| Author | Content |
ecobioangie
Mableton, GA
(Zone 7b)
May 16, 2007
03:54 PM Post #3504364
| I just bought a used Paragon A99 kiln for $50!!! I have no idea if it works, it's in my car right now. LOL A little antsy to tell someone, eh? Supposedly the guy who sold it to the guy I bought it from said it worked. LOL! That was a year ago and the guy I bought it from never used it. Said he didn't have the 240 plug. I figure I'll use an extension cord from my dryer plug for cryin out loud! I'm just tickled pink! I've never had a kiln. I haven't ever even used a wheel, just hand formed things in school. Did I say Woo Hoo yet???! :) |
Pagancat
(Sheryl) Gainesboro, TN
(Zone 6b)
May 16, 2007
07:45 PM Post #3505118
| LOL - I have one too, too afraid to use it, no directions! Tell us what you're planning for it! |
pepper23
KC Metro area, MO
(Zone 5b)
May 16, 2007
08:54 PM Post #3505400
| Pagan, hussle your butt over to your kiln and learn to use it!! I wanna see what you come up with. |
ecobioangie
Mableton, GA
(Zone 7b)
May 17, 2007
10:25 AM Post #3507003
| Well right now I have to convert my dryer plug in the house from a 3 prong to a 4 prong so I can run an extension cord from it to the kiln. I'm hoping that's not too difficult. After that I have no idea. lol I'll probably try to make the tiles for the kitchen backsplash. And I want to learn how to throw. I'm not worried about what I'll do, just want to get it up and running!
Go to the paragon website and download the manual for the A and B series kilns. They keep all the old info because they know people still use these old puppies. :)
|
Pagancat
(Sheryl) Gainesboro, TN
(Zone 6b)
May 17, 2007
11:49 AM Post #3507368
| Excellent idea... you know, I don't think this poor thing has ever been used. Amazing. |
Bettypauze
Victoria Harbour, ON
(Zone 5b)
May 17, 2007
12:16 PM Post #3507455
| I had 3 kilns over the years...yours is probably a cone type...let me know when you are ready to use it and I'll help where I can... |
ecobioangie
Mableton, GA
(Zone 7b)
May 17, 2007
12:32 PM Post #3507505
| Yeah, the kiln sitter takes a cone, and they want you to use a cone to see through the peep hole too, just in case. |
renatelynne
Boerne, TX
(Zone 8b)
May 17, 2007
05:10 PM Post #3508338
| ok I don't want to bust your bubble but usually a kiln needs more votage than a dryer plug has. I have always had to have a breaker and plug put in at any new house I went into. |
Pagancat
(Sheryl) Gainesboro, TN
(Zone 6b)
May 17, 2007
09:16 PM Post #3509108
| I bet they use a *ton* of electricity, too (*sigh*).
I want to make small figures, dolls, actually, but I seem to remember that solid things explode in kilns? How thin do you have to make it in order for it not to explode? |
ecobioangie
Mableton, GA
(Zone 7b)
May 18, 2007
01:04 PM Post #3511282
| The dryer is 240, kiln is 240. Why would it be a problem? |
renatelynne
Boerne, TX
(Zone 8b)
May 18, 2007
04:20 PM Post #3511796
| it has something to do with votage or amperage. I will call my kiln guy and ask him. |
ecobioangie
Mableton, GA
(Zone 7b)
May 18, 2007
04:26 PM Post #3511812
| How much does it cost to get a new 240 dedicated plug put in? Eeek! I hope I don't have to do that. lol |
darius
So.Appalachian Mtns, VA
(Zone 5b)
May 18, 2007
04:27 PM Post #3511815
| Angie, DON'T use the dryer plug. Get someone (electrician) to run a larger circuit breaker in your box for a separate line for the kiln. 240 is just two 120 lines run together but the amperage matters, easily taken care of by the properly sized circuit breaker. Somewhere on the kiln it should tell you what it needs.
Good score, BTW! |
ecobioangie
Mableton, GA
(Zone 7b)
May 18, 2007
04:30 PM Post #3511821
| Sigh. I'm worried now. There are no extra spots in our breaker box. House desperately needs an electrical overhaul, but the $ isn't there. I have the info on what it needs. I thought my house plug might be low on amps. argh! |
darius
So.Appalachian Mtns, VA
(Zone 5b)
May 18, 2007
04:30 PM Post #3511822
| If you know someone qualified, and don't have to get a permit, and depending on how far from the panel box to where you will set up the kiln, it could cost from $50 to $100 including breaker and copper wire. BTW, copper wire has doubled in price. |
ecobioangie
Mableton, GA
(Zone 7b)
May 18, 2007
04:33 PM Post #3511829
| Not looking like something I could read up on and do myself. Poop.
