Kiln elements?

[Charli]

Anyone built their own kiln- if so where did you get the elements from?

I have the kanthal wire required to make elements- but it was dead cheap (about £6 for 30 metres), whereas all elements quotes I've had from the US come to over £100- I feel I must be missing something really important and can't just wind up wire to try to make my own elements?

Charli

[Lee - Kilncare]

Hi Carol, I'm affraid there are many things you may be missing here.

Each thickness of wire has a certain resistance per foot. In standard art kilns the gauges used can range from 20swg to 12swg.

Each guage will only comfortably carry a certain amount of power. This is dictated by the resistance per foot, which is dictated by the lentgh of wire you can physically fit in, which is governed by the watts per square inch etc etc etc.
Then ofcourse, how the element is wired will also depend on how much power goes on it.

You may strike it lucky and get it right first time....most unlickely mind.

[Flyingcheesetoastie]

Wait, I'm sure I have some sticky back plastic round here somewhere you can have...

I actually do have a 'project' in a book I got from an american about making your own kiln from a mailbox, but the ingredient list is still quite long and technical!

[Charli]

Aww.. come on it can't be that hard! I'm not just trying to make one out of duct tape and tin foil, and I know making will probably cost me as much as buying one- I just happen to like making things. I've built a gas furnace before, so I have kiln bricks and refractory casting stuff, and I made by my own kiln controller already (well 2- it turns out it really is easier to buy the PID module ready made, rather than trying to program your own microchips to do it- but mine nearly worked!)- so the hard bit is all taken care of. 

All I asked was if anyoen had bought elements in the UK before- I know the resistance/length etc of the elements I need, I just though for the vast price different in buying my own wire to wind, or buying pre-wound ones- there must be some other step involved. (I've never played with kanthal wire before- only an electric furnace that used old nichrome hairdryer elements- but it got through them at quite a rate, and it was for melting aluminium so didn't have to be very accurate)

[Pat from Canvey]

You could try Essex Kilns at Tollesbury to see if they will supply elements. I bought my big old ceramic kiln from them years ago and it's still going strong when required.

[Lee - Kilncare]

Supplying the elements is not a problem, we make our own here also.

[Billie]

FIL made a kiln for my SIL from an old breadmaker    Can't garage in it, but she batch anneals just fine.