[gingery_machines] Re: My first casting

 

Hi Shannon & Rick,

I built Hartman's control, which IIRC cuts off at a % of each cycle, may have some effect (or not). Anyway, I step up slowly & like Rick, first melt in about 90 min. I just put the lid on at shutdown & cover the vent.

I shortened my first element to make it hotter on my 208v supply (240v element), so that shortened its life. Full lenth coil gets hot just fine and lasts much longer. Alum. drops in the coil cause me the most problems - cause hot spots that eventually burn through.

No idea how they get there.
: ) >

CT2

--- In gingery_machines@yahoogroups.com, "Rick Sparber" <rgsparber@...> wrote:
>
> Shannon,
>
> I spend 90 minutes bringing up my furnace for the first pour of the day.
> Subsequent pours take 45 minutes. I might be able to shorten these times,
> just don't know if it will damage my element.
>
> Rick
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: gingery_machines@yahoogroups.com
> [mailto:gingery_machines@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Shannon DeWolfe
> Sent: Sunday, January 02, 2011 5:45 PM
> To: gingery_machines@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [gingery_machines] Re: My first casting
>
> Brite,
>
> I read on an artist's ceramics web site (sorry, it was months ago and I
> don't recall the name of the site) about a guy who figured the cost to
> keep his kiln running all the time. It cost him about a dollar a day to
> keep it half heat 24/7. He brought it up to full heat in 15 minute steps
> by halves. That is to say, 3/4 heat, 7/8, and then full. He stepped it
> back down the same way. Why? Less thermal shock to the elements. He
> claimed his elements were lasting a year at which time and he would
> replace them as part of his planned maintenance routine.
>
> I'm not suggesting you run your furnace all the time. But, you are on
> the right track by being patient. Since the costs are so low, maybe
> consider bringing it up to heat and stepping it down very slowly, like
> 24 hour cycles. You may find your elements live even longer.
>
> Regards,
>
> Mr. Shannon DeWolfe
>

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