Firing My PREHISTORIC KILN… with Light Switches!?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 ธ.ค. 2020
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I decided to make this video because when I got this kiln it was next to impossible to find an owners manual. I even asked my college professor (who has like 30 kilns) and he didn't know. I reached out to all my fellow art ed friends and mentors and came back with nothing. So here you go. A (hopefully) thorough video about how to fire a manual kiln thats operated by switches. Good luck out there my pottery people.
My Kiln is a Vulcan and the model is a VK 174F its max temp is 2300F and is 230 Volts, 5060 Watts, and 22 Amps. It runs on a 3 wire Gnd. Neutral dryer plug.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to put it in the comments section and I'll try to answer you as soon as I get the chance! Thank you again for watching my video
OH! and here is my Etsy shop!!!
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etsy.me/3tZQna8
Huge thank you to every one of you watching and especially those subscribing and continuing to watch! That is the kind of encouragement that helps me to continue making videos every week! I absolutely love doing this and hope to continue for a long time so tell your friends lol
Love you guys whether you're new or old to my channel! Catch ya in the next one, but until then, stay creative my friends! BYE! - แนวปฏิบัติและการใช้ชีวิต
Thank you, I also have an old skut like you, much much smaller!😂😂. It can stand on my kitchen table, but this video helped me too not be so scared to fire the thing, not on the kitchen table !😂😂
Thats awesome! So glad i could help! Best of luck to you in your firing journey! You can do it!
What a cool relic that kiln is! I remember my dad using one like that but without a kiln sitter back in the 90s! ...it's actually sitting in my future studio now, and this video is pretty helpful in learning how to use it, since the manual has long since turned to dust...
Yes! That is so awesome that youll be using your dad’s hand-me-down! I got this gem from a friend of a friend and it has been old faithful! Im glad i could be of help! I had to do a lot of fidgeting and research to get it up and working properly! I’ll probably make a better and more updated version of this video soon! Thanks for the comment!
Great video!! Very interesting. You make an awesome TH-camr and all of your pottery looks amazing!!!
Thank you!!!
Nice sound effect in your video 👍
I have taken a workshop at The Potter Eden and Emily is an incredible teacher. What a great fun class. Great video!!!
Thank you! You're such a talented arrest yourself! Thank you for your feedback and appreciation!
Most Excellent 👌
Thank you!😄
I have the same kiln setup and had no idea how to use it! In all of the other videos I’ve seen, the kilns are much fancier. Would you mind sharing where you purchase those cones? Thank you!
So sorry I am just now seeing your comment! I actually got them from a local ceramics supply company where I get my clay and glazes from. You can actually find better ones on Amazon that are bars instead of triangular, that will give a very consistent fire since the surface on which the shut off bar is resting is flat and not tapered and would be harder for it to break. Ill link the ones on amazon but theyre hard to come by.
a.co/d/hdwmcct
theres also these to test the temp that your kiln is firing at and test the consistency of different spots in your kiln (sometimes there can be cold spots where your elements may be going out.) I have explained how to use the following product in several other comments but you basically put them in a blob of clay (because it will stick to and ruin your kiln shelf) or set them on broken pottery or kiln furnature
a.co/d/6kgYrZt
and then here are my normal firing cones (but im making the switch to bars when I run out of my regular ones)
a.co/d/iSgKvrt
I hope this all helps and I am so sorry for taking so long to get back to you! I hope you see this!
Happy Firing!
Emily
Hey, we have this exact kiln! This video was super informative and I wanted to thank you for making it!
I have one question, what is the max cone that this kiln can fire at?
So glad i was helpful! It took a lit of research and trial and error! I unfortunately have not tested max cone but i wouldnt bother going past a 10 tbh. Its so old that it probably wouldnt handle any hotter. When i got it the owner gave me their old cones and their highest was either a cone 10 or 11 so i figured thats probably as hot as i would ever take it. I hope that helps!
Thanks for showing us your old kiln, Just bought a kiln from 1985 like new condition makes me feel better about getting it hooked up lol
Yeah! Its holding out like a champ! Ive also learned a lot about repair and most things (if theres any) are quick self diagnosable repairs like adjusting the cone rest. Let me know how your first firing goes!!!
@@thepottereden I will. might have to be some cute little pumpkins that I just watched a video on
@@corryg6403 yaaaaaah!!! That’s exciting!
@@corryg6403 YES! I love it!
