JD18-JH Electric Kiln

In my attempt to find an electric kiln that could hold up to the repeated ^11+ crystalline firings I perform, I had the pleasure of configuring a design with L&L Kiln Mfg. president Steven Lewicki. I decided the best way to proceed was to select a shell of the dimensions I wanted and build the kiln around it. 
The resulting “JD18-JH” was created to surpass the requirements for repeatable true ^10-11+ firings, but it accomplishes much more than just higher levels of heatwork. The kiln has proved capable of faster up-ramps and down-ramps, longer holds, and much longer element life at high temperatures beyond the norm of most non-industrial grade kilns.
Automated control using Type-S thermocouples offers longer life and accurate readings at higher temperatures, and L&L’s patented element holders allow for much easier element replacement.
To accommodate the requirements I set for this kiln, Steve Lewicki and his staff developed the Quad Element Holder Design. This offers great element potential in terms of wire thickness, watt density, and coil spacing, translating to a greater use of power and longer element life. This design comes with the choice of either 2.2mm APM or 2mm Kanthal A1 elements*, at about twice the length associated with a typical L&L.  Currently I've performed over twenty ^12 firings, with element readings and visuals showing little to no degradation, so it looks to be a very long while before replacing the elements will be necessary.

The shell of the JD18-JH is comprised of 2500 deg. (K25) kiln brick throughout (rather than typical K23), forming 2.5″ thick walls and 3″ thick lid and floor. The thickness ratio of wall, floor, and lid is meant to accentuate thermal equilibrium top to bottom, specifically by reducing the tendency toward hotter center and cooler bottom sections normally associated with many electric top loading kilns. The thinner walls allow the kiln to cool more rapidly than other  high-temperature kilns currently on the market, but is also capable of cooling as slow as is necessary via the controller.

A spy hole large enough to view self-supporting guide and target cones allows for precision firings beyond that of the computer controller. Capable of fully-automated multi-ramp firings, the V6-CF Bartlett controller allows for a manual override of peak temperature holds once the desired cone value is witnessed by the user.

You may view more pictures of the new Quad Element Holder design HERE

*Note: If you have the choice, go with APM elements.
Glazes aren’t the only things that produce crystals during a firing with extended holds. The elements can as well, weakening them long before they’ve even had a chance to age normally. The thought is that since APM’s already possess a crystalline structure, they aren’t as susceptible to the damage produced by long high-temperature “heat soaks”.