MAXI and MAXIne users.

[Zeldazog]

What I particularly like the most about the Maxi kiln is that the manufacturer actually gives a damn and asks his customers for feedback and then acts on it. Have'nt seen any other manufacturers do that and that's why I wouldn't hesitate to buy from Kilncare again. 

Ditto to that!!!!!

I haven't got a Kilncare kiln, but I would not hesitate to buy one, now I know how you work with your customers and the service you give - had Beadcube existed when I first looked, I would have definitely bought that, and its likely to be an addition to the family in future (not that I am trying to match Rachel in how many kilns can one person own!).

In fact, I was recommending KC only last night to someone who didn't know you exist, but does now 

[Dickie]

...
I always spend a few geeky hours familiarising myself using a meter and temperature sensor before I risk putting any beads in a new kiln.

Oh you did did you?? !! I was sure it was ME sat there for hours doing that.

The only thing I would add is the inaccuracy of the temperature detection.
Yes as others have pointed out there is gradients accross the kiln (which is useful and maybe shouldn't be changed) but almost nowhere in the kiln is the temperature the same as the reading from the controller.

Sarah sets her annealing temp at about 485 Deg C which actually equates to most of the kiln anneal being at the correct temp of 520 deg C (I may have remembered the figures incorrectly)
Most people who use the kiln will set the anneal temp at 520 which will actually bring their beads close to the slumping point at the middle of the kiln. I can't remember the exact value but the middle of the kiln was at about 560-600 deg C at that setting !!!!

As far as I can see the reason is that the thermocouple is actually sited in one of the coldest positions in the kiln, thereby not getting an accurate average reading accross the kiln.

At home we have an old envelope with all the temperature readings on it for reference.

Just to be clear, the variation across the kiln is good, but we should at least be able to set the temperature to a value that is correct for the majority of the kiln.

Otherwise Lee, cool kiln, and thanks for the questions.

[hollergrafik]

...
I always spend a few geeky hours familiarising myself using a meter and temperature sensor before I risk putting any beads in a new kiln.

Oh you did did you?? !! I was sure it was ME sat there for hours doing that.

The only thing I would add is the inaccuracy of the temperature detection.
Yes as others have pointed out there is gradients accross the kiln (which is useful and maybe shouldn't be changed) but almost nowhere in the kiln is the temperature the same as the reading from the controller.

Sarah sets her annealing temp at about 485 Deg C which actually equates to most of the kiln anneal being at the correct temp of 520 deg C (I may have remembered the figures incorrectly)
Most people who use the kiln will set the anneal temp at 520 which will actually bring their beads close to the slumping point at the middle of the kiln. I can't remember the exact value but the middle of the kiln was at about 560-600 deg C at that setting !!!!

As far as I can see the reason is that the thermocouple is actually sited in one of the coldest positions in the kiln, thereby not getting an accurate average reading accross the kiln.

At home we have an old envelope with all the temperature readings on it for reference.

Just to be cleat the variation is good, but we should at least be able to set the temperature to a value that is correct for the majority of the kiln.

Otherwise Lee, cool kiln, and thanks for the questions.

After reducing my temperature to roughly the same I found the beads werent tacky if the new one going in accidently touched the others.

[Lee - Kilncare]

Now, funny you should mention this. We are presently running some tests with a customer with this very issue in mind.

We have, for the test, positioned the kiln through the back wall in the dead centre of the kiln, the hottest spot.
So far the results have been very favourable.

It does bring in other issues such as packing and fitting issues for the customer but these are not impossible to get round.

I will keep you posted on his one.

[Flyingcheesetoastie]

(not that I am trying to match Rachel in how many kilns can one person own!)

Hey!  I have 3 kilns but only 2 controllers, does that count!  It's not like I ever have all 3 running, while i stand over them in my world domination cape singing burn baby burn!  Well, not recently anyway....

[silverlemon]

...
I always spend a few geeky hours familiarising myself using a meter and temperature sensor before I risk putting any beads in a new kiln.

Oh you did did you?? !! I was sure it was ME sat there for hours doing that.

Cheeky!

Actually you only did Maxine, and that was only cos I was reeally busy and forced you to do it.

I did my other 2 kilns 
World domination and another cape here we come 

[Redhotsal]

ooo....I'd like a world domination cape. Where do you get one of those from?



Actually - I thought capes had been ruled out on the grounds that they were too easy to get caught in the kiln door.........?

[Flyingcheesetoastie]

That's why you only don it AFTER the kiln is running, also so that the fan you use to make it flap and fill doesn't cause any thermoshock or firing issues with said kilns!