Mysticapex Posted September 14, 2018 Report Share Posted September 14, 2018 I just bought a Gare mini kiln with a kiln sitter but the instructions are for a standard size kiln with 4 switches and mine has only 1 I plugged it in and it heats up but unsure how to operate it to get it up to temp. I plan to use it for clay jewelry. Any help is appreciated I tried to up load photos but said not allowed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mysticapex Posted September 14, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2018 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mysticapex Posted September 14, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2018 This is the kiln sitter with the 1 and only on switch it’s a Gar 810 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted September 15, 2018 Report Share Posted September 15, 2018 I am not familiar with a Gar kiln but am very familiar with that cone sitter. Buy a box of bar cones for the sitter-These cone will be your turn off temperature (so whatever you fire to -lets say you are going to fire to cone 08-buy a box of 50 small bar cones that are cone 08. That sitter is made by Dawson and you can look up instructions on how to use it. its here https://www.paragonweb.com/files/manuals/Kiln-Sitter Models P & K Operating Manual.pdf there are also endless tube videos on it as well. since its only one switch that means its on full-so it must be a very small kiln. Make sure all your work is Bone dry as it will heat up fast-you can prop the lid open with a soft brick of a an hour or so which will slow the heating down to dry things out. Jewelry is usually thin and get dry fast. It will take at least one fire to test the cone setter-you should also get a few larger cones and put them inside the fire to see how even the fire is and if that sitter cone is also accurate -it may need adjusting-ascovered in Manuel . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mysticapex Posted September 15, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2018 Thank you so much! Very helpful and yes it is a small kiln I bought for $25 and I am very excited to get started but was worried about it only having 1 switch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted September 15, 2018 Report Share Posted September 15, 2018 How hot do you plan to fire? Look at the serial plate and make sure it'll go that hot. How many amps does the kiln pull? It needs to be on a breaker that is 25% greater than the pull. With one switch, it's going to get hot really fast. You'll need to prop the lid, or even keep it open for a while at the beginning of the firing in order to slow it down. Otherwise you're going to blow up all your clay work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted September 15, 2018 Report Share Posted September 15, 2018 One switch means rocket away-ZOOM-you could aways turn in off and on a bit as it heats up to slow it down. I doubt they named these kilns from the freshwater Gar fish? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mysticapex Posted September 15, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2018 I’m hoping to go cone 5-6 and it’s a Gare Kiln 810 it has a regular outlet plug in. The inside is bigger than a dinner plate. And I like the turning off and on to ramp up. It came with several small cone boxes from 018 to 06 and the clay I want to use is cone 05-06 so I’m hoping it works. Thank you for the great info and ideas! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mysticapex Posted September 15, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2018 It says to not operate over cone 8 so I’m trying to figure out if it will work I have low fire clay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mysticapex Posted September 15, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2018 Most things fire about cone 6 why would this one only go to cone 8 I’m feeling a bit frustrated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hulk Posted September 15, 2018 Report Share Posted September 15, 2018 My guess would be that kiln will last much longer firing to 06-05 than pushing to 8; it's "only" 500 degrees more, however, my understanding is that it's much more work to get that increase in temp. Even the jump from 6 to 8 is significant. Any road, you'll want to fire your clay to maturity ...that said, I'm excited for you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted September 16, 2018 Report Share Posted September 16, 2018 12 hours ago, Mysticapex said: I’m hoping to go cone 5-6 and it’s a Gare Kiln 810 it has a regular outlet plug in. The inside is bigger than a dinner plate. And I like the turning off and on to ramp up. It came with several small cone boxes from 018 to 06 and the clay I want to use is cone 05-06 so I’m hoping it works. Thank you for the great info and ideas! The kiln pulls 18 amps, which means it will not run on a regular household circuit, which is 15 amps. If the plug fits a regular household plug, then it's not the right plug. It should go on a 20 amp circuit minimum, ideally 25 amps. A 20 amp plug and cord should be used, not a 15 amp, or the cord could melt/burn. A 20 amp plug has one of the prongs turned 90 degrees, so it can't fit into a 15 amp outlet. Once you get the wiring situation figured out, it will go to cone 6, although the elements will wear out more quickly than with a cone 10 kiln. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldlady Posted September 16, 2018 Report Share Posted September 16, 2018 mysticapex, your understanding of cone heatwork is not correct. please look carefully at the chart Hulk has provided here. cone 8 is much hotter than cone 06. the cone 8 limit is much greater than you will need. it is only saying something like the speedometer on your car, it can go 120 miles an hour but if you only want to drive 30 miles an hour, it will work. EXCEPT! you must get the wiring correct for it to work safely. neil is the expert on kilns, wiring and safely using kilns. do what he tells you so you do not burn down your house. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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