Denice Posted March 22, 2015 Report Share Posted March 22, 2015 I am considering ordering a Olympic Medallion MAS 2323HE Kiln I was wondering if anyone out there has owned an Olympic kiln. The interior is 23.5x22.5 which is 5 inches shorter than my Skutt, it has 3"brick, heavy duty elements, and fires to 2350F. It also has a Bartlett V6-CF controller, I have never used a controller before but I thought this one looked like something I could manage. My 45year old small paragon gave out on me last week, last time I had it repaired my kiln guy told me it was the last time. My Skutt is also getting up in years and is going to need a lot of repair and it is so deep it's always been hard for me to load. I would appreciate any info you can give me on the Olympics kilns or the Bartlett controller. Denice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted March 22, 2015 Report Share Posted March 22, 2015 I have a few skutts but my next electric if I ever buy another will be a L&L. No help with an Olympic. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pugaboo Posted March 22, 2015 Report Share Posted March 22, 2015 I have the 1823HE Olympic Kiln with the Bartlett v6 controller. I have owned it almost 3 years now and have fired 63 ( I think, the log is downstairs) loads in it. I fire bisque to ^04 and glaze to ^6. It's been a great kiln for me, I realize it's still early days for how it will hold up but so far it's been great. I bought an Olympic because the factory is only a couple hours away from me and I could tour the factory, check out the different styles, pick it up myself to save shipping, the art center here has 2 of them (and they work those 2 kilns hard), know there is someone that will come out to my small town to work on them if needed, was in a price range I could afford, etc etc etc. I don't know if this helps or not. If you have any questions I will try to give further experience details. T Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denice Posted March 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2015 Pugaboo that info boosts my confidence, I really like the size of the Olympic, the L&L kilns are $1000 higher and don't have that size. I haven't found any other brand that does, most of them have a 18" or 27" height on a 36" kiln. Five inches shorter will really make a difference when it comes to loading, hopefully I won't dread it anymore. Denice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clay lover Posted March 22, 2015 Report Share Posted March 22, 2015 I second that 5" !! I have the Skutt 1027, and sometimes I think I am going to fall in, trying to load the bottom shelf! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldlady Posted March 22, 2015 Report Share Posted March 22, 2015 clay lover, why not permanently leave the bottom shelf on 5 inch posts? that makes the "floor" of the kiln you have the correct height for loading. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denice Posted March 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2015 I have tried that, the stack seems unstable, I keep a shelf about 2" off the floor permanently which helps. I decide as long as I am buying I might as well fix the problem, I'm not getting any younger and I have MS so I don't know what the future holds. I understand this size is getting very popular with the aging potters. Denice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted March 23, 2015 Report Share Posted March 23, 2015 One other thing to note is I think Olympic has thier own shelve sizes which are a bit smaller/larger?I think smaller? I recall this issue with another potter who bought one thinking they could use the same shelves-so check into this before pulling the trigger. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denice Posted March 24, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 24, 2015 That would be a problem for me also, I make a lot of tiles and I was planning to use the shelves from my old Skutt. The Olympic does have 3" walls so the shelves are probably smaller, I'll check it out. Thanks Denice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bioman Posted April 9, 2015 Report Share Posted April 9, 2015 Just purchased an Olympic 2827HE freedom package. So far one successful firing with no issues. The Bartlett is easy to program even for a beginner. But I have no idea how well it will hold up over time. Would have bought an L&L based on my perceptions of better build and technology, but price difference was simply too high as I needed a glass kiln as well (Paragon Pearl 22). I don’t think you will be unhappy with an Olympic. Just a note, if you are going to place this in a room in your residence, even with a Ventmaster, this will really heat up the space it is in. You will need to have a window fan or other means of lowering the room temperature. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted April 9, 2015 Report Share Posted April 9, 2015 Would have bought an L&L based on my perceptions of better build and technology, but price difference was simply too high as I needed a glass kiln as well (Paragon Pearl 22). For future reference, glass can be fired in digital pottery kilns just fine. There is a myth among glass artists that you have to have elements in the kiln lid, or that you can't use shelves in the kiln. I have several customers who fire glass in their pottery kilns, including one who does large 22" wide slumped bowls and platters. She can fire 5 at a time in her L&L E28T-3. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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