Evenheat Glass Kiln Operation Instructions
Contents
1. 1800 F Fire all ware according to the manufacturers instructions Improper firing may result in damage to the kiln or ware Never fire a kiln unattended Do not use the kiln to prepare food Do not insert any object into the kiln without first turning off all switches and disconnecting the power supply Shock may result Use care when looking into a hot kiln High heat escapes quickly and injury may result What you need to know Before you begin This manual is designed to provide you with kiln set up operation and basic firing instructions It is not repeat it is not a manual designed to instruct you how to fire glass You would be well advised to seek formal instruction through books or classes These items are available to you through your glass kiln dealer We do recommend that you get a copy of Gil Reynolds book The Fused Glass Handbook Consider it required reading Kiln Construction Firebrick Premium insulating firebrick is used to make up the firing chamber bottom and lid The brick is light weight and fragile and must be handled carefully and not bumped with shelves or ware The brick is porous small air pockets and voids and stores heat produced by the kilns heating elements The sidewall and lid are specially routed to retain the heating elements without the use of metal pins This special routing prevents the elements from pulling drooping or sagging High temperatures cause expansion and contraction of the bri2. brick Locate the two element ends of the faulty element and remove the connectors and black and or blue wires from each Using long nose pliers carefully remove the element from the firebrick groove Go easy the brick is fragile and will break if care is not given Install the new element Start by inserting one end through the brick and attach the connector and black or blue wire Using a wooden spoon or similar devise push the element into the groove Keep in mind that the element is longer than the groove This design allows the element to expand and contract without pulling out of the groove Go slow and you ll do just fine Insert the other end of the element through the brick and attach the element connector and black or blue wire Use wire cutters to snip off excess element ends Re attach the red panel to the kiln
3. heat That is to say that once the chamber attains a nice red glow your about at 1000 F Rotate all switches to the Low position and allow the kiln to fire for 30 minutes Rotate all switches to the Med setting and allow to fire until the temperature reaches 1000 F These settings and times are general and you ll want to adjust them to fit your kiln load and type of work Once the 1000 F has been reached close the lid completely if propped open and shut all peepholes Rotate all switches to the High position Check the firing periodically Continue to fire at this high setting until desired results are achieved Once the desired results are achieved rotate all switches to the Off position and vent the kiln to stop further changes to the glass Venting can be accomplished in many ways You may prop the lid open with a post or firebrick or you may open and close the lid slightly for a number of times The point here is to stop further changes to the glass Choose a technique you feel comfortable with It must be mentioned that protective clothing gloves and eyewear be worn when handling a hot kiln This is important at any stage of the firing Continue venting until the temperature falls to about 1100 F or so When the chamber reaches this temperature close the lid completely The temperature of the firing chamber tends to rise a bit once the lid is closed This is normal and will generally not harm or change the glass The glass must
4. now be allowed to anneal Annealing is the process of reducing internal stresses in the glass Your glass will have an annealing temperature however it s often unknown and often not given by the manufacturer In this case we perform what we call a shotgun anneal allowing the temperature of the kiln to cool slowly over a period of time In this way it s assumed that the anneal temperature will be within the slow cooling range Typically this slow cooling takes place between 1100 F and 600 F How slow is slow Thinner glass anneals faster than thicker glass General rates may be between 60 to 100 F per hour When in doubt go slow You can t over anneal glass Once the temperature of the kiln is below your annealing range turn off any remaining switches and allow the kiln to cool to room temperature Once cooled to room temperature it s safe to remove the glass from the kiln Firing Procedure for Automatic Controls Once glass is loaded prop the lid open 1 2 to 1 with a post or firebrick and open the peephole This allows fumes from adhesives and organic materials to escape Gold silver decals paints release fumes while firing and will leave an unwanted finish on the glass If your not firing any items such as these you may skip this step Program your automatic control with the firing information A separate programming manual has been included for your control Read it thoroughly and become familiar with it before attempti
5. shotgun anneal allowing the temperature of the kiln to cool slowly over a period of time In this way it s assumed that the anneal temperature will be within the slow cooling range Typically this slow cooling takes place between 1100 F and 600 F How slow is slow Thinner glass anneals faster than thicker glass General rates may be between 60 to 100 F per hour When in doubt go slow You can t over anneal glass Once the temperature of the kiln is below your annealing range allow the kiln to cool to room temperature Once cooled to room temperature it s safe to remove the glass from the kiln Record Keeping It s recommended that you keep records of your firings You will want to record what is being fired when it s fired glasses used heating and cooling times and temperatures switch or controller settings venting and final results As mentioned in the Firing Procedure for Automatic Controls it is wise to develop your firing information on paper before actually programming the kiln Segments rates temperatures and the like can be reviewed before being programmed Not only will this act as a double check it will provide you with a written record Accurate record keeping will allow you to repeat particular firings along with giving you a feel for what s going on and how it happens Kiln Maintenance Before Each Firing Check the firing chamber for debris Vacuuming your kiln before each firing will help insure that