Thank you so much for this video! I recently inherited a similar dinosaur and have been very anxious about firing it!
You’ve got this!!! So glad i could help! And if you need any more help out have other questions just comment and I’ll do my best! Theres also a lot of info in other comments I’ve left on this video too! Best of luck!🥰
@thepottereden Actually, since you mentioned, I do have a concern! My top "light" switch is stuck in the on position. I can't get it to budge to off. Any ideas on why this may be happening or how I can fix it? I am thinking I have to take the whole control panel apart and see what is going on in there.
@@Remi-xz7en oh no! Well, i had to do the same. If yours is the same as mine, you’ll want to be very careful of the old screws because mine were on the brink of breaking, also the wires in mine are very short so it was a 2 person job. One person held it open and the other worked. Mine had about 10 dirt dobber (wasp) nests in it. My kiln was sitting in an old barn for about 20 years before i got it. We dumped out a literal rats nest before putting it in the car. Cleaned out tons of dirt dobber nests from the inside and the front panel. If yours was anything like mine, it may stink for the first several firings. You may also have to replace some coils too. Do a test strip of different cones (check out other comments for how to) in your first several firings to make sure it’s firing properly and consistently. Theres also such a thing as hot spots and cold spots in older kilns and your glazes will turn out slightly different because of it. Just so you know. There’s not a ton of info out there about that though.
@thepottereden My kiln was well cared for, luckily! I got an electrician to replace all of my elements and the sticky light switches! I am running my first bisque today! How long do you leave the lower switch on for a bisque in your kiln? I was going to check the moisture from the peep hole in 2 hours, then close peep holes and the lid once I see no moisture on glasses, allow to heat another hour with everything closed before flipping the second switch. I am also relieved you mentioned the smell because, yes... mine is currently quite stinky.
@@Remi-xz7en I am so sorry it has taken me this long to respond to you@ Life has been crazy and I havent been very active here on youtube! How was your first (on many I hope) firing?! I am so glad your kiln was well cared for and that you found someone who could replace your elements and switches for you! That is so cool! Do you mind sharing how much it cost?
Depending on how dry your greenware is, I leave my kiln on and open for 1-3 hours. I have also had to start leaving my peep hole closed because I was having a problem with the plug falling out so I shoved it in and now it wont come out😅 A normal firing that is not rushed and everything is nice and dry, I will leave the top open for 1 hour, put the lid on with the smaller lid off for 1 hour, then close it up (so long as theres no moisture present) and leave just that switch on for an additional hour before switching the next on. If I am at all worried about moisture, I will leave it for 2 hours all closed up.
haha mine smelt like intense rats nest! what does yours smell like?
You arr entertaining enough!
Thank you😄
Hi, i'm loving your pottery and your video, I just bought an even more basic kiln, very old and lots of rust, but I figured that gives me more money to play with materials and learn. My kiln doesn't have a kiln sitter. I'm not sure where to start with that. Any advice?
Hi! Thanks for commenting and reaching out! Let me dig just a little and see what i can find but im thinking youll have to buy a set of pyrometric cones to set up and watch them melt and then stop your firing once it gets to the desired temp. Basically if you want a bisque to fire at a cone 05, youll get 5 different cones, cone 03-07 and make a little clay holder for them and set them securely in the clay at an angle. As your firing process, you’ll see them melting more and more. Watch through your peep hole and there should be a nice soft bend on the 05 cone (set up in the middle) and the lower temp cones (07-06) should be more and more melted, while the 04 and 03 are much less melted or not melted at all. Look up a manual (if you can find one) for your exact kiln and see what it says. Ill try to fond a vid about how to make what i am talking about. They should also sell some reusable “cone sitters” (the clay one i was talking about). Ill try to find that too. Best of luck!
This is a great vid to help you understand what i am talking about. I didn’t realize there were self standing/supporting cones which is great! He also talks about only putting in 2 cones one at and under the temp he is talking about. I would suggest at least having 3. His cones are merely for him to know whats happening in the kiln and making sure there isnt an issue with his digital controles, thermocouple, or coils. Yours will be for measuring temp and knowing when to shut it off. So in your case i would at least have 3. One below, one at, and one above the temp youre aiming for. That being said, when you do the firing, make sure youre raising the temp slowly and have a GOOD pair of welding gloves to take your peep hole plug in and out when you check the cones. Again, best of luck!
th-cam.com/video/wO9fk--xgwc/w-d-xo.html
This also has some vital info like using eye protection and timing!
th-cam.com/video/zvUc-Gw01No/w-d-xo.html
I know this was posted like 2 years ago but do you ever fire this to cone 6? Could you post a glaze cone 6/7 schedule? I have a manual and it’s…..frustrating me.
