Skutt HotStart PRO Operation Manual Download Page 27

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Q.  Do you have to re-coat the kiln shelf with primer every time you use it?

A.  

Q.  Do you have to re-coat the kiln shelf with primer every time you use it?

Q.  Do you have to re-coat the kiln shelf with primer every time you use it?

If the shelf primer is in good condition it can be used more than one time.  The shelf should be 

Q.  Do you have to re-coat the kiln shelf with primer every time you use it?

Q.  Do you have to re-coat the kiln shelf with primer every time you use it?

scraped, sanded or washed clean with clear water and re-coated when the primer shows signs of wear.  

If the shelf primer is in good condition it can be used more than one time.  The shelf should be 

If the shelf primer is in good condition it can be used more than one time.  The shelf should be 

It’s time to re prime when the coating becomes thin (usually where a project rested) has cracks, or 

scraped, sanded or washed clean with clear water and re-coated when the primer shows signs of wear.  

scraped, sanded or washed clean with clear water and re-coated when the primer shows signs of wear.  
begins to fl ake off.

It’s time to re prime when the coating becomes thin (usually where a project rested) has cracks, or 

It’s time to re prime when the coating becomes thin (usually where a project rested) has cracks, or 

Q.  Why does kiln wash stick to the back of a project?

A.  

Q.  Why does kiln wash stick to the back of a project?

Q.  Why does kiln wash stick to the back of a project?

This is usually the result of exhausted kiln wash; the shelf should have been re-primed prior to use.  

Q.  Why does kiln wash stick to the back of a project?

Q.  Why does kiln wash stick to the back of a project?

It may also occur when the glass has been fi red to too high a temperature or kept at full fuse too long. 

This is usually the result of exhausted kiln wash; the shelf should have been re-primed prior to use.  

This is usually the result of exhausted kiln wash; the shelf should have been re-primed prior to use.  

The kiln wash can be removed with fi ne steel wool or a scraping tool.  Stubborn patches can be soaked 

It may also occur when the glass has been fi red to too high a temperature or kept at full fuse too long. 

It may also occur when the glass has been fi red to too high a temperature or kept at full fuse too long. 
off with bathroom cleaning products used to remove hard chemical residue.    

The kiln wash can be removed with fi ne steel wool or a scraping tool.  Stubborn patches can be soaked 

The kiln wash can be removed with fi ne steel wool or a scraping tool.  Stubborn patches can be soaked 

Q.  After the project is fused, how close to room temperature do you have to be before opening 

the kiln lid?

Q.  After the project is fused, how close to room temperature do you have to be before opening 

Q.  After the project is fused, how close to room temperature do you have to be before opening 
A.   

How badly do you want the project inside?

  Room temperature is usually well below 100 

How badly do you want the project inside?

How badly do you want the project inside?

°

F.  If you 

open the lid prematurely thermal shock can occur; breakage caused by changing temperature too fast. 

How badly do you want the project inside?

How badly do you want the project inside?

  Room temperature is usually well below 100 

  Room temperature is usually well below 100 

How badly do you want the project inside?

How badly do you want the project inside?

How badly do you want the project inside?

How badly do you want the project inside?

.  If you 

.  If you 

Just a quick 

open the lid prematurely thermal shock can occur; breakage caused by changing temperature too fast. 

open the lid prematurely thermal shock can occur; breakage caused by changing temperature too fast. 

peek

open the lid prematurely thermal shock can occur; breakage caused by changing temperature too fast. 

open the lid prematurely thermal shock can occur; breakage caused by changing temperature too fast. 

 in to the kiln, done too early can ruin your day.  Wait, it will be worth it!

open the lid prematurely thermal shock can occur; breakage caused by changing temperature too fast. 

open the lid prematurely thermal shock can occur; breakage caused by changing temperature too fast. 

peek

peek

open the lid prematurely thermal shock can occur; breakage caused by changing temperature too fast. 

open the lid prematurely thermal shock can occur; breakage caused by changing temperature too fast. 

open the lid prematurely thermal shock can occur; breakage caused by changing temperature too fast. 

open the lid prematurely thermal shock can occur; breakage caused by changing temperature too fast. 

Q. What causes tiny bubbles and how do I get rid of them?  

A.  

