Cone of mystery
June 22, 2012 12:42 PM Subscribe
Ceramicsfilter: I am looking at buying an older kiln off Craigslist, but no one can seem to figure out what cone this thing can fire to. i know this is a long shot, but my Google-Fu is letting me down big time on this one.
The specifics: Cress Electric Kiln, Model EB-23, 240 Volts, 27 Amps. I tried contacting Cress but the entire company seems to be out of office until next month. The seller does not know anything about ceramics, and the model number doesn't come up on the Cress manual page. Any help or hints greatly appreciated...Thank you!
The specifics: Cress Electric Kiln, Model EB-23, 240 Volts, 27 Amps. I tried contacting Cress but the entire company seems to be out of office until next month. The seller does not know anything about ceramics, and the model number doesn't come up on the Cress manual page. Any help or hints greatly appreciated...Thank you!
How big is the kiln? Most electric kilns bigger than the tiny china-painting ones are designed to go up into stoneware temps -- cone 8-10 or so.
Of course, this all depends on the condition of the kiln, electrical issues, and so on with an older kiln.
A local ceramics supply shop or potters group might be able to provide more info -- ceramics types are great with sharing information. At least the ones I hang out with are.
Clayart.org might also be able to help you. They are a ceramics arts discussion list that has been around since Usenet days and they have a substantial archive.
posted by pantarei70 at 1:32 PM on June 22, 2012
Of course, this all depends on the condition of the kiln, electrical issues, and so on with an older kiln.
A local ceramics supply shop or potters group might be able to provide more info -- ceramics types are great with sharing information. At least the ones I hang out with are.
Clayart.org might also be able to help you. They are a ceramics arts discussion list that has been around since Usenet days and they have a substantial archive.
posted by pantarei70 at 1:32 PM on June 22, 2012
With Cress E indicates a firing computer. The 23s are double stacks.
Cone 10s are usually 40-50a, so I'm guessing yours is cone 6.
Possibly an ET-23?
posted by 1f2frfbf at 1:59 PM on June 22, 2012 [1 favorite]
Cone 10s are usually 40-50a, so I'm guessing yours is cone 6.
Possibly an ET-23?
posted by 1f2frfbf at 1:59 PM on June 22, 2012 [1 favorite]
It's an EB, and yeah, I did some checking and it is probably more like cone 6 at that amperage and size, though I've seen some cone 10 kilns that run at 30amps, that was confusing. There's no computer, it's a kiln sitter (I can't tell what model) with switches. The only catch is that there appears to be an EB-23-H, so my best guess here is that the EB-23 is 6 and the H is 10.
posted by lakersfan1222 at 2:04 PM on June 22, 2012
posted by lakersfan1222 at 2:04 PM on June 22, 2012
I've seen half-stack cone 10 kilns that run at 30a, so it's a possibility.
However: Every E kiln I've seen from Cress had their digital computer. Also: every 28 I've seen was a double stack. So: It's possible (again, that word!) that someone refitted it with a sitter after the computer died (early ones were not very heat resistant, oddly enough) and that accounts for the weird model number and it may not have a accurate service plate.
A bit of buying advice from someone with lots of kiln repair experience: Personally, I prefer a kiln sitter to a computer, but refits like this would be a major red flag for me, when buying a used kiln. Another thing to check is to ask how old the elements are, it they don't know, make a face and make a lower offer because what you're looking at is a mishmash of parts and if you're not comfortable working on your own kiln, you will not be happy.
posted by 1f2frfbf at 2:28 PM on June 22, 2012 [1 favorite]
However: Every E kiln I've seen from Cress had their digital computer. Also: every 28 I've seen was a double stack. So: It's possible (again, that word!) that someone refitted it with a sitter after the computer died (early ones were not very heat resistant, oddly enough) and that accounts for the weird model number and it may not have a accurate service plate.
A bit of buying advice from someone with lots of kiln repair experience: Personally, I prefer a kiln sitter to a computer, but refits like this would be a major red flag for me, when buying a used kiln. Another thing to check is to ask how old the elements are, it they don't know, make a face and make a lower offer because what you're looking at is a mishmash of parts and if you're not comfortable working on your own kiln, you will not be happy.
posted by 1f2frfbf at 2:28 PM on June 22, 2012 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks everyone for the super helpful answers. Here's the listing in case anyone is interested . The whole "E series without computer" thing was stumping me and it sounds like even if this thing CAN go to cone 10, maybe it shouldn't! I really appreciate everyone's input :-)
posted by couchtater at 4:57 PM on June 22, 2012
posted by couchtater at 4:57 PM on June 22, 2012
Kilns often have their maximum temperature printed on the side, for safety reasons (Do not operate above...) If the seller can find that number, you can work out which cone you can fire to safely (if nothing above works out). Not ideal, but the best I can do. Good luck!
posted by 0127661 at 5:41 PM on June 22, 2012
posted by 0127661 at 5:41 PM on June 22, 2012
How hard would it be to take a selection of cones over and test fire it?
posted by Bruce H. at 6:47 PM on June 22, 2012
posted by Bruce H. at 6:47 PM on June 22, 2012
How hard would it be to take a selection of cones over and test fire it?
Seriously. Don't Do This. Never, ever fire a kiln above its recommended temperature. The things than can go wrong are numerous and deadly.
posted by 1f2frfbf at 7:31 PM on June 22, 2012 [1 favorite]
Seriously. Don't Do This. Never, ever fire a kiln above its recommended temperature. The things than can go wrong are numerous and deadly.
posted by 1f2frfbf at 7:31 PM on June 22, 2012 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: It's official - I finally got the seller to open the darn manual and confirm it's a cone 6. Whew!
posted by couchtater at 8:36 PM on June 25, 2012
posted by couchtater at 8:36 PM on June 25, 2012
Yay! Drop me a memail if you need any cone six glazes, slips or kiln wash recipes.
posted by 1f2frfbf at 2:47 PM on June 26, 2012
posted by 1f2frfbf at 2:47 PM on June 26, 2012
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posted by lakersfan1222 at 1:26 PM on June 22, 2012