the reason i ask is that i have seen on other threads of peoples
are too afraid to leave they kilns once a program has started,
im sure with todays technology this is a thing of the past,
or maybe you know better, tell me your horror storys.
Heck, I thought this was a 'er, my kiln burst into flames...is this normal' thread ;D
No, my kiln has never burst into flames, and since I mainly torch between 8-10pm, it is *always* on over night.
Quote from: sparrow on January 22, 2010, 07:22:44 AM
Heck, I thought this was a 'er, my kiln burst into flames...is this normal' thread ;D
haha lmao sabine!
mine never has either...I think if anyones had, there would be a thread about it on the forum somewhere. when I'm working with BronzClay it takes 9 hours to fire, so I leave the kiln unattended. :)
Mines always on overnight too. And it's surrounded by wood about 3-4 inches away! God I hope I'm not tempting fate by saying that!!!!
Ditto Sabine and Helen.
It scares the bejesus out of me seeing my kiln glowing bright orange when firing Bronz/Coppr/SilverClay but I still leave it!!!! Or rather, I can't look ;D ;D
I've got used to trusting it on a normal glass session, so, nope. It hasn't and nope, I don't worry about it.
mine nearly always on overnight only time i get anxious is when there is a thunder storm but have been leaving it on overnight for 2 1/2 years and no problems!
Quote from: sparrow on January 22, 2010, 07:22:44 AM
Heck, I thought this was a 'er, my kiln burst into flames...is this normal' thread ;D
lol ;D
Mine hasn't yet ;) it's nearly always on over night, the only disadvantage to that is damned power cuts grrrrrrrrr
I think Josephines did once :o
OMG -What a terrible thought, surely this would only happen if an electrical fault was present, and then hopefully the circuit breaker would take care of this before a fire broke out?
No, but my tumble dryer nearly did last night. Time to get a new one..... :'(
Kiln burst into flames - in 26 years of using kilns I have never had one burst into flames (even gas fired ones lol).
Now, once my microwave burst into flames, and a toaster.......but kiln.....never ;D
Terri x
what a terrifying thought! My kiln is in my wooden workshop, at least it is a good distance from the house but would probably take out nextdoors fence too lol.
Errrr, no, and I touch wood that it won't! :o
I'd imagine there are some horror stories going around, probably involving ancient kilns or people leaving daft things on/near them. I can't say (and hope I never will) heard directly from anyone who has. I cannot think of anything in a modern kiln that is flamible anyway.
I've had a telly go up in smoke but never my kilns and, with fusing schedules, the fusing kiln is always on overnight and I certainly don't sit there watching it :o ;D
Quote from: sparrow on January 22, 2010, 07:22:44 AM
Heck, I thought this was a 'er, my kiln burst into flames...is this normal' thread ;D
Glad I am not the only one!
Quote from: Dendrobium on January 22, 2010, 10:39:33 AM
I'd imagine there are some horror stories going around, probably involving.... people leaving daft things on/near them.
I came downstairs the other morning to find I had left a tea towel on the top of my kiln overnight.....
OMG what paranoia and scare mongering! I have had a kiln overfire in my kitchen and as it's a ceramics kiln went up to around 1300 with some glass inside, so kinda a mini furnace, but not even a scorch mark on the lino!
At the end of the day, the guys who make these kilns have been doing so for a heck of a long time and so kinda know what they're doing, so please people, show them a bit of respect that they are building you kit that is safe! After all what is the point of using a controller if you still have to babysit your kiln!
On another note, think of the temperatures were dealing with, if you leave something inside or on top or near to a kiln that is organic, it's gonna burn and smoke, so use a bit of common sense about it!
Rachel x
Dishwasher yes
Tumbledrier yes
Washing machine yes
Kiln no.....
I must be so unlucky, why is it always at night? Maybe I should rephrase that to really lucky as each time I and the house were ok , just a burntout charcoal circuit board,terrible stink and lighter pockets.
Ruthx
Quote from: Flyingcheesetoastie on January 22, 2010, 11:48:09 AM
On another note, think of the temperatures were dealing with, if you leave something inside or on top or near to a kiln that is organic, it's gonna burn and smoke, so use a bit of common sense about it!
