Charly Posted August 17, 2021 Report Share Posted August 17, 2021 Hi there I bought and old Cromartie CTL120 with kiln sitter control and three dials (each dial is numbered 1 - 6/max). I did a test bisque fire which seemed to go ok just rather fast a couple of weeks ago. I have just done a second fuller cone 04 bisque: Overnight candle with just the bottom element on at below 1. Turned all dials to 1 for 3.5 hrs Turned all dials to 3 for 3.5 hrs ... Kiln switched off at just over 7 hrs - I was about to turn to full. Kiln is currently still hot, the bottom cone pack looks to have reached cone 05, for some reason I cant see the top cone pack through the peep hole. No peephole for middle cone pack. So it seems likely that the kiln sitter worked correctly - I will update when I open the kiln tomorrow. What can cause this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callie Beller Diesel Posted August 17, 2021 Report Share Posted August 17, 2021 7 hours for a bisque after an overnight candle isn’t unreasonable, especially for a 120L/4 cu ft kiln. Mine’s a 7 cu ft, and does it in 10 with no candle, and I work with a red clay that needs the burn off. It sounds like there’s nothing wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charly Posted August 17, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2021 4 minutes ago, Callie Beller Diesel said: 7 hours for a bisque after an overnight candle isn’t unreasonable, especially for a 120L/4 cu ft kiln. Mine’s a 7 cu ft, and does it in 10 with no candle, and I work with a red clay that needs the burn off. It sounds like there’s nothing wrong. Thank you That makes me more hopeful, but would it be normal to reach 04 on a medium dial setting? The previous kiln I managed in Cambridge, UK had a digital controller, I still used cones for more info but had to just leave it to do it's thing. also, that was a front opening kiln with no working peephole so I didn't get chance to learn much about heat colour or see the cones go down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted August 17, 2021 Report Share Posted August 17, 2021 Small kilns often have a lot of power for their size, so they can get to 04 on medium if it's on medium for a long enough time. Also, those switches are cycling the elements on and off to achieve the slow climb- they're not the same a 3 heat switch (low, med, hi) that is used on larger kilns. Like 3/4 being the middle of the dial isn't necessarily the same as medium on a 3-heat switch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charly Posted August 18, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2021 Thank you. Great to have people who respond so quickly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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