Having just started lampworking and taking delivery of an Efco 135 kiln is there anyone who can give me advice on batch annealing schedules ? I do not have a digital controls just the basic one. Thanks
What do you mean by a basic controller - do you mean a dial and a pyrometer?
Efco Temperature regulator as seen in the middle of this link.
http://watermanshop.com/Webshop/tabid/64/ProdID/401/Language/en-US/EFCO_135_Enamel_kiln_for_the_enamel_hobby.aspx
Right, you'll need to kiln-sit, as it isn't going to be an automatic process. Not a problem, but allow lots of time (I usually find an evening when there's a good film on). You'll also need a thermocouple, with a probe that goes into the back of the kiln to accurately tell you the kiln temperature.
There's a very good basic explanation in the book 'The Complete Book of Glass beadmaking', by Kimberley Adams, which guides you through the process.
In a nutshell, you need to slowly bring the temperature up to your annealing temperature, 521 degrees. Soak the beads at this temp for an absolute minimum of 15 minutes (longer for bigger beads, and it never hurts to soak them for longer anyway. just to be on the safe side).
You then bring down the kiln temp in a controlled manner, allowing around an hour to get to 454 degrees (this is the strain temperature point). Hold the kiln at this temperature for 15 minutes, then turn it off and allow to cool naturally (I usually do this bit overnight to avoid the temptation to peek).
Hope this helps!
Brilliant answer Tina!
Does the Kimberley Adams book explain how to use the thermocouple/dial controllers? That's very useful if it does
Many thanks but I haven't got a thermocouple and can't get one here so will have to hold them all till someone comes out here. Grrrr so frustrating.....
it looks very simlar to the bead cube ,i would get in touch with lee at kiln care ,if the controller is compatable i would highly recommend it as it comes already programmed ;) (not sure about the plug issue though )
you can cool in bubbles or vermiculite for the time being or maybe one of sals contacts can help out
i have given up trying to post things to mum ,her postal service is non exsistant and we rely on when people are comming over
Quote from: Zeldazog on February 04, 2012, 01:48:19 PM
Brilliant answer Tina!
Does the Kimberley Adams book explain how to use the thermocouple/dial controllers? That's very useful if it does
Fank you!
No, no explanation about either. The thermocouple that I have is basically a temperature probe, so put the probe in the hole and see what the readout is. The dial controller is trial and error; for mine (I have an Efco 110, bit smaller), somewhere around 4.5 is what I need to bring it up to annealing temperature; but it does vary from time to time. Best to start by increasing it a small amount at a time until the kiln is hot enough.
Firo, sorry you can't get a thermocouple there; but unless you know how hot the kiln is it's a bit of a non-starter :(
Thanks Tina, I wasn't asking for me, but trying to explain how to use a dial and pyrometer isn't easy, so to have a book to point folk to would have been useful.
If anybody ever questions why glass kilns are so expensive, looking at them without one of their most important bits, the digital controller, tells all really. ???
Hi Firo, firstly booooo you! By my reckoning that EFCO 135 and Regulator you purchased cost at least £468 if Tax is included, more if it isn't. We do exactly the same for £380.64 including delivery and V.A.T. :( :( :(
But, in true Lee-tradition, where you got the kiln from won't effect any help I can offer ;D ;D
One thing is for sure, you HAVE to know the temperature one way or the other.
Simple steps are as follows.
Leave the kiln empty.
Set your regulator to say 2 or 3 and monitor the temperature rise. 150c per hour would be nice. If the kiln is going too fast turn the regulator down a bit, if it is going too slow turn it up etc.
Make a note of start time and temperature, this will help.
Once you have the kiln running at approx 150c per hour, let it run up to your annealing start temperature, say 512c.
When it gets there, turn your regulator up so it turns the kiln on then slowly turn the regulator down again. The second it turns off, leave it there and monitor the kilns temperature through the hold time, adjusting accordingly. This is the hardest part as it can be difficult to get the kiln to hold and not slowly rise or fall.
Now to anneal you need to let the kiln fall slowly down to 250c or whatever. The default on the Bead Cube is 50c per hour and that should be fine.
Now, if you have noted your temps and times down you can repeat it at your leasure and perfect it before trying with some beads in.
Remember, when you put beads in it may well have the effect of smoothing the behaviour of the kiln as the beds first suck in the heat, then release it during the cool down so fresh adjustment may be needed the first couple of times you use it in anger.
Alternatively, buy a kcr1 :) :)
http://www.kilncare.co.uk/kilns_controls_controllers_kcr1plugincontrol.html
Hope that helps.
Lee this might upset you but I bought it brand new and unused for the bargain price of £320.....
Thanks for the other instructions but to follow them I need a thermocouple and the cheapest seems to come with a digital controller and costs £270+.
If you have any other ideas I would appreciate them but it looks like I'm going to have to start saving my pennies and order one.
Thanks
It is possible to buy pyrometer's separately; got my K2 Digital Pyrometer from Warm Glass and it cost me £65 about 18 months ago.
Hi Firo, we sell the EFCO range at absolute rock bottom profit and we get main dealer maximum discount so we should be the cheapest around.
So obviously, at £320 that is strangely low so I am inquisitive as to where you got it from and if it is a continual offer or just a one off.
Lee, I think your main clue will be Firo's location, she's not in the UK ;).
Lee I'll put you out of your misery thinking you may have a competitor at better prices, but only because you've been helpful....lol
I bought it from a private individual on ebay just before Xmas. She had bought it to do a project, a year before, but never did the project so it was unused. right place right time lucky me. Now you can relax....lol
Lampworker...thanks I'll look into that with warm glass.
;D LOL Firo, yer got me going there.......it just didnt seem possible ;D
Thanks for putting my mind at rest, I didn't get a wink of sleep last right ::)
You're welcome Lee, plus the thought of leaving a man distressed would stop me from sleeping...lol ;) ;D