I don't think I had a lot of common sense at the time, Rachel! Couldn't believe how stupid I had been when I saw it. Incidentally, though it didn't leave a mark or brown the tea-towel.... a couple of weeks before, I had left a piece of ceramic fibre paper on top (I know, I know), and that *did* leave a light scorch mark on the lid....
The best thing would be for you to fire it a few times while you are around. That way you can watch it, feel the walls and areas around it and put your mind at rest.
Don't do as I did and leave a pair of oven gloves sitting on top the very first time I plucked up the courage to not stare at it the whole program ::)
Quote from: Tan on January 22, 2010, 02:37:54 PM
Don't do as I did and leave a pair of oven gloves sitting on top the very first time I plucked up the courage to not stare at it the whole program ::)
Glad I am not the only dingbat....
Quote from: Flyingcheesetoastie on January 22, 2010, 11:48:09 AM
OMG what paranoia and scare mongering! I have had a kiln overfire in my kitchen and as it's a ceramics kiln went up to around 1300 with some glass inside, so kinda a mini furnace, but not even a scorch mark on the lino!
At the end of the day, the guys who make these kilns have been doing so for a heck of a long time and so kinda know what they're doing, so please people, show them a bit of respect that they are building you kit that is safe! After all what is the point of using a controller if you still have to babysit your kiln!
On another note, think of the temperatures were dealing with, if you leave something inside or on top or near to a kiln that is organic, it's gonna burn and smoke, so use a bit of common sense about it!
Rachel x
Bang on correct on all counts Rachel.
Kilns, by nature are fire resistant due to the fact that their operating temperature is hotter than your average coal fire.
In all my years of kilning, I've never come across a kiln that has set on fire.
I have come across kilns that have burnt schools down etc but that has been when combustible items have been left on them and it's the item that has caught fire and not the kiln.
We did have a kiln once that dried out the floor boards of a class room which in turn caused a fire. The kiln was very old, very close to the floor boards and had a big crack in the floor of the kiln which let a direct path out of the kiln chamber. The kiln was also bigger than the ones you guys have. That is the ONLY case I can remember like that.
It is a case of common sense.
Kilns are fire safe by nature.
Keep your flammables away and you will never have a problem.
If it helps any, if your shed does burn down at least the kiln will be left sitting in the middle of the ashes ;D ;D
Its not scare mongering at all, I'm brand new to this and want to know that my house is safe
when i turn on the kiln, like most people here my kiln is on the desk and as pointed out kilns
do over fire, is there any chance that this in turn set light to the desk, do you see where I'm
coming from? its not the kiln I'm worried about my workshop is in the house not shed.
Mine is in the house too flower, its on a workbench in the kitchen. It's been there for a good few years and although the walls get warm I have never had a problem.
Madpup, what kiln is it you've got???
Quote from: Lee - Kilncare on January 22, 2010, 03:03:32 PM
If it helps any, if your shed does burn down at least the kiln will be left sitting in the middle of the ashes ;D ;D
;D ;D ;D
40 years and I have never experienced my kiln/oven burst into flames which is the title of this thread. I have seen a few items inside a kiln/oven explode but that was due to faulty glass or chemicals left inside a container. Naked flames pose a greater risk. Pressurised gas, sharp edges and pointy tools all have their risks. Just be sensible.
Ian
Hi Lee, its a pargon sc3
Good, I seriously wouldn't worry about the bench with an SC3.
The heated chamber on the SC3 is raised from the bench and there is air gaps in the actual kiln body that will help keep the bench top cooler, not a bad design.
In fact, if the SC3 did go on a wobbler, it would burn its own element out and cool down before it had a chance to cause any serious mischief.
Don't worry, be sensible and get on with enjoying your glass making.
As has been said, maybe leave it on all day and keep checking the area around it for peace of mind.
Thanks Lee
Quote from: Lee - Kilncare on January 22, 2010, 03:03:32 PM
Keep your flammables away and you will never have a problem.
Actually Lee, I use the handle of Big Blue to dry the studio tea towels when he's on! You should write that into it's list of benefits!
I warm my presses and frit up on mine, another bonus :)
Not in the year I have been leaving it overnight. But I've had two irons burst into flames (another good reason not to over do the ironing ladies ;) )
:)
Jo
What a funny thread!