Q. What causes tiny bubbles and how do I get rid of them?  

Q. What causes tiny bubbles and how do I get rid of them?  

Air becomes

Q. What causes tiny bubbles and how do I get rid of them?  

Q. What causes tiny bubbles and how do I get rid of them?  

trapped between the layers of glass when it is heated.  The number and size of the air 

Q. What causes tiny bubbles and how do I get rid of them?  

Q. What causes tiny bubbles and how do I get rid of them?  

bubbles can be reduced by heating the glass more slowly between the temperatures of 1000 – 1465 

trapped between the layers of glass when it is heated.  The number and size of the air 

trapped between the layers of glass when it is heated.  The number and size of the air 

°

F

trapped between the layers of glass when it is heated.  The number and size of the air 

trapped between the layers of glass when it is heated.  The number and size of the air 

.  

This gives the air more time to escape before the glass edges become sealed.   

bubbles can be reduced by heating the glass more slowly between the temperatures of 1000 – 1465 

bubbles can be reduced by heating the glass more slowly between the temperatures of 1000 – 1465 

Q.  How do I avoid big bubbles?

A.  

Q.  How do I avoid big bubbles?

Q.  How do I avoid big bubbles?

Large dome shaped bubbles will sometimes rise up in the middle of a medium - large (4” x 4” or 

Q.  How do I avoid big bubbles?

Q.  How do I avoid big bubbles?

bigger) projects.  This is usually the result of fi ring too fast on a ceramic kiln shelf.  The outer edges 

Large dome shaped bubbles will sometimes rise up in the middle of a medium - large (4” x 4” or 

Large dome shaped bubbles will sometimes rise up in the middle of a medium - large (4” x 4” or 

of the project become soft fi rst and form a “seal” on the shelf.  Air becomes trapped under the glass.  

bigger) projects.  This is usually the result of fi ring too fast on a ceramic kiln shelf.  The outer edges 

bigger) projects.  This is usually the result of fi ring too fast on a ceramic kiln shelf.  The outer edges 
When it expands it lifts the glass.  This is less likely to happen when using shelf paper or a fi ber board 

of the project become soft fi rst and form a “seal” on the shelf.  Air becomes trapped under the glass.  

of the project become soft fi rst and form a “seal” on the shelf.  Air becomes trapped under the glass.  
kiln shelf, as the air can escape through the porous materials.  Best advice is to slow down the fi ring 

When it expands it lifts the glass.  This is less likely to happen when using shelf paper or a fi ber board 

When it expands it lifts the glass.  This is less likely to happen when using shelf paper or a fi ber board 
process.

Q.  Can I stack kiln shelves?
A.  

Not recommended.  Unlike ceramics, glass is thin and reacts to heat quickly.  Stacking shelves 

causes uneven heating.  The outer edges of the project become molten before the center has a chance 

Not recommended.  Unlike ceramics, glass is thin and reacts to heat quickly.  Stacking shelves 

Not recommended.  Unlike ceramics, glass is thin and reacts to heat quickly.  Stacking shelves 

to react; your fi ring results will be inconsistent.  

causes uneven heating.  The outer edges of the project become molten before the center has a chance 

causes uneven heating.  The outer edges of the project become molten before the center has a chance 

Q.  How does the thickness of the glass relate to my target temperature?  
A.   

A project made with two layers of thin fusible glass will usually reach the desired “look” before a proj-

ect made with two layers of 1/8” glass.  When you change project sizes or materials (thin vs. 1/8”) you 

A project made with

A project made with two layers of thin fusible glass will usually reach the desired “look” before a proj-

two layers of thin fusible glass will usually reach the desired “look” before a proj-

will want to monitor the fi rst few fi rings and make any necessary   adjustments to your fi ring schedule.

ect made with two layers of 1/8” glass.  When you change project sizes or materials (thin vs. 1/8”) you 

ect made with two layers of 1/8” glass.  When you change project sizes or materials (thin vs. 1/8”) you 

Q.  Can more that one project be fi red in the kiln at one time?

A.  

Q.  Can more that one project be fi red in the kiln at one time?

Q.  Can more that one project be fi red in the kiln at one time?

Yes, as long as the projects are similar.

Q.  Can more that one project be fi red in the kiln at one time?

Q.  Can more that one project be fi red in the kiln at one time?

  

They should be made from the same thickness glass, 

Q.  Can more that one project be fi red in the kiln at one time?

Q.  Can more that one project be fi red in the kiln at one time?

have the same number of layers and be close is size.  

Yes, as long as the projects are similar.

Yes, as long as the projects are similar. They should be made from the same thickness glass, 

They should be made from the same thickness glass, 

Use a fi ring speed for the largest project.

They should be made from the same thickness glass, 

They should be made from the same thickness glass, 

  Small 

They should be made from the same thickness glass, 

They should be made from the same thickness glass, 

projects will not be harmed by fi ring slowly but a large project will suffer if rushed.

have the same number of layers and be close is size.  

have the same number of layers and be close is size.  

