Desperately Seeking a "How"

**ShastaBert** · 02-24-2011, 01:55 PM

I have an old Sno Industries P27 Kiln that I'm trying to use and I don't know how the 3 Manual Temperature Controls work. I've fired to Cone 04 a couple of times successfully (takes almost 12 hours) but I don't have any understanding of how the controls should be set, or why. It utilizes a Kiln-Sitter which works perfectly but I'm sure the heat switches are supposed to be set differently. There are 3 Manually rotated rheostats, top middle and bottom that are identical and say "Low, Medium, High & High Fire". If someone could explain or point me in the right direction I would greatly appreciate it.

**ArnoldHoward** · 02-25-2011, 06:35 AM

Originally Posted by ShastaBert

I have an old Sno Industries P27 Kiln that I'm trying to use and I don't know how the 3 Manual Temperature Controls work. I've fired to Cone 04 a couple of times successfully (takes almost 12 hours) but I don't have any understanding of how the controls should be set, or why.

At the beginning of the firing, turn the switches to Low, vent the lid, and leave out the peephole plugs. Allow the moisture in the ware to burn off and the fumes to dissipate before lowering the lid and inserting the plugs. Then turn up the switches.

After that, the firing rate is determined by the type of ware you are firing. Thick, heavy pieces require a slower firing than thin pieces. Firing schedules are only general guidelines. Experiment with firing rate. Since you have successfully fired the kiln to 04, you already understand the kiln and are well on the way to mastering it.

Sincerely,

Arnold Howard
Paragon Industries, L.P., Mesquite, Texas USA
ahoward@paragonweb.com / www.paragonweb.com

**ShastaBert** · 02-25-2011, 09:44 AM

Thank you for the insight. So, am I to understand that the switches are for different "zones/elements" in the kiln rather than "schedule" settings? In which case, can be used for the speed at which I want to achieve the final temperature as well as how high (cone) I want the final temp to be....like an oven? And, is there a length of time (rule of thumb) that it should take to reach bisque (04)? I did a firing today and the kiln sitter shut it off in 5 hours with all 3 switches set to High. I'm wondering if a faster time equates to the wares coming out more brittle.
Thanks for any additional knowledge you can provide.

**Andy Clift** · 02-25-2011, 10:18 AM

I'm wondering if a faster time equates to the wares coming out more brittle.
Thanks for any additional knowledge you can provide.

No it will not make them more brittle. The main thing to be concerned about is to go very slow at the beginning to get all the moisture out of the ware. Are you doing a glaze firing or bisque firing?

Firing the ware too fast in a bisque fire can cause it to blow up. 5 hours for a bisque firing is probably a bit fast. Seems you need to do some reading on firing electric kiln. For a decent overview of firing an electric kiln see Firing Electric Kiln - kiln sitter or electronic control, instructions, tips and issues

-Andy

**ArnoldHoward** · 02-25-2011, 12:05 PM

Originally Posted by ShastaBert

So, am I to understand that the switches are for different "zones/elements" in the kiln rather than "schedule" settings? In which case, can be used for the speed at which I want to achieve the final temperature as well as how high (cone) I want the final temp to be....like an oven?

The switches cannot be set for a temperature like the dial on a kitchen oven. Rather, they adjust the firing rate.

Sincerely,

Arnold Howard
Paragon Industries, L.P., Mesquite, Texas USA
ahoward@paragonweb.com / www.paragonweb.com