I recently cemented a broken firebrick and would like to sand the seam flush. The instruction book says to use 285 grit sand paper. Home Depot says that is an automotive nomenclature.

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I recently cemented a broken firebrick and would like to sand the seam flush. The instruction book says to use 285 grit sand paper. Home Depot says that is an automotive nomenclature.	We apologize for the confusion. Thanks for asking for clarification. We use Klingspor CS310 X, 36 grit to sand firebricks. ... [More]
A piece of element groove about one inch long has broken off inside my firebrick kiln. How should I repair it?	The damage is cosmetic only. As long as the element doesn't come out of the groove, the piece does not need to be cemented back into place. As a general rule, do not repair cosmetic damage. Kilns do not stay new looking for long. ... [More]
A very small piece of firebrick has broken out, and I am hoping I won't lose any more of it. Is there a liquid cement that I could pour on and seal up the crack?	Repair cement should not be used to fill cracks in firebricks, because the repair cement tends to break out later from the crack. This is due to the difference in expansion between the cement and the firebricks. ... [More]
Any suggestions for getting the longest life out of heating elements in a ceramic kiln?	1) Contaminants from the clay can reduce element life. Use a downdraft kiln vent to remove fumes from the firing chamber. 2) Keep ware 1” – 2” away from the elements. When the ware is too close, glaze can spatter onto an element. The ware can ... [More]
Approximately how much liquid cement should we mix with grog (powdered firebrick) to make a patch? The information on your website says to add just enough cement to hold the grog together.	The grog/kiln cement mixture should have the consistency of cake dough. Use as much grog as possible while still having a sticky consistency. The grog prevents the filling from breaking out later. (Solid cement would not stay in place because of the ... [More]
Before you apply coating to a kiln lid, does the old coating have to be sanded off? And how long does the new lid coating last?	If the old coating is loose, then it must be sanded off before applying the new coating. Loose coating looks like the network of cracks in a dried mud puddle. These cracks form when the coating is too thick. The lid coating lasts for several years. < ... [More]
Besides basic tools and parts, what should I have in my kiln repair tool box?	Norman Brock of Brock's Ceramics in San Antonio, Texas suggests that kiln technicians add the following to their tool kit: small hand vacuum soft paintbrush small dust pan extension mirror to check elements ext ... [More]
Can kiln cement be used to hold an element in the groove of a glass fusing kiln instead of the more expensive Pyrolite?	Pyrolite works as an element adhesive, attaching the element directly to the groove. Please do not try that with kiln cement, which is used to glue broken pieces of firebrick. An element embedded in cement would burn out. ... [More]
Can static electricity from vacuuming harm the kiln?	A static electric charge may build up on the vacuum hose especially in dry weather. Static electricity can damage electronics. Disconnect the power to a digital kiln before vacuuming. Keep the vacuum away from the digital controller, the switch box, ... [More]
Can the door latch on SC-2 or SC-3 be adjusted for less pressure?	Paragon SC-series kilns use a spring-loaded door latch. There is a way to reduce the tension on the latch so that opening the door doesn’t jar the kiln. This takes only seconds: 1) Remove the top screw from the latch, which is mounted to the ... [More]
Do relays in pottery kilns outlast the relays in glass kilns?	Pottery kilns fire much hotter than glass kilns. Nevertheless, the relays in pottery kilns usually outlast the relays in glass kilns. This is because glass firings typically include long holds and controlled coolings, where the relays cycle frequentl ... [More]
Ferrite beads come in a number of sizes (length and diameter). Which is the appropriate one for the kiln thermocouple?	We recommend the rating of 128 Ohms @ 100 MHZ ... [More]
Glass from a pot melt went over the side of the shelf and spilled onto the sidewall element, covering 1/2” of element length. I have fired the kiln about 10 times since. What should I do?	At high temperatures, glass conducts electricity. Glass on top of an element creates an electrical "short" between the element coils. The electrical short causes the section of element that is covered by glass to overheat. By covering the element coi ... [More]
Glaze has eaten into a shelf. Scraping the glaze off the shelf has left a low spot. Can the shelf be repaired?	Yes, in some cases. Coat the shelf with kiln wash. Apply several coats to the low area where you removed the melted glaze. The kiln wash will fill in the depression. This is only a temporary repair, however. ... [More]
How can I become more independent and learn to repair my own kiln?	Watching a kiln technician is a great way to learn electric kiln repair. Another is to study the kiln's wiring diagram. Have the manufacturer send you a diagram if you don't have it. (You can often download the diagram from a website.) The d ... [More]
How do I replace the steel base plate under the firebrick bottom?	Paragon 6, 7, 8, 10, and 12-sided kilns have a galvanized steel base plate under the firebrick bottom. The base plate covers the entire bottom and folds up inside the stainless steel case on all sides. Though the base plate is made of galvani ... [More]
How do you dry out a kiln that has become wet?	Unplug the kiln, open the lid, and let the kiln dry for a few days. While it is drying, remove the switch box and clean the wires, connections, and all the electrical components. Do not fire the kiln until the switch box is completely dry. As you rei ... [More]
How do you find a good electrician?	Several months ago we were helping a customer fix a kiln over the phone. She was very upset and had worked on it for hours out in the cold. Then she had an electrician come over. He had never seen a kiln before in his life, yet he fixed it in ... [More]
How do you increase the life of the kiln’s firebricks?	We have seen 10-year-old kilns with firebricks still in pristine condition and one-year-old kilns that looked like they had been dropped from a roof. You can tell at a glance when a kiln has been cared for. Please follow these guidelines to make your ... [More]
How do you lubricate the hinge on the door of a front-loading kiln?	It is rare that the kiln door would stick. But if you must lubricate the hinges, use graphite powder. Please do not disassemble the hinge to add the graphite. Also, do not lubricate with oil. ... [More]
How do you patch firebricks?	Patching a broken firebrick is not difficult. It just requires patience and a little practice. Here is a technique that you can use to repair broken firebricks in the lid, walls, and floor of a kiln. Do not breathe the brick dust. Wear a mask. ... [More]
How do you remove glass or glaze that embeds into the shelf?	Use a stiff putty knife. Hold it at a sharp angle and gently tap the knife against the glaze or glass. IMPORTANT: wear safety glasses. ... [More]
How do you remove glass that has embedded into the firebrick bottom?	If the glass has not embedded too deeply into the firebricks, dig the melted glass out with a screwdriver. Try to remove as little firebrick as possible. As long as the damage is minor, you can leave the bottom unrepaired. The important thing is to r ... [More]
How do you remove stripped screws from the sheet metal of an old kiln? What should you replace the screws with?	To remove screws that spin inside the screw hole, you might try placing pressure on the screw as you rotate it counter-clockwise. Lift up on the switch box to apply pressure as you turn the screw. Replace the screws with larger ones. The sta ... [More]
How do you repair a broken brick using element staples?	Most brick wall damage can be left alone without affecting the firing results. In some cases, you can use high temperature element pins to hold broken bricks together: 1) Squeeze the "U" section of two element staples with pliers. This will ... [More]
How do you replace the element pins in the roof of a glass kiln?	Most of Paragon’s glass kilns use a new element groove in the lid or roof that eliminates element pins. The element coils are wider than the groove opening, so the elements stay in place without pins. The earlier lid/roof elements were held in place ... [More]
How do you replace the thermocouple on a QuikFire?	To install the thermocouple, unplug the kiln. Then insert the ends of the wires through the holes in the inside top of the muffle. Pull the wires through all the way until the twisted end reaches the holes. Connect the two wires to the back ... [More]
How do you use kiln repair cement?	The firebrick repair cement we use in the factory is "Liquid Kiln Coating & Repair Cement,” available in pint bottles. This cement holds very well. Several miscellaneous repair pointers: We have found that the thinner the cement seam, ... [More]
How does a circuit breaker or fuse operate?	Wire heats when an electric current passes through it. If the same current passes through both a small wire and a large wire, the smaller will reach a higher temperature. A fuse uses this principle to protect the wiring in a building. It has a small, ... [More]
How does one drill a tapered peephole in a new brick?	At the factory we drill peepholes with a tapered drill bit. You can improvise, however, by drilling the peephole with a 1/4" bit. Use a hacksaw blade or knife to expand the hole. For final shaping, wrap a piece of sandpaper around the peephole plug a ... [More]
How does one tell that the element coils are in good shape? This is for a used kiln that I am considering buying.	Try to find the wiring diagram for the kiln you are looking at. It should include the ohm readings for the elements. If not, call the kiln manufacturer for that information. Test the elements with an ohmmeter. Ohm readings that are 10% higher tha ... [More]
How important is it to vacuum the kiln?	One of the easiest kiln maintenance tasks you can perform is regular vacuuming. This is especially important if you fire glazes. Vacuum the kiln before every glaze firing. Use the soft brush nozzle on a vacuum cleaner. Be sure to vacuum the e ... [More]
How often should the K-Type thermocouple be replaced: after a certain length of time, or after a certain amount of temperature drift?	Instead of replacing the thermocouple by a time schedule or by how much it drifts, replace it when it fails. Or replace it if the digital temperature readout fluctuates wildly when you move the thermocouple tip back and forth. That indicates that the ... [More]
How often should the relays in a glass kiln last?	A number of factors determine relay life. The lower the amperage going through the relay, the longer the relay will last. Long annealing times add wear to the relays, because the relays cycle often during holds and slow cooling segments. Heat ... [More]
I am installing new elements to convert my digital kiln from 120 volts to 240 volts. Will I need a new transformer? [Some of the small 120 volt Paragon kilns can be converted to 240 volts.]	No. You can use the same transformer, but you will need to rewire it for 240 volts. Please look at a wiring diagram conversion chart. You will need to cut off two wires and add a jumper wire to your transformer. ... [More]
I am moving to Europe. Can I rewire my 120 volt, 60 Hz SC-2 for 220 volts, 50 Hz?	The earlier SC-2 kilns had one element. Later we redesigned the kiln to have two elements, which improved the heat distribution. Provided your SC-2 kiln has two elements, you can rewire it to fire on 240V, 50Hz. You will not need to fire your kiln on ... [More]
I don’t have a kiln wiring diagram. How important is it?	A kiln's wiring diagram is invaluable when you are having electrical problems with the kiln. It takes little skill to compare the kiln's wiring to the diagram. Unplug the kiln. Remove the screws fastening the switch box to the kiln. With the ... [More]
I have an old manual 240 volt kiln. Can I convert it to 120 volts?	Certain models of jewelry kilns can be converted from 240 volt to 120 and vice versa. An example is the Paragon SC-2. As a 120 volt kiln, the two elements are wired in parallel. As a 240 volt kiln, they are wired in series. However, larger 240 volt k ... [More]
I have an old Paragon. Do I need to apply more silver paint on top if some of it has come off?	You have a 1970's vintage Paragon kiln. We sprayed a silvery-gray paint on the top of the lids. We discontinued painting the lids in 1980. The paint protects the lid from spilled liquids such as Coke. As long as you don't spill anything on th ... [More]
I have an SC-2 kiln that is five years old. This morning I noticed a thin crack inside the kiln on both sides on the white walls. How can I fix this, or must I get a new kiln?	Don’t worry about those cracks. They are minor and will not affect the firings. The cracks close as the ceramic fiber expands during firing. There is no need to repair the cracks. ... [More]
I have an SC-2 kiln. A very small piece of glass is stuck to the thermocouple, which seems to be working. Should I try to remove the glass?	Scrape the glass off with a small knife. The glass could melt with the next firing and embed into the floor of the kiln if the glass were left on the thermocouple. After you scrape off the glass, the thermocouple should work as before. But even if yo ... [More]
I have spilled vermiculite into the vents on the top of my Paragon SC-2 jewelry kiln. How should I remove it?	Note: The SC-2 is a small front-loading kiln. Between the ventilation slots in the top of the case and the firing chamber is a space about 1/2” wide. A. Spilling vermiculite on top of the firing chamber under the ventilation slots is not seri ... [More]
I hesitate to remove the switch box from my kiln to change elements. Do you have any pointers that would make it easier?	Occasionally it is necessary to remove the switch box of a kiln to replace elements, thermocouples, a switch, etc. An important last step, often overlooked, is to arrange the wires inside the switch box before fastening it to the kiln. After ... [More]
I just replaced the clock motor on my Paragon SnF-series kiln, but the motor still does not operate. Any suggestions?	Paragon SnF kilns use an infinite control switch plus one or two switch-timers. (The Limit Timer on the Dawson Kiln Sitter is a different type of timer.) A wire from the PL terminal on the infinite control switch powers a clock motor on the s ... [More]
I need instructions for replacing the cord on my QuikFire.	1) Unplug the kiln. Remove the electrical box on the back of the QuikFire by removing the two screws holding it to the muffle-band. 2) The cord wires are attached to the element connectors and to the grounding screw. Remove the green wire th ... [More]
If a user makes the hole too big in their kiln to accommodate the thermocouple, what do they need to patch the hole?	The only repair necessary is to push ceramic fiber around the thermocouple to fill the gap in the hole. ... [More]
Is it normal for a firebrick lid to flake?	The coating should not flake off. It should become invisible after the kiln has been fired. Coating that flakes has been applied too thick. A tell-tale sign of excessive coating is a network of tiny fissures on the inner lid surface. ... [More]
Is it normal for the paint on a kiln to peel? What about rust?	Peeling, discolored paint around the door of a front-loading kiln is normal and is nothing to be concerned about. Kilns do not stay new looking for long, because they undergo drastic temperature changes. The rust is also normal even on stain ... [More]
Is it okay to apply kiln wash to the lid of my glass kiln?	Please do not apply kiln wash to the lid. Kiln Wash protects the firebrick bottom and shelves from melted glass. When the melted glass is removed from a shelf, the kiln wash comes off with it. Since the kiln wash is designed to flake off, it can fall ... [More]
Is it okay to kiln wash the kiln walls? My kiln is a glass kiln that has no sidewall elements.	No, do not apply kiln wash to the walls. The kiln wash can flake off and land in an element groove or onto a piece of glass. However, it is okay to apply kiln wash to the bottom half-inch of walls since there are no element grooves there. This will h ... [More]
Is it okay to spray kiln wash onto the kiln floor? Or is it better to apply it with a brush?	We do not recommend spraying kiln wash onto the kiln floor. Our concern is that some of the kiln wash particles could contact an element, which would cause it to burn out. Instead, use a brush such as the haik brush, or even a paint brush. Coatin ... [More]
Is there a way to salvage an over-fired kiln that has glaze embedded in the brick bottom and bottom row of bricks?	Instructions for a single-section kiln: 1) Unplug the kiln, vacuum the interior, and remove the lid. Turn the kiln upside down onto a protective piece of cardboard. Loosen the bottom of the stainless case. 2) Remove the screws holdin ... [More]
Is there a way to tell when a relay is about to fail?	A relay sometimes makes a chattering or popping noise when it is about to fail. But often there is no warning. It is difficult to predict the life of a relay. Relay failure is rare on some of the small 120 volt jewelry kilns, because they fi ... [More]
Is there any recommended maintenance for the thermocouple of a digital kiln?	A thermocouple reads the temperature inside the kiln. It is used on pyrometers and digital controllers. It looks like a ceramic or metal rod protruding into the firing chamber through a kiln wall. The thermocouple must extend into the firing ... [More]
Is there anything that can be done to extend the life of the relays in a digital kiln?	The life of a mechanical, clicking relay can be extended by making sure that the relay doesn't overheat. The relay is a small electromagnet similar to the type you probably made in 8th grade science class. When the controller sends a signal to the re ... [More]
My controller shows FAIL. Do you have any pointers on replacing the thermocouple wires?	First, have you tried the paperclip test? If the controller still reads Fail after you replace the thermocouple with a bent paperclip, the problem is not the thermocouple. The controller is held in place with four screws on the corners of the fac ... [More]
My digital kiln has started to buzz loudly (so much that I have to yell over it when teaching). Any idea what causes it and how to quiet it down?	One of your relays is about to fail. When the electromagnet inside the relay weakens, it can no longer squeeze the relay contacts tightly together. This causes a buzzing, or chattering. ... [More]
My GL-24 door is difficult to open.	Do not use WD-40 to loosen the hinges. Instead, drip a few drops of oil at the pillow blocks, which are the bearings that hold the door shaft to the kiln. It would be best to use a high temperature oil, but if you don't have that, 3-in-1 oil would be ... [More]
My kiln has a lid chain, and I am not sure it is strong enough for the lid.	You could add another so you would have one on each side of the lid. The most important consideration in chain strength is the attachment points that hold it to the kiln. If they are corroded, they should be replaced. Some people remove the ... [More]
My kiln has a mechanical relay. Is it interchangeable with a mercury relay?	A mercury relay is not interchangeable with a mechanical relay, because the mercury relay also requires a mechanical relay to drive it. The power from the controller is too low to drive a mercury relay directly. So, the controller turns on a mechanic ... [More]
My kiln is about six months old and the lid is chipping. Can you tell me if this wear and tear is normal?	Yes, minor firebrick chipping is normal. Coat the entire inner lid surface with repair cement. Mix the cement to the consistency of cream. Brush it on, and immediately wipe it off with a rag. The cement will fill the pores of the bricks and help to p ... [More]
My kiln shuts off as it gets hot, because the lid safety switch is out of adjustment.	A lid safety switch that is barely out of adjustment can cause intermittent problems. But it is easy to adjust once you understand how it works. We have instructions at this website. Go to Support, and click on Instructions from the drop menu. Then s ... [More]
My kiln stops firing without apparent reason. I hear a click, and then the elements turn off. I have a door safety switch.	If a door/lid safety switch is out of adjustment, the elements will turn off. The run light on the controller will stay lit even though the elements will not heat. Sometimes the safety switch turns off the elements partway through a firing due to exp ... [More]
My kiln’s firebrick bottom is cracked. How serious is this?	Hairline cracking in the firebrick bottom is usually nothing to be concerned about. No repairs are needed in most cases. As the bricks expand with heat, the cracks come together tightly. Examine the galvanized sheet metal base plate under the ... [More]
Please explain some of the normal sounds that a kiln makes.	We can often tell when something is about to fail on a car by the sounds it makes. Sometimes kilns give warning sounds, too. Here are some of the sounds that a kiln makes: 1) The elements on some kilns hum when they turn on. This is because t ... [More]
Should I replace a plug that has a burn mark?	We haven't seen the plug but assume that because it is burned, it is about to fail due to overheating. You should replace the plug and probably the wall outlet too. Please consult an electrician. ... [More]
Should I replace the thermocouple when it starts to flake?	It is normal for the stainless steel sheath on the Type-K thermocouple to blacken and flake. The sheath is a high-nickel stainless steel and turns black above 2000 deg. F. Wipe the thermocouple with a paper towel before firing. This will remove any l ... [More]
Should you kiln wash the bottom of a kiln that has elements in the bottom?	No. The kiln wash could get into an element groove and ruin an element. This could happen even if you are careful to mask off the element grooves while applying the kiln wash. ... [More]
The blue paint around the bead doors on my kiln has discolored. Is that anything to be concerned about?	The paint discoloration is normal. We selected a high-temperature, water-base paint for our kilns, because of all the paints we have tried, water-base produces the lowest emissions during application. We want the best choice for the environment and t ... [More]
The center element of my kiln sags from end to end about 1 1/2 inches out of the lid groove. I read that Pyrolite can fix this. Do I need to heat the element first?	Pyrolite adhesive can seat the element in the lid groove. You should heat the element before pressing it into the groove, because elements become brittle as they age. Position the element right over the groove. Allow it to cool a little. Add ... [More]
The firebricks in my kiln have gouges, or small holes, on the surface. The depth of the holes is 4 – 8 mm (1/3 inch). Is there anything wrong with the kiln?	Do not worry about the holes. A surface gouge with a 4-8 mm depth is minor for a firebrick. Firebricks can withstand tremendous stresses during firing. They expand and contract; they get red hot. Few other materials are put to such a severe test. ... [More]
The lid on my kiln is rising at the front during firing. What is the cause?	During firing, the firebricks expand, and the kiln actually rises, becoming taller. The lid hinge is designed to allow the lid to float. This compensates for the expansion of the kiln. If the lid is tight at the hinge, the front of the lid will lift ... [More]
The lower portion of my kiln lid hinge is loose. Would it be okay to drill the metal adjacent to the old holes and put in another set of screws?	We don't know which kiln model you have, so this advice is general for top-loading kilns: When you drill the holes in the kiln case, the bottom hinge section must still allow the lid to have play. (Hinge holes are slotted. When installed properly, yo ... [More]
The relays on my kiln seem to wear out too often. The last one I replaced had a melted spot on the plastic housing.	Examine the relays that you previously replaced. Is the heat damage on those relays in the same location as the heat damage on the relay you are now replacing? If so, you have found the problem: a loose push-on connector. The push-on connectors must ... [More]
Ware was loaded too close to the lid. I opened the kiln to find a ceramic bowl fused to the lid. It came off, taking pieces of the lid with it. I removed the glaze from the lid. Should I repair it?	As long as the area of the lid where you removed the glaze is stable and does not flake, you can leave it alone. Should brick particles begin to fall from the lid, then coat that area with Liquid Kiln Coating, which is available from Paragon. ... [More]
What causes a new switch to burn out?	If switches keep burning out, it may be due to a bad push-on connector. When a push-on connector gets too hot, it loses its spring tension. Even if you tighten the connector by squeezing with pliers, it will loosen again. A loose connection causes el ... [More]
What causes an electrical short in a kiln?	Electrical shorts are usually due to mistakes made while changing an element or other part. Examples of mistakes: pinching a wire under a screw when re-installing the control panel; allowing the cordset to touch the side of a hot kiln; leaving out or ... [More]
What causes an infinite control switch to fail prematurely?	1) New elements are higher amperage than the kiln was designed for. 2) Loose push-on connectors over-heat the switch by creating a tiny electrical arc. 3) The kiln’s heat shield missing. (This is a sheet metal channel that helps guide ... [More]
What causes new relays to fail? This is in a glass kiln.	The next time you replace a relay, examine it for heat damage. A loose push-on terminal can burn up a new relay. A kiln technician told us about the time he replaced a relay for a customer only to be called back a short time later to the cus ... [More]
What do you recommend for coating the kiln lid? Do you have any tips for avoiding the element coils of a glass kiln lid?	We recommend Paragon's Liquid Kiln Coating. Shake the container. Pour some of the coating into a bowl. Stir the coating just before you apply it to the firebrick lid. Apply the coating with a large, soft sponge. First moisten the sponge with ... [More]
What do you think of placing a small ferrite bead on each separate thermocouple wire instead of one bead on both wires?	Two ferrite beads instead of one would also work. There is no additional benefit to using two instead of one, however. Having a large core ferrite is better than a small bead. This allows you to make additional wire loops through the core if extra pr ... [More]
What does “oil canning” mean? I have heard this term applied to kiln lids.	The term describes the “bowing” of a kiln lid due to heat expansion. Since the outer lid surface is cooler than the inner surface, the inner surface expands more than the outer. This causes the kiln lid to bow downward toward the firing chamber very ... [More]
What is the difference between kiln cement and Paragon Liquid Kiln Coating? Can a lid be coated with a thin mixture of kiln cement?	Kiln cement thinned with water will work as a lid coating. The Liquid Kiln Coating that we offer is a mixture of kiln cement, fine brick dust, a gumming agent, and water. We are currently coating our lids here at the factory with the Liquid Kiln Coat ... [More]
What monthly maintenance do you recommend for a ceramic kiln?	1. Make sure the kiln is centered on the stand and that the stand is stable. Remove flammable materials from around the kiln. 2. Vacuum the kiln with the brush nozzle of a vacuum. Remember to vacuum the brick grooves. If you have difficulty ... [More]
What routine maintenance do you recommend when the switch box is removed from the kiln?	There are two basic parts of a kiln: the firing chamber and the switch box. (If your kiln doesn’t have a switch box, it is probably because the electrical parts are kept inside the enclosed base of the kiln. An example is the Paragon SC-2 silver clay ... [More]
What would be the effect of using the wrong size ferrite bead on a thermocouple wire?	Mis-sizing would have no negative effect. Any protection is better than no protection. ... [More]
What's the best lubricant to use on the hinges of the Paragon front loading kiln?	The hinge shaft on some of the smaller front-loading kilns swivels inside upper and lower heavy duty pillow block housings. Lubricate the pillow blocks with powdered graphite. Do not disassemble the pillow blocks to add the graphite. On the l ... [More]
When you replace relays in a glass kiln, should you also replace the heating elements?	No. The lid or roof elements in a glass kiln last many years, because glass temperatures are so low especially compared to pottery temperatures. As long as the elements still fire, do not replace them. ... [More]
Where do I find the exact model number for my kiln?	The model is not the number shown on the digital keypad or the Dawson Kiln Sitter. The model is on the electrical data plate mounted on the side of the switch box. (On some kilns, the plate is on the back or side of the case.) You must have t ... [More]
Why does my kiln have 30 amp fuses in the kiln’s switch box? And what causes them to burn out?	Your kiln has the 30 amp fuses, because the fuses are required on kilns that are rated over 50 amps. This is an NEC safety requirement. The 30 amp fuses must be installed so that the end with the nub, or protrusion, is on the side of the fuse ... [More]
Why is it important that thermocouple wires in a switch box should not touch or cross the power wires?	An electrical field surrounds wires carrying high amperage. This could disrupt the signal to the thermocouple, causing an erratic temperature display and other problems. ... [More]
Why would the lid on my kiln crack near the edge?	A firebrick lid is sensitive and has to be handled as gently as you would a computer or TV set. It is possible that the lid was handled roughly in shipping--even if the lid looked perfect when it arrived. It can also crack if it is closed to ... [More]
Would it be a good idea to coat the entire firing chamber with kiln coating cement?	There would be no advantage to coating the entire kiln interior with kiln cement. However, every couple of years you could coat surfaces that receive regular wear, such as the area of the lid and top rim of wall firebricks that touch when the lid is ... [More]
You recommend using Paragon’s Liquid Kiln Coating on the lid of glass kilns. Can you use this on your shelves instead of the powdered kiln wash?	No, the Liquid Kiln Coating should not be applied to the shelves. The coating would peel off with the first firing. Instead, use High Fire Kiln Wash Liquid. ... [More]

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