Use a fi ring speed for the largest project.

Use a fi ring speed for the largest project.

Frequently Asked Questions

G

LASS

 101

Summary of Contents for HotStart PRO

Page 1: ...W W W G L A S S K I L N S C O M 6441 SE JOHNSON CREEK BLVD PORTLAND OR 97206 503 774 6000 SKUTT SKUTT COM MANUAL MANUAL M OPERATING Revised 9 22 05 ...

Page 2: ...amming Levels 8 BEGINNER LEVEL 8 BEGINNER PLUS MGF BEGINNER PLUS MGF BEGINNER PLUS MGF 8 ADVANCED 8 IDLE STATE 8 Five Programming Modes 9 Key Press Description 10 Display Messages 11 BASIC FIRING STEPS 13 1 Loading 13 SHELVES 13 THINFIRE SHELF PAPER THINFIRE SHELF PAPER THINFIRE SHELF PAPER 13 POSITIONING PIECES 13 2 Auto Mode GlassFire 14 STEP 3 SELECT PROCESS 14 STEP 4 VERIFY SETTINGS 15 4 Unloa...

Page 3: ...ATURE 22 Load Mode Load Mode Load 22 Options Mode 22 GLASS 101 23 What is a Firing Program 23 Heatwork Heatwork Heatwork 23 Size and Mass 23 Critical Temperature Ranges 24 Firing Processes 24 The Basics 26 Frequently Asked Questions 27 GENERAL INFORMATION 30 Troubleshooting 30 How Do I 31 GlassFire Programs 32 My Programs 33 Warranty Repairs 34 Electrical Requirements Wiring Diagram 35 ...

Page 4: ...ements routed in the lid to ensure even heating Each HotStart comes with a stand and a porcelain viewing hole plug THE CONTROLLER One of the best features of the Hot Start Pro Kiln is the Glass Master LT Controller Now beginners can start fusing glass suc cessfully right away With it s stored factory programs all you need to do is select what you want to do with the glass and how fast you want to ...

Page 5: ...to protect your skin from the hot air that can escape from the chamber of the kiln when opening the lid Also be aware of any loose clothing or hair too close to the kiln chamber The heating coils also known as elements inside the kiln chamber will cause an electrical shock if touched Never insert metal instruments into the kiln while it is firing Always be sure to unplug the kiln before working on ...

Page 6: ...e porcelain viewing plug into the side of the kiln PRIME THE SHELVES AND KILN FLOOR You will want to apply a shelf primer also referred to as kiln wash on your shelves and kiln floor This will protect them from melted glass adhering to their surfaces There are a number of different formulations with different instructions for application so be sure to follow the directions of the brand you choose I...

Page 7: ...ll not affect the firing nor the life of the kiln TEST FIRING 1 Locate your kiln near a 120V outlet Position the kiln to the left of your electrical outlet so the cord will have a direct path to the outlet Never use an extension cord 2 Install it in a well ventilated sheltered area such as a carport garage utility or hobby room It should be convenient to where you are working and out of the way of ...

Page 8: ...s temperature and hold time in a GlassFire Program So now when you run a GlassFire program it will ask you if you want to change these values This is very help ful when you want to tweak the factory programs a little to get a little more aggressive tack fuse or a deeper slump See the OPTIONS MODE section for instructions on how to toggle on the MGF mode ADVANCED The Advanced Mode opens up all of t...

Page 9: ...ram 5 comes programed with a casting program already installed LOAD MODE The Load Mode allows you to access review and start your stored Ramp and Hold PRO programs OPTIONS MODE The OPTIONS Mode gives you access to change certain factory settings such as Temperature Scale and Modify Glass Fire Mode It also lets you completely RESET the controller back to original factory settings EDIT MODE The EDIT...

Page 10: ...ng to REVIEW what program program is currently active SPECIAL KEY PRESSES Start Over Holding the ENTER key down for 4 seconds will bring you back to the IDLE MODE wherever you are in the programming or running of the kiln More Options Pressing this key down for 4 seconds while in IDLE MODE will open open access to the advanced programming modes Less Options Pressing this key down for 4 seconds whi...

Page 11: ...s cooled before opening the lid EdIt The controller is asking if you would like to access the Edit Mode features See pg 21 HLd This represents HOLD When it appears the controller is asking you to enter a Hold time in Hours and Minutes IdLE The controller is in Idle Mode The display will flash IdLE alternately with the current temperature of the kiln This should be the starting point for programming...

