overfiring should the Kiln Sitter malfunction and fail to
shut off the kiln.
Turn the Limit Timer dial to the number of hours you
think the firing will take, and add 30 minutes. When you
start the kiln, the countdown timer will begin. Should the
Kiln Sitter weight fail to drop, the Limit Timer will shut
off the kiln when the timer runs out of time. Since the
Limit Timer is a backup shutoff, always set it for more
time than you estimate that the firing will need.
The Limit Timer will help you learn to estimate future
firing times. For example, if you set the timer knob at 10
before firing, and the white dot indicator is on 1 when fir-
ing is completed, you know the firing took 9 hours. When
you become familiar with the firing times for your ware,
you will be able to set the Limit Timer accurately to shut
off 30 minutes after the expected firing time.
Q
What is the purpose of the Limit Timer?
A
The Limit Timer is designed to prevent an
overfire should the Kiln Sitter weight fail to drop.
The Limit Timer may be set for any period up to 20
hours. If the firing will take more than 20 hours, you can
reset the knob at any time during the firing.
Caution:
Never set the Limit Timer beyond 20
hours. This could result in an overfire should the
Limit Timer motor stop running.
Q
If I turn the Limit Timer dial to 5, the Kiln Sit-
ter always shuts off at around 4 hours. What
Limit Timer settings should I use for greenware,
underglaze, and glaze?
A
If the Kiln Sitter shuts off at 4 hours, turning
the dial to 5 gives you a one-hour margin of safety.
This means that after the cone bends and shuts
the kiln off, there is still one hour left on the Limit
Timer. If the Kiln Sitter cone fails to bend, the
kiln will continue to fire for another hour before
the Limit Timer shuts it off. We suggest setting
the Limit Timer half way between 4 and 5 so that
you have a 30-minute safety margin. Keep a firing
log book so you can estimate firing time for each
type of ware.
The primary value of the Kiln Sitter is the convenience
of relief from closely watching the large cones through
the peepholes and the uniform firing that the Kiln Sitter
gives from one firing to the next. It is a mechanical device
and cannot be considered fully automatic nor relieve the
user from responsibility for damage due to overfiring. It
must be kept in good working order and tested before
EACH firing.
Your Kiln Sitter was adjusted properly when shipped
from the factory, but vibration during shipping may have
moved the guide plate. You MUST adjust the Kiln Sitter,
as we will show you next, before you fire your kiln.
How to Adjust the
Kiln Sitter
Note:
Never lubricate the Kiln Sitter. Lubricants
will only attract dust.
Your kiln will arrive with
the firing gauge in place on
the cone supports and the
actuating rod inserted
through the center hole.
Remove the rubber band
that holds the gauge in
place; then remove the
gauge. Save the gauge for
future adjustment. Do not
fire with the gauge in place!
Note:
Store the firing gauge, Kiln Sitter allen
wrenches, and storage bag in a handy place near
the kiln along with a small bottle of kiln wash.
Note:
Most people think the firing gauge is only to
keep the actuating rod from bouncing during
shipping. Please do not throw the gauge away!
You will need it to keep the Kiln Sitter adjusted to
factory specifications.
Guide Plate Adjustment
Check the position of the
actuating rod. (The actu-
ating rod is easier to see if
you hold a small mirror
inside the kiln.) The rod should be centered side-
ways in the refractory tube's oblong slot. If not,
loosen the two guide plate adjusting screws and
move the plate to the
right or left, as neces-
sary.
Note:
The easiest way
to adjust the guide
plate is to loosen the
screws so that they
barely hold the guide
plate in place. Then
gently nudge the plate
5