Don't know anyone 'qualified'. Just DIYers. |
darius
So.Appalachian Mtns, VA
(Zone 5b)
May 18, 2007
04:34 PM Post #3511831
| My house had 200 amps to the house but only 100 to the panel. I bought a new 200 amp panel and most of the breakers I needed at Lowe's for under $140. I needed a couple of larger breakers than were in the kit so that was another $20-30. Labor (moonlighting electrician) was $200. |
jerryhildebrand
Cincinnati, OH
(Zone 6a)
May 18, 2007
06:39 PM Post #3512123
| whats the amps of your dryer and what the amps of your kiln . The kiln i had pulled 50 amps so i had to pull new wire but i had room in the panel for the breaker it cost around 3.50 for a firing of about 5 hours. A dryer i beleave has a 40 amp dont use a dryer cord if the amps are higher |
jerryhildebrand
Cincinnati, OH
(Zone 6a)
May 18, 2007
06:42 PM Post #3512129
| do not change a 3 prong to a 4 prong plug and expect it to work |
jerryhildebrand
Cincinnati, OH
(Zone 6a)
May 18, 2007
06:42 PM Post #3512130
| do not change a 3 prong to a 4 prong plug and expect it to work |
Bettypauze
Victoria Harbour, ON
(Zone 5b)
May 23, 2007
11:47 AM Post #3527287
| I always used my dryer plug..worked fine for me...???? |
zenpotter
Minneapolis, MN
(Zone 4b)
May 23, 2007
12:43 PM Post #3527486
| Hi I just ran into this. I didn't try the dryer plug, but we did have an extra 240 line so we used that. A friend that does a lot of his own wiring came over and put the proper outlet in. After the plug melted when I was firing the kiln I had an electrician come in and put in a new box and a dedicated line for the kiln. Be very careful. Fortunately we didn't have a fire from it.
I now stay very close when it is firing and check the plug every now and then. |
Bettypauze
Victoria Harbour, ON
(Zone 5b)
May 23, 2007
04:23 PM Post #3528214
| Glad you now have everything organized..could have been very tragic...happy firing... |
zenpotter
Minneapolis, MN
(Zone 4b)
May 23, 2007
04:26 PM Post #3528220
| I have been firing away for awhile now. |
imapigeon
Gilroy (Sunset Z14), CA
(Zone 9a)
May 24, 2007
03:57 PM Post #3531769
| My hubby's an electrician, and he set my electric kiln up so I can turn off the circuit breaker, unplug my dryer and plug in my kiln and turn the circuit breaker back on. Has worked fine for years. You may not need a separate CB, just have an electrician make sure the circuit for your dryer can handle the kiln, and that the kiln has the correct plug configuration. And BE SURE you turn off the circuit breaker when you're swapping plugs! I forgot once, and got knocked across the garage. And I work in SAFETY! Very embarrassing... |
zenpotter
Minneapolis, MN
(Zone 4b)
May 30, 2007
08:34 AM Post #3552012
| That sounds like "Do what I say not what I do". That must have scared you. |
imapigeon
Gilroy (Sunset Z14), CA
(Zone 9a)
May 30, 2007
09:39 PM Post #3555211
| It terrified me! I barely touched the metal prong, and the next thing I knew I was picking myself up off the floor several feet away. After I got over being scared, I couldn't believe I'd been that stupid----especially when I'm always "safety officer" on Bill's projects. Yep, "do as I say, not as I do" pretty much covers it!!! |
zenpotter
Minneapolis, MN
(Zone 4b)
May 31, 2007
06:53 AM Post #3556329
| How long did it take before Bill stopped giving you a hard time? |
imapigeon
Gilroy (Sunset Z14), CA
(Zone 9a)
May 31, 2007
11:13 AM Post #3557265
| Fortunately, he doesn't remember it! LOL! If it had been him instead of me, I'd still be razzing him about it, but he's a better person than I am in some ways~~~ |
WUVIE
Hulbert, OK
(Zone 7a)
August 19, 2007
05:30 PM Post #3875390
| Hi Angie,
Bumping this thread up in interest, as I am nearing the
hook-up of my own first kiln, purchased from a local auction.
Hope you were able to get your kiln fired up.