Page 12: ... indicates Skip Segment See Skip Segment pg 21 StOP This message represents STOP It indicates that the program has been stopped It will only briefly show on the display tME This message represents Add Time See Add Time pg 21 tMP This message represents Add Temperature See Add Temperature pg 22 ...

Page 13: ...lease A single layer will prevent molten glass from sticking to your shelf Edge curl paper will sometimes pull into or curl over the glass edge Contact with the glass surface may cause an undesirable mark or haze To prevent curling over weight the outer corners and edges of the paper with small pieces of scrap glass Cleanup Safety on firing ThinFire disintegrates to a dusty tissue As with all ceram...

Page 14: ...e chart to the right to help select the appropriate speed for the size of your project Press or to scroll to the desired firing speed Press to select the displayed heating rate STEP 3 SELECT PROCESS Next the controller will display the current process The display will read SLP tAC or FULL for slump tac fuse or full fuse pro cesses Press or to scroll to the desired Process Press to select the displa...

Page 15: ...and flash CPLt alternately with the current temperature of the kiln and the amount of time it took to fire the program Important The kiln could still be very hot Be sure to check the internal temperature of the kiln before touching it or opening the lid We recommend waiting until the kiln temperature is below 100 F to prevent glass from thermal shocking F to prevent glass from thermal shocking 4 UNL...

Page 16: ...e Fuse to Stick Slumping programs tend to require the most adjusting due to the fact that every slump mold is different and the degree of slump desired can change HOW MUCH TO MODIFY PROGRAMS As you gain experience you will get a feel for how much to adjust programs It is best to start in small increments 5 F or 5 minutes If you are using Add Time or Add Temp to adjust the programs you can always a...

Page 17: ...show the Process Hold Time in hours and minutes Everything to the left of the decimal is hours and everything to the right is minutes Single presses pressing and letting go will now adjust the Hold Time up or down After the desired Hold Time has been reached Press to lock in the Hold Time and continue programming If large changes in time are required you can hold either or down Holding these keys ...

Page 18: ...ead PF indicating that there was a power interrup tion To return to IDLE Mode Press STEP 3 SELECT FIRING MODE To Display Current Firing Mode Press The display will read either AUTO or PRO If the display reads PRO it is cur rently set in the Programmable Mode Press to select this mode If the display reads AUTO it is currently set in the Glass Fire Mode Press or to scroll to PRO Press to select this...

Page 19: ...y entered for the Hold time for segment 1 To change this value Press The display should now be flashing HLd 1 alternately with the value that is currently or The display should now be flashing HLd 1 alternately with the value that is currently to select the desired Hold time Press entered for the Hold time for segment 1 To change this value to enter that value STEP 7 START If your program has more t...

Page 20: ...on of the segment it will read HLd along with the segment number Immediately following the segment display will be EdIt Edit Mode is described in the Advanced Programming sec tion This is for accessing the Advanced Edit Mode The display will then go back to displaying the current kiln tempera ture REVIEW Review is helpful to verify which program is running or was run last Press while the kiln is r...

Page 21: ... rate it will reach the process temperature faster To decrease the amount of time spent during the Annealing segment of the program segment 4 you may press anytime after the desired process has been achieved Press while the kiln is firing The display will first show the current segment and then display EdIt for approxi mately 2 seconds Press while the kiln is firing The display will first show the cur...

Page 22: ...ture LOAD MODE LOADING A STORED RAMP AND HOLD PROGRAM It is possible to store up to five Ramp and Hold PRO programs in the GlassMaster LT In order to recall a program from memory perform the following steps Make sure the controller is in the Advanced State From Idle Press to access the Mode menu Use the or keys keys to select LOAD and then Press The display will show the last Ramp and Hold PRO prog...

Page 23: ...hat can be fused together without crazing cracking warping or breaking Always consult with your supplier of glass to determine if the glass you wish to fuse is compatible All System 96 Glass is compatible Heatwork Heatwork is a term used to describe the relationship of time and temperature and their combined effects on glass To a certain extent the two are inversely related This means that the hig...

Page 24: ...ss then 100 fuse or a drop mold The second reason is that an undesirable reaction known as devitrification can occur during this cooling period if the kiln is cooled to slow Devitrification is a scummy white crystallization on the glass surface that is difficult if not impossible to remove Be sure to slow down the cooling before you enter the Annealing Range Opening the kiln lid to increase the rate ...

