Encasing kiln elements

[Kalera]

Does anyone know how easy (or not) it is to encase kiln elements in quartz tubing, and where one might find such tubing? I'm thinking about buying one of those little jeweler's burnout ovens and modifying it for a bead annealer. Alternately, does anyone have a recommendation/supply source for instructions on building one's own kiln?

Thanks!

[midniteburner]

Kalera,

I would love to know the answer to this question too. Maybe a kiln expert will chime in.

Sara

[Dale_M]

I am using a "burnout oven" and it does not have encased elements. But I only bulk anneal right now...

Probably by the time you buy the quartz tubing and go all through the work of redesigning the whole interior of the oven, it will be cheaper to buy a annealer with encased elements.

Most of the little jewelers burn out ovens are not large enough to put a mandrel in it anyway. The interior on mine is only 9x9x6 inches. How ever I was considering adding a bead door on "the door" but have not got there yet.

It may be easier to make a safety interlock that when you are opening the door to place bead in oven that it shuts off the power to the elements for the time the door is open. How ever dont interrupt the power to the digital controller when doing this ( if oven has one).

Dale

[Kalera]

I was wondering about the cost issue as well. The power shutoff would be a less expensive way to go, but I'm planning to put in a bead door, so it wouldn't work unless I figured out a way to put it on the bead door, which is going to be pretty low-tech.

Alternately, I may just save my $100 an get an AF99 later. Thing is, running my fusing kiln as an annealer is killing me! If I could come up with a quick and temporary solution, at least I could be relieved of the hassle and expense of dealing with a big ol' top-loader until I can afford the annealer I really want.

[M**2]

You might find Dudley Giberson, Jr.'s Glassblower's Companion a worthwhile read. It's available at http://www.whitehouse-books.com/. You can get some of the equipment you would need to build your own kiln at www.joppaglass.com (http://www.joppaglass.com)

[Kalera]

Awesome, thank you!