6. Evenheat Glass Kiln Operation Instructions Precautions Read and understand all operating manuals before operating the kiln Kilns are as safe as any other electrical appliance when used under normal and proper operating conditions All precautions must be observed A qualified electrician or service person should be used for all electrical service or repairs All electrical codes must be met Make sure that all electrical specifications are followed Use correct voltage wire size and fuse or breakers Make sure all electrical connections are tight Avoid aluminum wire Always use the proper electrical receptacle or direct wire scheme Never alter the cordset or cordset plug Check all connections periodically for wear Kiln must be properly grounded Never allow the power cord to touch the kiln If the cord plug or receptacle become damaged replace immediately Replace any worn damaged or defective parts immediately with Evenheat replacements only Never ever use an extension cord to operate a kiln Do not alter the kiln or cordset in any way Alterations can be dangerous Alterations will void any warranties along with nullifying any U L CU L or other Listing Agency markings Unplug or disconnect the kiln from the electrical service before servicing or vacuuming Do not attempt to touch or replace the heating elements while the kiln is plugged in or connected to the electrical service Shock may result The best location for th
7. chedule for all glass Much depends on the type of hot glass work that is being done the type of glass that s being used and the effects desired The following procedure is a very basic fusing schedule It s designed primarily to teach you about the various control functions and what is done throughout a firing Generally speaking glass can be taken to 1000 F in the first hour of firing This rate allows the temperature of the glass to increase relatively quickly without breakage After the 1000 F temperature has been reached the glass can be fired as fast as possible to the fusing temperatures or until desired results are achieved Fusing temperatures range from 1300 to 1500 F Once desired results are achieved the kiln is vented quickly to stop further changes to the glass After this venting period the kiln is closed and allowed to cool slowly which anneals the glass Firing procedure Using Infinite Controls Manual Control Once glass is loaded prop the lid open 1 2 to 1 with a post or firebrick and open the peephole This allows fumes from adhesives and organic materials to escape Gold silver decals paints release fumes while firing and will leave an unwanted finish on the glass If your not firing any items such as these you may skip this step The goal is to reach 1000 F in about an hour A pyrometer is a valuable tool which displays kiln chamber temperature You ll need one Talk to your supplier In general 1000 is red
8. ck and may lead to hairline cracks This normal and in no way will effect the quality or performance of the kiln Heating Elements The heating elements are coils of wire that produce heat inside the kiln They are made from the highest quality high temperature wire available Life expectancy of the elements will depend upon the number of firings and firing temperatures Glass firing temperatures are considered to be relatively low which helps extend life Care should be taken that no foreign matter come in contact with the elements This includes glass shelf primer or ether fired ware Regular vacuuming of the element grooves is recommended Jacket and Lid Band Both the outer jacket and lid band are made of stainless steel Stainless steel is chosen for its long life corrosion resistance and strength Some tarnishing may appear particularly at higher temperatures The integrity of the construction is not effected by this tarnishing and may be removed with stainless polish It is recommended that the lid band be tightened after each of the first three firings and checked for tightness periodically afterwards Peepholes and Peephole Covers Peepholes serve two purposes The first is to allow moisture and gas to escape from the kiln during firing The second is to allow the user to check the firing chamber during the firing process Evenheat uses a special metal peephole cover that is permanently attached to the kiln These covers will become
9. d loosen any remaining brick and dust for removal The pre fire will allow you to become familiar with the control devises used on your kiln The pre fire consists of taking the temperature of the kiln to about 1500 F This should be accomplished over a three hour period For manually controlled kilns this involves increasing the heat by turning up all infinite switches to a higher number over time For automatically controlled kilns this involves programming in a rate of temperature increase at a rate of 500 F per hour up to the final temperature Positioning of the Shelf and Glass Always use a shelf when firing even when firing with a mold If problems arise it is much easier and cheaper to replace a shelf than a kiln bottom Posts are used to bring the shelf up from the floor of the kiln This allows the work to be moved closer to the lid elements while allowing heat to reach the underside of the shelf A post length of 2 to 3 is typical Use enough posts to support the shelf securely 4 being the minimum Set the shelf on the posts positioning equally from all sides of the chamber Set the mold on the shelf if one is being used Position the glass on the shelf or mold as desired You may find that using an adhesive to keep the glass in place helps This is available from your supplier Once the glass is positioned you re ready to fire Firing Procedure General Firing Procedure It s not possible to layout an exact firing s
