KILN MAINTENANCE
How to Open the Switch Box
Note:
The switch box is the metal housing that
covers the element connectors and holds the
electrical components such as switches or the
digital controller.
Caution:
Whenever you turn off the circuit
breaker to your kiln, tape the breaker box door
shut and leave a note saying, "WORKING ON
KILN. BREAKER OFF."
Disconnect the power to
the kiln.
Remove and save the
screws at the side of the
switch box that hold it to
the kiln.
Remove the box. You may
need to prop the switch
box on a chair, wooden
box, or other object as you lean the switch box
against the kiln.
Element Maintenance
Reseating a Bulging Element
Once an element has been fired, it becomes brittle and
will break if it is bent while cold. Follow this procedure to
heat the element.
Always unplug the kiln or disconnect the power be-
fore touching the element with anything! When-
ever you turn off the circuit breaker to your kiln,
tape the breaker box door shut and leave a note
saying, "WORKING ON KILN. BREAKER OFF."
Note:
You can purchase a propane torch from a
home improvement center. Buy the type that has
a push-button igniter. When you press the but-
ton, a blue flame appears. When you release the
button, the flame goes out. For element mainte-
nance, do not use the older manual propane
torches. Turning them on and off is awkward.
You first turn a knob to start the flow of propane
and then hold a match under the nozzle.
Heat the element with a propane torch until the el-
ement is red hot. Press the igniter and hold the
flame near the bulging element. You will see the
element turn red in just a few seconds. Then re-
lease the push-button igniter.
With a pair of long nosed pliers (dime store quality
will work fine), shrink the bulging portion of the
element by pressing the individual turns in the
coils together slightly. Take a little from each turn
so that no two turns are pressed tightly enough to
touch.
As the element shrinks, work it back toward the
groove and into place. Work rapidly, and at the first
sign of stiffness in the coils, stop bending and re-
heat the kiln. The elements do not have to be red
to be bent safely, as the stiffening can be felt
through the pliers.
To lengthen the element to fit into the corners, re-
verse the above procedure and expand the dis-
tance between coils by using snap-ring pliers. Use
caution, as your warranty covers elements that fail
only in service under normal use and not from be-
ing broken while cold.
Note:
You can purchase snap-ring pliers from an
automotive parts store.
When you have the coils positioned above the
dropped recess in the grooves, reheat the element
section and run a blunt kitchen knife around the
elements to seat them into the grooves.
Note:
Do not use a plastic object, such as a comb,
to press hot elements into their grooves. Melted
plastic ruins elements.
Fire the kiln to cone 4 or 5 to soften the elements
completely.
7
Delphi Creativity Group
3380 East Jolly Rd.
Lansing, Michigan 48910
517-394-4631
800-248-2048
