Arnold Howard

Wyatt, I suggest checking the amperage with a multimeter. That will help a lot in troubleshooting the kiln. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqkQfntCC2Y Sincerely, Arnold Howard Paragon Industries, L.P., Mesquite, Texas USA

If you don't have a motorized vent, then peepholes are important. They allow moisture to leave the kiln. Moisture trapped in the kiln causes severe rusting, even on new kilns. Arnold Howard

I think you will enjoy your Skutt 181. That's an interesting old kiln. One can learn a lot from firing a manual kiln. Your 181 might not need new elements. Check the elements with an ohmmeter. If they're okay, shrink them back into the grooves. Here is a video that shows how: Sincerely, Arnold Howard Paragon Industries, L.P., Mesquite, Texas USA

Both kilns appear to be in very good condition. The elements in the lower-priced kiln look new, and the bricks are perfect. If you add a digital controller to either kiln, keep the Dawson Kiln Sitter. You can use it as a safety shut off. Not only will you have a cone-based shut off, but also a timer. This would give you three systems for automatically shutting off the kiln: 1) the digital controller; 2) the Kiln Sitter; and 3) the Kiln Sitter Limit Timer. The lower priced kiln is fascinating because it is so different from any kiln made in America. This is because kilns evolved in Eu

The kiln is in mint condition, judging from your photo. It's hardly been fired. I don't see any rust either. If it were my kiln, I would not upgrade it to a digital controller. The SetnFire is already automatic. The top switch is an infinite control; the second one is a switch-timer. With time remaining on the second switch, half the elements are powered. When time runs out on the second switch, all the elements are powered. The walls are 3", so you should be able to reach cone 10, provided your circuit has full voltage. In America, most potters don't fire hotter than cone 6. Cone 10

Neil asked some good questions. Sara, does your entire program appear in Program Review? At IdLE, press 6. Sincerely, Arnold Howard Paragon Industries, L.P., Mesquite, Texas USA ahoward@paragonweb.com / www.paragonweb.com

I'm very curious to know why your elements are burning out. Could you post photos of the failure points where they burn out? I'm curious about the element connectors. Sincerely, Arnold Howard Paragon Industries, L.P., Mesquite, Texas USA ahoward@paragonweb.com / www.paragonweb.com

Here is a flow chart showing how the 4-way rotary switch works: https://paragonweb.com/ManualInfo.cfm?CID=85 Here are detailed instructions for testing the Paragon A-series kilns with an ohmmeter: https://paragonweb.com/ManualInfo.cfm?CID=197 Sincerely, Arnold Howard Paragon Industries, L.P., Mesquite, Texas USA / ahoward@paragonweb.com / www.paragonweb.com

Maybe you would get a discount if you made the hole in the outside wall yourself. Arnold Howard Paragon Industries, L.P., Mesquite, Texas USA

You can download our instruction manual. Much of the information will apply to your kiln since it covers the Kiln Sitter. http://paragonweb.com/ManualInfo.cfm?CID=148 Sincerely, Arnold Howard Paragon Industries, L.P., Mesquite, Texas USA ahoward@paragonweb.com / www.paragonweb.com

I've used shelf paper but prefer kiln wash. The shelf paper is used in glass fusing. The side of the glass that goes toward the kiln shelf picks up the brush marks from kiln wash. The shelf paper leaves a smoother surface on the glass. The paper is fairly expensive; I don't believe it is ever used in pottery. Sincerely, Arnold Howard Paragon Industries, L.P., Mesquite, Texas USA ahoward@paragonweb.com / www.paragonweb.com

You should apply kiln wash to the kiln's firebrick bottom. Be careful not to get kiln wash into an element groove. The kiln wash should last for years and will help to protect the bottom from glaze should you ever overfire the kiln. Sincerely, Arnold Howard Paragon Industries, L.P., Mesquite, Texas USA / www.twitter.com/arnoldhoward ahoward@paragonweb.com / www.paragonweb.com

The EA-122 instruction manual is not on our website. I will be happy to mail you a paper copy, though. Just email your address to me. The EA-122 should be able to fire up to cone 05 depending on the age of the elements. Sincerely, Arnold Howard Paragon Industries, L.P., Mesquite, Texas USA ahoward@paragonweb.com / www.paragonweb.com

I will be interested to know if the kiln fires. You could test it yourself with an ohmmeter to find out if all the parts are okay. The instructions: http://www.paragonwe...er_Readings.pdf You will need a 4-wire circuit for the A-66B. The instruction manual includes a section on electrical installation: http://www.paragonwe...er_Readings.pdf Good luck! Sincerely, Arnold Howard Paragon Industries, L.P., Mesquite, Texas USA ahoward@paragonweb.com / www.paragonweb.com