REGULAR MAINTENANCE OF YOUR L&L KILN
maintain.pdf
REV: 11/1/2016
Page 2
2016
L&L Kiln Mfg, Inc. 505 Sharptown Rd, Swedesboro NJ 08085 P:856.294.0077 F:856.294.0070 [email protected] hotkilns.com
use - especially if used at the higher temperatures like cone
10).
5) Repair any firebrick problems.
6) If you have a manual kiln (or the Orton AutoCone backup
on an automatic kiln) be sure it is properly adjusted. See
the AutoCone instructions. Overfiring could result. The
tube assembly should be replaced if it gets overly corroded
or contaminated with condensed glaze or other materials.
Orton recommends checking the pivot point for corrosion
and sluggishness every 6 to 12 months.
AFTER 30 FIRINGS OR ANNUALLY
1) Check wires for deterioration or oxidation. Replace
any that seem brittle or where the wire insulation has
deteriorated or fallen off.
2) Check terminals for oxidation (discoloration). If you are
near salt air or if you notice corrosion on the stainless
exterior of the kiln for whatever reason then do this far more
frequently.
3) Check power connection terminals in the kiln and
control box for tightness. Be sure to do this with the power
disconnected (unplugged) for the kiln. If these terminal
connections get loose, heat can be generated (because the
electrical resistance gets greater) and this can cause a fire.
CHECK THERMOCOUPLE CALIBRATION
Thermocouples will drift in reading over time. This could
potentially lead to an overfiring before the thermocouple
actually fails. Although you can not easily check
thermocouple calibration, the general accuracy of the entire
kiln system can be checked by firing with witness cones.
See
t
roubleshoot-cones.pdf.
Replace thermocouples once they are no longer reasonably
accurate. (Note: Type K thermocouples last about the
same as kiln elements so it is recommended to change
thermcouples when you change elements.)