10. dust will not effect your ware Look over the lid and remove any loose brick pieces Check all firing surfaces for cracks and kiln wash Recoat with kiln wash if necessary Lid Maintenance and Repair During the firing your lid will expand and contract It s necessary to tighten the band clamps on the lid after each of the first three firings These clamps should be checked periodically after and tightened as needed Small hairline cracks may appear in the lid and bottom This is normal and does not effect the firing in any way Should chips or large cracks appear they should be repaired to prevent sifting or becoming larger Small chips may be cemented back into place For large chips a portion of firebrick may need to be removed and a new brick cut to size cemented in Sand smooth Sidewall Maintenance and Repair If glass or other foreign material has embedded itself into the brick use a small screwdriver or knife to remove Be careful the firebrick is fragile Foreign matter on the brick will lead to further destruction and possible element failure Should a piece of brick chip off from the sidewall it s possible to cement it back on Care should be used around heating elements Do not allow the cement to get on the heating elements as this may cause element failure Element Replacement As with any repair remove power from the kiln Remove the red panel that houses the element ends You will see the element ends protruding from the
11. e kiln is a concrete floor If not available some type of adequate fireproof insulating material should be used beneath the stand to prevent discoloration of the floor or possible fire hazard Place only on the metal stand provided by Evenheat Kiln Inc Do not install the kiln closer than 18 from combustible wall surface or object In stall in a covered well ventilated area It is the users responsibility to provide ventilation capable of removing all gases fumes and other airborne contaminants produced during firing safely firing from work area and building structure Never install outside Avoid moisture Never place the kiln in a small enclosed area such as a closet cabinet or very small room The surface of the kiln is hot and burns are possible Keep all children and unsupervised personnel away Always wear protective clothing gloves and eyewear when operating and handling a hot kiln Protective clothing includes but is not limited to loose fitting cotton clothing heat resistant gloves and eyewear capable of filtering infrared light Do not store flammable or combustible products near the kiln such as gasoline paint aerosol cans paper curtains plastics etc Never place anything under or above the kiln for storage Absolutely nothing should be propped against the kiln Do not operate the kiln over the maximum temperature rating printed on the nameplate In most cases the temperature of the glass kiln should not exceed
12. hot during firing Use protective gloves when opening and closing the peephole covers Care should also be taken when viewing the chamber through the peephole High heat escapes quickly and cause injury if viewed to quickly or closely Use protective eyewear Control Panel The control panel contains all electrical and electronic components used to operate the kiln This panel is separated from the kiln body by a heatshield This shield lowers the temperatures seen at the components thereby extending the life of these components Control Styles Infinite switch The standard control style on all Evenheat glass kilns is the infinite switch Depending on your model your kiln will contain up to three of these switches Each lid element is controlled by a single switch while all side elements are generally controlled by a single switch The infinite switch can best be described as a percentage switch That is to say it supplies power for a period of time and removes power for a period of time It repeats this cycle over and over The on time verses the off time depends upon the setting of the switch On a low setting the switch may be on 25 of the time and off the remaining 75 of the time As the switch is rotated toward the higher settings the on time begins to get longer and the off time shorter This effectively increases the heat seen in the firing chamber It should be noted that the highest position HIGH supplies powe
13. inning of this manual for a list of precautions that must be followed Use common sense Crowded close quarters should be avoided Ventilation is a must Give yourself room to work Stand Assembly The kiln stand is shipped disassembled Tools required for assembly include a Phillips screwdriver and a 7 16 wrench Layout the frame angles in a square or rectangle on larger models with the bolt holes vertical The corners of the frame angles are overlapped Place the legs inside each corner and insert a bolt in each hole Thread on nuts and tighten securely Place plastic feet on the ends of each leg Position the stand and check that it s level Shim with metal if necessary Placement of the Kiln Center the kiln on the stand so that it s stable and allows for the minimum of 18 to the closest wall or object The kiln may have a metal bottom which is secured with screws Position the kiln on the stand so that these bottom screws are not resting on the stand Check that the kiln is level and shim with metal if necessary Once positioned check again that it s stable Do so with the lid closed and again with the lid opened If your kiln is equipped with swing away peephole covers loosen the screw 1 4 turn to allow the cover to swing easily The peephole covers are fastened securely for shipping The kiln should be vacuumed completely with a small dusting brush to remove any brick or brick dust generated during shipping Be sure t