I am so sorry youre having such a hard time! What exactly is happening and maybe i can help?
I just acquired an ancient Sno Industries Kiln with the same silver cone switch box thing you have (thanks for explaining) but mine only has 2 light switches l😂 how do you know how to bisque and how to glaze fire? There is like NO info on this Sno Industries Kiln anywhere.
Great question! It is so tricky figuring out how to fire a kiln in the first place. So intimidating! But really its the cones you want to figure out! A bisque will fire at cone 04-06 depending on what your clay says. So you would buy the appropriate cone for the temp you need and the kiln will heat itself up until that cone melts and trips the off switch from inside. If its your first time firing, i wouldnt put anything inside and just do a test fire with a few tester cones. They are cones with little stands on them so they stand almost straight up. Youll want one for a cone above and below the target temp. So if i want to bisque to 05 i would get 3 testers, 1 at 04, 1 at 05, and 1 at 06. Set them on an unfired piece of clay or broken shelf so they dont stick to the inside of your kiln. Fire them to the target temp (05) and after the firing, your 06 (the cooler temp) should be shlumped over, the 05 (target) should be a gentle curve, and the 04 (hottest temp) should barely be melted at all. Ill link a vid about that. But that will tell you if it is shutting off by itself at the correct time! A glaze firing will be the same way. Look at the bottle of glaze to see what temp/cone it needs. A high fire could be anywhere from a cone 4 to 10 depending on what it is. Do the same procedure as before but with the appropriate cones to make sure it is getting hot enough. Some kilns only go up to a certain temp. Also keep in mind that the hotter you fire at, the faster the elements and kiln brick will wear and need to be replaced. Mine is just fine but i only ever bring it up to cone 6 at the hottest. If you have more questions, don’t hesitate to ask!
Try these vids to see if they help explain what i mean a little better
th-cam.com/video/zvUc-Gw01No/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/wO9fk--xgwc/w-d-xo.html
have you ever put in your cone but forgot to put on the kill switch? and then have to just manually turn off the button by yourself when it is approximate time to stop the kiln?
Great question! The kill switch has to be engaged or it will not turn on. The button will not stay pushed in unless that switch mechanism is up. I dont know if any other kilns are made where they can fire without a kill mechanism
Hi, i Just bought a slithly less ancient kiln. Instead of the switches i have a turn 'button' with 1-4 on it. But it works the same i think. But my question is... With the first bake, the temperature needs to stay a bit around 400. How do i do that?? 😅😅
Great question! Its hard to gauge temperature when they dont have a digital temp panel like the new ones do. I am not sure that a cone exists that melts at 400F or c for that matter. You can purchase a thermocouple to use for specific low temps like that! Itll probably be your best bet
First comment!
If my first kiln was also a dinosaur what does that make us?? paleontologists? 🦕 🦖 😂
😂 yes!!!!!
I think prongs are in backwards. More secure the other way.
Or maybe not... I think pin that sits on cone is longer than mine.
How long the pottery cooks in hours? And what is the average temperature?
The potter fires at a peak temperature of about 1888-1911 F (depending on any holds) for a cone 05 firing like i did in this video and takes anywhere from 8-12 hours to get to peak temp to shut off (depending on how slowly i raise the temperature). It will then take about 12 hours for it to cook enough to start opening it (depending on your kiln size. The larger the kiln and/or the more that’s in it, the longer it will take). I hope that helps!
You can also look at this chart and do some math to figure out exactly the temp and time with what cone you are using
www.clay-king.com/kilns/pyrometric_cone_temperature_chart.html
Are you still using this Vulcan kiln? Have you found replacement elements for it other than from Vulcan themselves?
Thankfully, i have not had to replace my elements! Even though this dino is probably close to 60 years old, i am fortunate enough that it was well kept. Unfortunately, since its so old, i believe the elements would have to come from vulcan. If i were to replace them, id probably go with them just so nothing get accidentally messed up by feeding too much power to them or not enough. I am sure you can find elements for them without having to go through vulcan, youd just have to measure very precisely