Cautions For Trying Cone 5 On An Old Kiln?

[Daveg]

I picked up an old kiln and have been using it for low fire. I wanted to try mid fire glazes cone 5. It is a cone sitter type with 3 switches and does not have any cone information on it. Other than throw a 5 cone in the sitter and watch it is there any other precautions I should take for this trial? Will most kilns fire to cone 5 without problems? Any help or advice is apreciated

[MatthewV]

If there appears to be 2" or more of brick, there isn't a danger to reach ∆5. Yes, most electric kilns will reach the mid-fire range.

[Benzine]

There is no manufacturer's tag on it? There is usually a thing metal tag on the kiln, stamped with the model number, max firing tempt, etc.

[Daveg]

Thank you! my brick is 2.5 inches. I will give it a try. No tags on kiln other than amps/ volts but it has no stainless wrap either just brick. so figure its rather old.

[Mark C.]

At 22 amps and those house switches my guess is this kiln is made for cone 06 firing back in the day.
Good luck with cone 5. How do the elements look? new clean -in the groves or something else?

[Randy Thomson]

I have used, and rebuilt, 6 old kilns. The only thing I can suggest is a good thermometer. Unfortunately they are several hundred dollars. Barring that, go for it. Once you fire it.... if it works YEA..IF NOT, well you will need new elements from the manufacture. Remember kilns are VERY simple, a pile of bricks, an on/off switch, and some heating coils....just like a light bulb. The only way to know if it works is to just turn it on. Have fun.

P.S. the previous owner sold it for a reason.

P.P.S. every old kiln I have EVER rebuilt was over engineered to go to cone 8 or higher. Cone 6 isn't that old.

[neilestrick]

It will depend on what size the kiln is. At 22 amps, it shouldn't be any larger than 18" wide by 18" deep, and even then it's ever so slightly underpowered. Most modern kilns of that size pull 24 amps. But you should be fine getting to cone 5 as long as the elements are good.

[douglas]

If this is an old kiln, the first thing I would worry about is lead glaze contamination.

 

http://community.ceramicartsdaily.org/topic/11-residual-lead-in-kilns/