brian
New Member
Posts: 5
|
Post by brian on Apr 22, 2017 10:23:36 GMT -6
Hi, I am thinking of getting a new L&L Crystalline kiln. Where is the cheapest place to buy one? I am looking at the big ceramics store right now. Also, would you recommend the s type thermocouple? It is an expensive option on their website at $600. Thanks
|
|
|
|
Post by Arnie Benton on Apr 22, 2017 10:36:58 GMT -6
The S type thermocouple is necessary - the K type is not accurate at high temps, burns out, etc. You should consider Advancer shelves and APM elements as well - and solid state relays -
You can run through lots of suppliers on the internet in a few minutes - just put "L&L kilns" in search -
Shipping costs are important.
Yes it's all expensive - but if you're really expecting to get into crystalline glazing, worth it -
Arnie
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2017 11:25:40 GMT -6
Arnie, I have a Skutt 822 and I know it doesn't have solid state relays, because I can hear them clacking every time it turns the elements on. What would be the advantage of having solid state relays?
|
|
|
|
Post by Arnie Benton on Apr 22, 2017 13:21:53 GMT -6
I'm no expert but both my kilns have them - they're supposed to 'last forever' and not stop working and cause kiln firing problems.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2017 16:01:52 GMT -6
Thanks Arnie. I don't think there is a retrofit for solid state relays in my little Skutt. It would probably take more space than there is available to fit the humongous diodes required for a 30-amp relay.
|
|
|
|
Post by mariewright on Apr 23, 2017 19:43:11 GMT -6
Hi Brian,
I just took delivery of an L&L crystalline kiln - the electricians are coming back tomorrow to finish upgrading my electrical for it. I can't wait to try it out!
I went through Clay-king.com. I have used them for several big ticket items and this was another good experience.
I definitely recommend the S type thermocouples - they are a must-have for consistent crystalline firings. I got my kiln with the vent and without the furniture kit. I went with advancer shelves instead. I looked into oxide bonded shelves from Euclid, but was told that they are no longer available.
Good luck,
Marie
|
|
|
|
Post by mariewright on Apr 23, 2017 19:48:40 GMT -6
One last thing - the L&L that I wanted was not listed on the clay-king website, so I e-mailed them and asked if they could get it. They said yes, and sent me a quote. If they don't have what you want - just ask. It's always good to get a few quotes!
|
|
morgan
New Member
Darn...lot of good info on the old forum. Sad that it got unstable. But whadya do?
Posts: 21
|
Post by morgan on Apr 24, 2017 5:11:54 GMT -6
Congrats on the new Kiln, Marie. Hoping I'll be able to go that route one day. I got my Olympic kiln from Clay-King as well. But... Type K T/C's still. Yes, I've replaced it many times (from Clay-King). Also replaced a couple of relays, and new coils a couple of times. One day maybe I'll go professional. lol
See you at Spring Daze.
Morgan
|
|
Guru
New Member
Posts: 11
|
Post by Guru on Apr 24, 2017 5:33:59 GMT -6
Arnie, I have a Skutt 822 and I know it doesn't have solid state relays, because I can hear them clacking every time it turns the elements on. What would be the advantage of having solid state relays? SSR is much better than mechanical relay (in my experience). Not only because is much more durable then mehanical, but because you do not need capacitor. On my old kiln, I had mechanical relay and because of static electricity my controller was burnt of when the capacitor has weakened over time. Just because I got used to hearing relay clacking, I installed 3 signal lamps (on the SSR exit) on the front of the kiln. Now I can see when the elements are on at all 3 phase separately. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2017 8:59:08 GMT -6
Thanks Guru, I doubt there is a retrofit available for my Skutt, but all information is useful for that "next" kiln.
|
|
brian
New Member
Posts: 5
|
Post by brian on Apr 24, 2017 16:24:54 GMT -6
Thank you for the replies. I will look into some price quotes.
|
|
|
|
Post by Tracey Renner on May 3, 2017 15:42:12 GMT -6
This is an invoice for the kiln I bought... So far I've just done a test fire...
Skutt KM 1027 3 inch brick = $2,210
In addition to kiln ------
APM Relays = $600
Type S = $135
Mercury Relays = $260
Lift Gate/Delivery – Free
I already have a vent
I bought my kiln a couple of months ago, but haven’t used it yet because of the shelf situation. I cannot recommend the Skutt shelves that came with the kiln. Might be okay, but they look too thin. I’m reshaping some 1" Corelight. I just don't want to pay for the pretty shelves - advancers. I hope for a glaze fire in a month or two? But I’m only putting in test pots until I can get a reasonable result. I am sort of frustrated that it is taking this long, but that is pretty normal.
TR
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 3, 2017 21:20:43 GMT -6
Tracey, is the Type S thermocouple that cheap because you bought the kiln and the extras, or do they actually sell them for $135? I checked out one for my KM-822 (a lunchbox compared to yours) and they were, if I recall, over $400.
|
|
|
|
Post by Tracey Renner on May 4, 2017 14:10:20 GMT -6
Hi Gabriel, I'm not sure. But be careful because I believe I upgraded and sold my L&L is because it would not even take a type S? I would have had to change wiring; it was not compatible with my kiln master. I really wanted an S thermocouple and I wanted APM elements. It was not that expensive to switch kilns - I bought my L&L on Craigslist and sold it there.
I switched to a Skutt because the crystalline friendly L&L is too expensive. I made some beautiful pots in the L&L, but I find L&Ls 3 thermocouples annoying. The Skutt also has a mechanism that locks the sections together. I am in Carlsbad, Ca and don't want my kiln bouncing apart if there is an earthquake. I highly doubt that would happen, but now it cannot happen. Depending on where you are in terms of developing these glazes, if you can find a good used L&L or Skutt it might be a better use of your $$ than the Type S.
|
|
|
|
Post by mohawkpiper on May 6, 2017 0:14:16 GMT -6
The s type tc is that cheap ($135) because for the skutts they run $200 a piece and so the add on to the kit is the type s price minus the type k price since you are not getting the type k anymore.
changing the wiring from type k to s (at least in a skutt) is pretty simple and the wiring kit is cheap.
I bought my first kiln (skutt km 1027) brand new for $1100. it was that cheap because because it was a 3phase floor model and it sat there forever because nobody has 3phase in their homes so they kept dropping the price on it til I nabbed it.
it cost me roughly $200 for all the parts to convert it to single phase and maybe $20 for the wiring kit for type s and was simple to do on my own.
The elements on the skutts are interchangeable without any wiring changes.
i have never used an L&L so I cant say for sure, but I would assume it wouldnt be too hard or expensive to do wiring conversions on those guys either.
G
ps, tracy, so sorry for the super late reply, but replied none the less.
|
|