My kiln is trustworthy (so far), but I had a bread machine go up in flames once which had the family in hysterics as i raced it outside with flames starting to appear through the vent holes on the side. ......and I nearly set myself on fire three days ago. I was using an old tea towel to cover the holes on HH and didn't notice it caught on fire a bit in my excitement of success with Nyx. I only noticed when I smelled my jumper start to smoulder. That got a reaction!
Crikey Betty, don't you have any tin foil? :o
My kiln burst into flames last night :o
JOKING ::) ;D
My kiln is in the dining room on a wooden table with no problems. My neighbour however burnt his fence down by putting a barbeque near it and leaving it unattended and DH burnt my glass grinder by turning on the wrong switch on the hob burners. It was apparently my fault for leaving the grinder there in the first place. In my defence, I was constructing a stained glass panel at the time but was out of the house when he attempted to heat soup for himself. His cookery skills have progressed since then.
LoL at hubster
I love this thread ;D ;D ;D
I can't warm anything ontop of my kiln cos it never get warms enough :'(
Madpup, if you're worried about the bench it's standing on then pop some ceramic tiles down first.
I have mine sitting on a kiln shelf that I got from a ceramics supply store, they are made to withstand huge heat
Thanks for all the replys, i feel like im save to go to bed with
the kiln on now, cheers,
Julie, I don't like tin foil. Can't get it on and off quick enough, and I drop things in the process. The flaming tea towel is just so much more exciting.
Also my daughter reminded me of the time I set my hands on fire. I used to work in a plant tissue culture lab and had to work sterile, so you give your hands a quick slosh of 60% ethanol, but I cleverly used 90% by mistake. It is just so much more flamable! Anyway I must have gone a bit too close to the flame and one hand caught on fire, so of course I tried to pat it out with the other. Anyway, ethanol burns cool and so I just got a little weeny bit singed and only did it once. At least I learn!
Am i the only one that would pay to see that on you tube?
Quote from: Betty the Chook on January 23, 2010, 11:44:57 PM
Julie, I don't like tin foil. Can't get it on and off quick enough, and I drop things in the process. The flaming tea towel is just so much more exciting.
Living on the edge ;D
Interesting about not using the tea towel for reducing on a HH. Maybe that is what I'm doing wrong! So much safer too!!!!! Now I will have to think of another way to catch on fire. And yes, I will use foil from now on. Promise ;D
I use the strap on my leather apron. Makes a funny smell and smokes a bit, but no flames. I think I'm actually tanning it gradually!
hmmm. Two hobbies in one: lampwork and leather work :))
A tea towel lets air through. Just put one over your mouth and breathe ;D ;D ;D
That subject had my heart going for a mo!!
Quote from: Lee - Kilncare on January 22, 2010, 04:10:39 PM
Good, I seriously wouldn't worry about the bench with an SC3.
The heated chamber on the SC3 is raised from the bench and there is air gaps in the actual kiln body that will help keep the bench top cooler, not a bad design.
In fact, if the SC3 did go on a wobbler, it would burn its own element out and cool down before it had a chance to cause any serious mischief.
That's very good to know.
My SC3 sits on four (bloomin heavy) porcelain tiles (odds from B&Q) I bought a few months ago after reading the instruction manual and getting very worried. Then the tiles are on plastic that are in turn on wood.
I did have a problem with the first kiln that I got. I programmed it all in pressed the button for it's first empty run, went for a nap, came back to find it had errored. After talking to my wonderful supplier who had already talked me through the whole programming thing, the decision was taken that it was probably heating up far to quickly, over shot and then failed. So I got some of my fugglies and ran a garaging session. Came back an hour or so later and it had done the same thing (the fugles were fine). Third go I sat with the kiln, spent the first hour nattering on the phone to a friend, then the kiln started to go all hay wire so I phoned the supplier again. While chatting to him the thermostat was reading 500 during the first five minutes of the conversation it went up to 700 then back down to 450 and back up to 950 (and the inside was glowing) So, the wonderful Sean said something to me that is very wise and very true, "
if it goes wrong, You have the power to switch it off and pull the plug"
That naughty kiln went back and now I have one that works perfectly. I am not worried about the new one because I saw what the duff one did and I have the power ::) (and it didn't actually catch fire!)