Thursday, September 06, 2007

more kiln dread

My zen-like approach has been challenged in the last couple of days as my kiln craps out on me. We changed the elements in the kiln and then the kiln was not heating up. So I changed the relays, thinking they were burned out. Nothin’. I called around for a new transformer and found one on the other side of the Bay but I wouldn’t be able to get it till the next day. Rrrrrrr. Meanwhile, work has ground to a halt and there is a shelf of bisqueware that was supposed to be glazed and shipping out this week.

Things rarely go as planned, as usual. I went to my meditation class yesterday (yes, I finally took Hector’s advice and started a meditating class) feeling very pre-Japan: angry and frustrated. I came out of class feeling… better, but definitely in need of a large glass of wine. It's so easy to be calm and centered when things are going well, so difficult when they aren't...

I just got off the phone with yet another kiln tech who has his own theories on why my kiln isn’t doing its job, and I’m about to go test it out and see if he’s right. Cross your fingers.

7 comments:

  1. We too have a skutt kiln and it seems like every 9 months something is either burning up or melting down in the control box (and we don't even fire above o4 with it!).
    I am seriously considering removing the box from the kiln and mounting it about 2 feet away to keep it cool.
    Hope you can get it fixed in a timely manner-and be careful dammit!
    andy

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  2. Anonymous2:25 AM

    Hey You! I know leslie ceramics has a kiln tech might be able to help you out? I'd love to be sharing that glass of wine with you, oh well good luck.

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  3. Anonymous2:25 AM

    Hey You! I know leslie ceramics has a kiln tech might be able to help you out? I'd love to be sharing that glass of wine with you, oh well good luck.

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  4. Hi!
    I know what you mean by "when things are not going like they are supposed to". However! When I have bad times, then I have my secret rescue thoughts - If things are going bad for some time, there is nowhere else to go as up! You know, when you push the spring together and then release it, it jumps open and high! So, you just have to give time for bad things and wait, because there is really no other way than UP :)
    Take care!

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  5. I'm seriously thinking about getting a Skutt and reading your post is making me a bit nervous. I hope you can get yours fixed soon. Btw, the new studio looks great!

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  6. In defense of the Skutt, I think they are a very reliable and great kiln. I've had my baby for almost 9 years. As far as what is happening now, as it turns out my assistant re-wired the thing wrong after the elements were changed, so it was human error, not Skutt error!

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  7. Hey! I hope you solved the kiln issues, at least you had a nice clean studio to take it apart in : ) I have an L&L but similar to your Skutt and had issues a few months ago - I called their service tech and he was able to pinpoint the problem over the phone - I'm guessing Skutt has a tech too. But, if you should decide a new kiln is needed- check out the L&L's I'm so sold on their element holders, I just love their kilns : ) and I'm with Andy - I'd love to move the box - just to make loading and unloading easier - I'm short and the dang thing is always in the way.

    Your studio is so nice, can't wait to see what you make with the slab roller.
    xoxo, Linda

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