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
--I've taken to using Mr. because my name misleads folks on the WWW. I am a 54 year old fat man.
On 1/2/2011 5:15 PM, Brite wrote:
> Hello Dave,
>
> My furnace is similar to Gingery's Lil Bertha, but follows Dan Hartman's design.
>
> Advantages: quiet, electricity is cheap in my area, no exhaust (but sometimes smoke from melting) so maybe less hydrogen in melt, and good control of heat.
>
> Disadvantages: slow, gotta have 220 so not portable, and worst thing - elements can fail in middle of melt! Element life gets better as you learn to start& end more slowly and not to overheat so much.
>
>
> Hope it helps
> CT2
>
>
>
>
> --- In gingery_machines@yahoogroups.com, "DaveSSI"<davegsc@...> wrote:
>> Electricity? What sort of set-up do you have, Brite? What are the
>> advantages?
>>
>>
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>> Dave
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> From: gingery_machines@yahoogroups.com
>> [mailto:gingery_machines@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Brite
>> Sent: Wednesday, December 29, 2010 8:31 PM
>> To: gingery_machines@yahoogroups.com
>> Subject: [gingery_machines] Re: My first casting
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Hello, Congrats, and Welcome to the illness!!
>>
>> The lathe bed casting is a bit challenging, so a real accomplishment on the
>> 1st try.
>>
>> I melt w/ electricity, prolly even slower than charcoal, so won't weigh in
>> on burners.
>>
>> CT2
>>
>> --- In gingery_machines@yahoogroups.com
>> <mailto:gingery_machines%40yahoogroups.com> , "primepowerpro"
>> <randycook@> wrote:
>>> 1. I poured my first casting today, Gingery's lathe bed. I used homemade
>> green sand,
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> ***TRIMMED***>>>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
>
>
>
>
>
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