:-) Karen Marie
|
ecobioangie
Mableton, GA
(Zone 7b)
August 21, 2007
07:13 AM Post #3881124
| Nope not yet. Will have to install a new outlet, and funds don't allow that for now. I got a brand new job as an art teacher this summer though, so I have a kiln at my disposal anyway! :) |
zenpotter
Minneapolis, MN
(Zone 4b)
August 21, 2007
08:11 AM Post #3881236
| Good luck with the new job. I taught art until fibromyalgia set in. Do they have a good clay set up?
BTW my kiln fires with cones and it works just fine. |
WUVIE
Hulbert, OK
(Zone 7a)
August 21, 2007
08:58 AM Post #3881379
| Eco,
Wer'e in the same boat, so I'll patiently wait right there with you.
We do have a dryer hookup, but it's looking more like we need to
call an electrician as well. I believe it will run about $150.00 to have the
power for the kiln hooked up properly.
:-) KM |
denimangle
Oakwood (Butler,TX), TX
(Zone 8b)
August 21, 2007
11:31 PM Post #3884719
| Karen,
check your kiln before you plug in to the dryer. My kiln is 50 amp ..dryer is only 30 amp ..
The plug might be the same but not the amps .. I dont think your kiln would work right ..
Cheryl |
zenpotter
Minneapolis, MN
(Zone 4b)
August 22, 2007
08:23 AM Post #3885424
| I had thought of the dryer plug, but was told no go. |
WUVIE
Hulbert, OK
(Zone 7a)
August 22, 2007
08:57 AM Post #3885537
| Hi Cheryl,
Yep, plugging it into the dryer hole just doesn't cut it.
Yesterday hubby came home with a bag from the hardware store. In it,
two breaker switches and a tester of some sort, I assume to keep him from
making a big oops. Can't have any oopses, we have enough of them just
in the construction of the house, let alone the wiring.
You should see the plumbing. LOL
|
ecobioangie
Mableton, GA
(Zone 7b)
August 23, 2007
08:09 AM Post #3889620
| As far as clay set up, I have the kiln, metal shelves, and a slab roller. It's elementary, so I'm suprised I have that. lol |
Jazzpunkin
Springfield, OH
(Zone 5b)
August 23, 2007
08:17 AM Post #3889638
| That is really cool for elementary! I went to a high school that had an awesome art department. A friend that majored in pottery found that the college courses in pottery were way behind him. DIsappointing but he ended up in jewelry and does beautiful work |
zenpotter
Minneapolis, MN
(Zone 4b)
August 23, 2007
09:27 AM Post #3889893
| Having that slab roller will be very nice for the elementary kids. When I taught elementary school I never had a slab roller and sure wished I did. |
ecobioangie
Mableton, GA
(Zone 7b)
August 24, 2007
07:55 AM Post #3893989
| I'm trying to think of good projects that take advantage of it. Tiles, etc. of course, but what else? |
Jazzpunkin
Springfield, OH
(Zone 5b)
August 24, 2007
07:59 AM Post #3893994
| Elementary kids? You can do Wall Plaques. You can do Planters if it isn't above their skill level. They would have to be able to join clay and support the sides. but depending on the style that might not be too difficult. You can start them off with small things.. lol of course my brain starts thinking about what I could do with one.. lol
Square forms or rectangle..even circles.. just have to cut the bottom piece with a biscuit cutter or something. OOhh.. they could make flat christmas ornaments too with cookie cutters.
This message was edited Aug 24, 2007 8:01 AM |
zenpotter
Minneapolis, MN
(Zone 4b)
August 24, 2007
08:48 AM Post #3894204
| Mugs, face shapes either add the features or cut them out. If you take some news paper and make a 'hump' you can lay the face over it and give it a 3D effect. Once the kids get the joining part down you can make boxes, vases, cut out a shape, say a sun, and emboss it with coils or stamps that they make from clay, pendants, simple plates, use a large leaf, rhubarb, press it into the clay cut around it and then take the leaf off. Carefully turn the edges up and you have a platter. The veins of the leaf will show. That is all I can think of now. |
Pagancat
(Sheryl) Gainesboro, TN
(Zone 6b)
August 24, 2007
05:29 PM Post #3896285
| Ya'll are so good... what about little mirror frames, picture frames (even if they have to paste the picture in the depression) little plaque hangers with their names for the coat racks, for "their" hook or door or whatever, guess we don't do ashtrays anymore, lol - the leaf impressions are great, and there's others as just decorative impressions; flowers, string, paper clips, keys, hand-prints... stepping stones, little necklace pendants, shoe lace decorations... ummm...
signs to paint with whatever they want on it! My room, welcome (or not) I love ___, their name...make the hanger with a piece of leather and knots. |
