Can I just turn my kiln off?

[Lotti]

I was going to do a bit of torching today and was having problems lighting the torch, firstly the flame kept being blown out and now as soon as I turn the oxygen on there are no white candles just a space and it blows the gas out.  I have just read a thread on here about leaving your oxycon on for a while before lighting it, so maybe that was the problem as it was cold(ish) and damp yesterday, but I have now pushed the kiln programe into segment 2 as I won't be using it today (still very nervous about this whole thing and I was getting more and more stressed about the torch so decided to give up for today).  I don't really want the kiln to go through the whole process, can I just turn it off or will this upset it?

If I get a bit more confident later I can always start again and just use my annealing bubbles or make some stringers and twisties.

Thanks for your help folks.

[Les]

I've had to do that before, then just restarted the program .. it didn't cause me any problems .. I've got the MAXI

Sounds like your oxycon just needs to run a while to build up a decent concentration of O2 .. it's just blowing air through from the sound of it
HTH

[Lotti]

Thanks LJ, will have another cup of tea and decide what to do.  I was going to go for a walk today as it was nice, but decided to stay in and torch and now my OH has gone out, so should try to make the best of the time I have to myself and get close to my torch.  I guess even if I decide not to torch today I could turn the oxycon back on for a bit as you say (with the oxygen on sligthly at the torch of course) and then try to light again just to confirm this is the problem.  Think I will just turn off the kiln though.  Thanks for your help.

[julieHB]

I don't think it can cause any problem to turn the kiln off (I've done that many times). As Les says, let the oxycon run for a while before lighting the torch. It's not healthy for the oxycon to be turned off after too short a time, though. I read somewhere it needs to be on for at least 30 mins before being shut down, otherwise dampness/condensation can build up in the sieve beds - and that is NOT good!

[JKC]

I turn mine off quite often, it's never caused me any problems.

[sarah t]

its not the turning off its the running time before turning off  ....i was told should be about half hour build up on reduced torch flow before torching and i leave mine running when taking a break again on reduced flow ...they dont like stopping and starting

and the conditions in which they are running ......deffinatly prefer warm dry places to work (dont we all  )

[Lotti]

Turned the Oxycon back on and left it for 30 mins and it worked fine.  Thanks folks.  The kiln had been running for about 30 minutes before I turned it off, so hopefully it is still happy.  Made some twisties (um, practice required) and then got the annealing bubble out and have been having a play, so thank you very much for the help I will definately remember this in future, and if I go for a pee or coffee NOT turn the oxycon off!

[Lee - Kilncare]

Turning a kiln off at any temperature cannot harm it. It will simply cool down.
The effect on the glass however is another matter.