Wax burnout procedures

In doing this, I do not disturb the flasks, and the molten wax
does not continue cooking until it is burned away. Much less stink
in the building. 

Since we are talking about it, I think that if you are smelling
burning wax in the building you probably need a ventilation upgrade.
I can’t smell a thing during a burnout. If fact, I was making some
counter tops and shelving for the shop using contact cement (super
stinky) to attach the Formica and nobody else in the building could
smell it because I was doing it near the vent hood for the kilns.

For a single hood I have a heating and cooling guy make a
24"x24"x12" sheet metal hood, run 4" pipe from the center top of the
hood that increases to 6" pipe and use an inline Fantech fan that
vents to the outside. I have the top of the kiln just a bit higher
than, and inside of, the bottom lip of the hood. That does two
things, it allows the hood vent to capture any of the fumes and it
keeps the floor of the kiln just about eye level. I like the kiln
higher up so I don’t get the blast of heat in my face when I open
the door. I also use a dimmer switch to allow me to adjust the fan
speed.

I’ve run separate vents to each of the workstations to provide
ventilation around the shop. It works great and really wasn’t that
expensive. Hood, fan and vents in a one person studio wouldn’t cost
much more than about $700 even if you pay someone else to do it.

Mark

Mark, It is Paragon Kilns which has the requirement and instructions
about dewaxing. I can understand their concern about corrosion on
the elements, and other problems from waxes, However, I don’t do a
lot of casting, and my wax models are small, so there is not much
wax. Nonetheless, I shall take precautions, and rig up an easy way to
get rid of the wax without disturbing the flasks. So many of you have
given me excellent suggestions.

Alma

you do have a vent hole at the top right?

It is also important to note that resistance wire gets brittle after
being heated. I have had to replace elements after they broke while
being transported from one place to another. Also it is worth noting
that some heating elements are embedded in the wall insulation and
have less contact with the gases in the furnace. Neycraft furnaces
are an example. I have had the heating elements in open element
furnaces break but have yet to have a problem with the elements in a
Neycraft furnace.

Just some fuel for the discussion,

Fred
woodsmerepress.com
Pendleton, SC

you do have a vent hole at the top right? 

Yes Frank, My kiln has a vent hole at the top.

Alma