:
I got a kiln controller from Swest, it was about $500. You might check them
out. Kiln controllers make casting fun again and controllable too. Your
gonna love it.
Kenneth Gastineau
gastin@mis.net
Dave:
I got a kiln controller from Swest, it was about $500. You might check them
out. Kiln controllers make casting fun again and controllable too. Your
gonna love it.
Kenneth Gastineau
gastin@mis.net
To Mr Gastineau:
What’s a Kiln controller?
From: Christo Kiffer kiffer@africanet.com.br
To: orchid@ganoksin.com
Subject: Kiln Controller
Date: Friday, October 25, 1996 2:38 PM
To Mr Gastineau:
What’s a Kiln controller?
Christo:
A kiln controller is a computerized mechanism which is used to control the
burnout cycle of a kiln automatically. It ramps the temperature up or down
and holds at the desired temps for what ever duration you program it to do.
I have been using one for about a year now and do not believe I would ever
want to cast without one again.
Kenneth Gastineau
gastin@mis.net
Dave:
I got a kiln controller from Swest, it was about $500. You might check them
out. Kiln controllers make casting fun again and controllable too. Your
gonna love it.
Kenneth Gastineau
gastin@mis.net
Kenneth: Gesswein has a small one for about $425, more in my range though
still pricey for me. I can’t wait though, thanks! Dave
Art Jewelry for Conscious People
http://www.opendoor.com/stephensdesign/crystalguy.html
To Mr Gastineau:
What’s a Kiln controller?
A Kiln Controller: a kiln temperature controller thats programmable for
burnout sequences. It has a digital readout and about 6 temps and times you
can program. You set up your burnout program hit a button, come back in the
number of hours you plugged in and YOU’RE READY TO CAST! No more kicking
the dog or hanging around the house for eight hours swearing at the top of
your lungs or going blind trying to stare down your temperature gauge. Most
of the newer expensive burnout ovens have these built in, but some of us
aren’t millionaires yet and these run about $1500 for a new one and never
seen a used one for sale… Dave (not Gatineau)
Art Jewelry for Conscious People
http://www.opendoor.com/stephensdesign/crystalguy.html
Dave wrote:
Most
of the newer expensive burnout ovens have these built in, but some of us
aren’t millionaires yet and these run about $1500 for a new one and never
seen a used one for sale… Dave (not Gatineau)
Dave:
I intentionally bought a separate oven and controller. When the oven wears
out (as they always do) I certainly hope the controller will still be
functional or vice/versa. I see no advantage to having a built in
controller other than saving space and it would also bother me subjecting
an electronic device to such heat.
I just looked in the Rio Grande catalog and they have a 20 amp one for as
little as $425. I haven’t used it so I can’t vouch for it. I purchased a 30
amp controller even though my current oven is 13 amps. This is so I won’t
have to buy another controller when I get a larger oven. I fused the outlet
from the controller down to 20 amps for safety sake.
However, you must make sure the oven you are going to connect a kiln
controller to has an adequate hole for the thermocouple to enter. If you
have a kiln with embedded elements and have to enlarge the hole, be very
careful. I ruined one that way and I will never use proprietary imbedded
elements again.
For the record Dave, I would not be running a production shop if I were a
millionaire, or is it the other way around. Buying all of the equipment I
need and keeping everything up and running guarantees that will never
happen.
By the way, I browsed your graphic web site. I liked the deaf dog logo.
Keep up the good work.
Kenneth Gastineau
gastin@mis.net
Dave:
I just looked in the Rio Grande catalog and they have a 20 amp one for as
little as $425. I haven’t used it so I can’t vouch for it. I purchased a 30
amp controller even though my current oven is 13 amps. This is so I won’t
have to buy another controller when I get a larger oven. I fused the outlet
from the controller down to 20 amps for safety sake.
Kenneth Gastineau
gastin@mis.net
Kenneth: Thanks for reminding me to look at the Rio catalog. I was looking
at a Paragon from Gessswein but found it 50 bucks cheaper at a ceramics
place here. I think maybe Rio’s is a better unit as it has double
thermocouples, one for backup. My kiln is a dirt cheap Satellite from
Alpha, $285, a real model t very simple, which is probably good in this
case. Thanks…Dave
Art Jewelry for Conscious People
http://www.opendoor.com/stephensdesign/crystalguy.html
Speaking of controllers … and 286s( or even 8080s). Why couldn’t
one use an old PC to do this what kind of signal/sensor is available…
anyone know?
Jim
At 06:02 PM 10/25/96 -0400, you wrote: