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Tool Tutorial

Tool anatomy

1. Controller 2. Breaker switches 3. Alarm lights 4. Temperature probe 5. Latches 6. Viewing port

To do

  • open & inspect electronics panel for safety
  • order & install alarm buzzer-lights
  • apply a better door seal

4/18 "does it work" test

T value = time until next step

Step Set Temp (˚F) T value Check time Check temp Notes
1 80 15 10:33 75  
2 300 15 10:48 295 213˚/15min = ~14˚/min
3 0 -121 11:03 265 it definitely works

4/18 "is there an alarm buzzer" test

  • AL1: Set ALM1 to 1000˚
  • AL2: Set Hy-2 to 10˚

Asked the kiln to try to ramp to 2k˚ in 15 minutes. The alarm relays are firing, but no alarm light or buzzer sounds, so we need to get one (or two).

Step Temp (˚F) T value Check time Check temp Notes
1 80 15 step skipped  
2 300 15 11:40 300 AL2 light on, no buzzer
3 2000 180 12:00 550 proceeding to “can we get to 2k” test
      12:03 600  
      12:07 661  
      12:15 766  
      12:21 839  
      12:27 896  
      12:34 958  
      12:54 1099 AL1 light on, no buzzer
      1:25 1250  
      1:35 1284  
      1:47 1331  
      2:09 1386  
      2:11 1400  
      2:32 1454  
      2:51 1492  
      3:45 ~1570 hovering around here, jumping rapidly up and down. the area around the kiln is warm. this is about the functional limit of this configuration.
4 80 -121      

Forge curing schedule

There's a forge which has been lined but needs to be heat-cured.

Step Temp (˚F) T value Notes
1 100 60 ramping up 100˚/hr
2 200 60  
3 300 60  
4 400 60  
5 500 60  
6 600 60  
7 700 60  
8 800 60  
9 900 60  
10 1000 60  
11 1100 60  
12 1200 30 holding for 1/2 hour for 1/2“ of material
13 80 -121 stop

The official kast-o-lite packet says to ramp down 100˚ per hour, but people online seem to skip this step.

Temperature test notes

Temperature Time
250F T=0
1500F T+45min
1750F T+70min
2000F
T+140min

Ramp down to 1500F
+15 mins

misc notes

  • it's possible to store several simple programs; there are 30 steps total
  • it's possible to set a schedule which is impossible for the machine to achieve
  • telling people in plain english how to set alarms for each type of project is important
  • the alarms don't stop anything and are not a safety feature so much as an alert
  • it's possible to observe and change the schedule while it's in progress

To set a single temperature:

  1. press A/M. Display should show C-1 
  2. use up/down arrows to set first digit, then press A/M to move on to next digit. Repeat until last digit is set
  3. Don't touch anything; wait a few seconds and it should start heating.
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