Page 25: ... thickness shape and type of glass all must be considered when designing a firing program SLUMPING Slumping can be defined as the controlled bending of glass under the influence of heat and gravity within a kiln This is generally done over or into a mold Molds can be made out of a variety of different materials and can be found at art glass supply businesses When slumping it is necessary to take into...

Page 26: ...em to become one They MATERIALS COMPATIBILITY Glass expands when it is heated and contracts when it cools When we fuse we work within a family of products that have been tested compatible to have the same C O E Coefficient of Expansion These Glass expands when it is heated and contracts when it cools When we fuse we work within a family of products that have been tested compatible to have the same ...

Page 27: ... air Q What causes tiny bubbles and how do I get rid of them trapped between the layers of glass when it is heated The number and size of the air Q What causes tiny bubbles and how do I get rid of them bubbles can be reduced by heating the glass more slowly between the temperatures of 1000 1465 trapped between the layers of glass when it is heated The number and size of the air bubbles can be redu...

Page 28: ...hinner the material the side will make it easy to glue accessories on like rubber feet pin backs etc smoother the fusing surface Great for coasters pins wall art projects where a textured back side will make it easy to glue accessories on like rubber feet pin backs etc smoother the fusing surface Great for coasters pins wall art projects where a textured back The thin material can be used only onc...

Page 29: ...acts underneath the glass which gives Steel forms should also be sanded and re primed if there are pits or cracks in the coating more quickly Steel forms should also be sanded and re primed if there are pits or cracks in the coating the room needed to slide the draped piece off the form more quickly the room needed to slide the draped piece off the form more quickly than the glass The metal contra...

Page 30: ...old time that is entered in the program you are running The last program run can easily be checked by pressing the Review key To check other programs enter them while Modify GlassFire Mode is on Remember Process Hold times need to entered with Hours to the left of the decimal and Minutes to the right of the decimal ERROR MESSAGES The following errors messages may appear in the display of your cont...

Page 31: ...he first segment of the GlassFire Mode program and move directly to the second segment which has a faster heating rate How Do I Make The Kiln Cool Faster In GlassFire Mode one option is to press STOP to skip the Annealing segments after the kiln has finished the pro cess segment Another option is to switch to Ramp and Hold Mode in the Advanced Level and design your own faster annealing portion of th...

Page 32: ...r 300 F 10 minutes 600 F Hour By Process By Process 9999 F Hour 950 F 30 minutes 150 F Hour 800 F 10 minutes Fast Rate Soak Temp Hold Length 500 F Hour 300 F 5 minutes 800 F Hour By Process By Process 9999 F Hour 950 F 30 minutes 175 F Hour 800 F 10 minutes Soak Temp Hold Length full 1465 F 10 minutes tac 1325 F 10 minutes slump 1225 F 15 minutes G E N E R A L GENERAL INFORMATION GlassFire Program...

Page 33: ...G 4 SEG 5 SEG 6 SEG 7 SEG 8 RATE RATE TEMP TEMP HOLD HOLD PROGRAM 4 PROGRAM 4 SEG 1 SEG 2 SEG 3 SEG 4 SEG 5 SEG 6 SEG 7 SEG 8 RATE RATE TEMP TEMP HOLD HOLD PROGRAM 5 PROGRAM 5 SEG 1 SEG 2 SEG 3 SEG 4 SEG 5 SEG 6 SEG 7 SEG 8 RATE RATE TEMP TEMP HOLD HOLD SPARE 1 SPARE 1 SEG 1 SEG 2 SEG 3 SEG 4 SEG 5 SEG 6 SEG 7 SEG 8 RATE RATE TEMP TEMP HOLD HOLD SPARE 2 SPARE 2 SEG 1 SEG 2 SEG 3 SEG 4 SEG 5 SEG 6 ...

Page 34: ...times impossible to repair and it will be necessary to replace the lid REPINING ELEMENTS Sagging elements can be re pinned into the element groove Reposition the sagging element into the groove and use needle nose pliers to push the pin at a 45 degree angle across the element and into the brick Do not place the pin in the same hole to insure a fresh snug fit Be sure to only use factory pins Pins ma...

Page 35: ...nstalling a new kiln have the electrician follow this guide Electrical Requirements Wire Breaker Max NEMA Voltage Amp Watts Size Size Temp Receptacle 115 15 1690 12 20 1650 5 15 For each additional 50 feet use heavier wire Specifications for kilns designed to run on power supplies outside the USA may vary These kilns should include a manual addendum If for some reason you can not find your addendum ...

Page 36: ...6441 SE JOHNSON CREEK BLVD PORTLAND OR 97206 503 774 6000 SKUTT SKUTT COM ...

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