14. lass with a soft towel Handle with care Kiln Wash Kiln wash a k a shelf primer is a protective coating used to prevent glass from sticking to the firing surface All items used for firing from shelves to molds must be coated with this kiln wash Kiln wash is normally supplied in a dry form and must be mixed with water before application Mix the kiln wash to desired consistency Water to powder ratios are usually given on the package Use a soft brush to apply the wash to the surface of the shelf or mold Keep in mind that your glass will take on the texture of the shelf or mold A very smooth coating is generally the goal Many coatings will be needed to fully coat the shelf with reasonable drying times between coats It is possible to hasten the drying process by loading the shelf or mold into the kiln and taking the temperature up to 400 to 500 F Be sure that the shelf or mold is completely dry before using While it s possible that the kiln wash will remain on the shelf or mold after many firings it s always a good idea to inspect for wear and re coat if necessary Pre Fire Your kiln is essentially ready for use as soon as it s connected electrically It is wise however to perform a pre fire before using the kiln for your work The pre fire will establish an oxide coating on the heating elements that protects them from any fumes and impurities released during the firing process The pre fire will drive off excess moisture an
15. ng to fire It s wise to develop your firing plans before attempting to program Start the firing If the lid was propped open close the lid once 1000 F has been reached Check the firing periodically Continue to fire until desired results are achieved Once the desired results are achieved vent the kiln to stop further changes to the glass Check the automatic control to see that it is either off or following your actions It may be necessary to reprogram or skip ahead in the program to reach this point Venting can be accomplished in many ways You may prop the lid open with a post or firebrick or you may open and close the lid slightly for a number of times The point here is to stop further changes to the glass Choose a technique you feel comfortable with It must be mentioned that protective clothing gloves and eyewear be worn when handling a hot kiln This is important at any stage of the firing Continue venting until the temperature falls to about 1100 F or so When the chamber reaches this temperature close the lid completely The temperature of the firing chamber tends to rise a bit once the lid is closed This is normal and will generally not harm or change the glass The glass must now be allowed to anneal Annealing is the process of reducing internal stresses in the glass Your glass will have an annealing temperature however it s often unknown and often not given by the manufacturer In this case we perform what we call a
16. o vacuum the lid element groove Dust in these grooves will cause imperfections in the finished piece Be careful as brick is fragile Electrical Service Connection To operate safely and efficiently your kiln needs the proper electrical outlet with the correct amperage capacity and voltage A licensed electrician or local power authority should determine if you have the proper service All electrical changes should be performed by a licensed electrician Refer to the beginning of this manual for a list of precautions that must be followed It is very important that all wire size and fusing breaker selections are correct Improper selection can lead to overheating of the cordset receptacle supply lines and fusing breaker Copper wire is preferred and we strongly suggest avoiding aluminum wire Through common sense and professional electrical service your kiln will provide many years of trouble free service Preparing to Fire Glass Preparation For successful glass firing all glass being fused or otherwise combined must have the same expansion characteristics or COE Attempting to kiln work glasses that do not share the same COE will result in breakage This breakage occurs from stress that is created by COE differences It s important that your glass be clean Fingerprints and oil from the cutter can fire into the surface of the glass and leave an unwanted film You may use dish soap commercial glass cleaner or isopropyl alcohol Dry the g
17. r to the elements 100 of the time The infinite switches are adjusted throughout the firing process to control rate of temperature increase or decrease and to set soaking temperatures if desired When operating the infinite switches will make a slight popping noise This is normal Pyrometer A pyrometer is a meter used to measure the temperature in side the kiln A thermocouple sensing probe is attached to the meter and is inserted 1 1 2 to 2 4 to 5cm into the kiln chamber The pyrometer is useful as a guide when firing It allows you to keep track of firing rates and temperatures Although glass firing can be accomplished without the use of a pyrometer it is recommended that one be used Automatic Controls Automatic control allows you to precisely control all firing rates temperatures and soak times Simply program the firing data into the controller and start the firing Temperatures soak times and other firing data is displayed via a digital display These controls also have a host of other functions that makes firing more enjoyable Evenheat uses a variety of automatic temperature controls Operation of these controls is beyond the scope of this manual Your best opportunity to learn about your particular control is to read and understand the operations manual that was included with your kiln Kiln Set up Firing Location Consideration of many factors must be given when choosing a location for the kiln Refer to the beg
Download Pdf Manuals
Related Search