SIZE
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Easy-Fire kilns feature our four most popular sizes - 4.7 to 10.2 cubic feet
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SIZE YOUR NEW KILN TO FIT YOUR WORK Think about size in terms of the amount of work you are going to produce and the largest piece you need to put in the kiln. Assume you will get one firing per day at the most. The larger kilns cost less to fire per piece if fully loaded.
HEIGHT & LOADING Most top-loading electric kilns are 27" high. L&L makes kilns up to 45" high inside (which can give you economical capacity). The 36" and 45" high kilns made by L&L are designed so you can remove sections for loading or for adjusting to different loads. (Also see our loading ladders). You may want to consider an 18" high kiln if you have trouble bending over to load.
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DaVinci kilns are up to 34-1/2 cubic feet
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SHAPE & CROSSECTION We make three different polygonal crossections: 17-1/2", 23" and 29" diameters (the 3" brick versions are 1" less in diameter). We also make square and rectangular sectional kilns up to 34-1/2 cubic feet (our DaVinci series).
FRONT-LOADING AND VERY LARGE KILNS We have just come out with a new line of reasonably priced front-loading pottery kilns - the Easy-Load Series. Very large front-loading, shuttle and car bottom kilns (up to 1500 cubic feet) are made by L&L Special Furnace Co. Inc. (our sister company), but these are comparatively expensive.
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Easy-Load front loading kilns
Bell-Lift DaVinci kiln
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VOLTAGE AND POWER [Go to Top]
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Jupiter Kilns range in size from 2-1/2 cubic feet to over 17 cubic feet.
GS1714 Glass & Heat Treating front loading kilns
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NORMAL VOLTAGE IN THE USA Most kilns are available in either 240 or 208 volts and in either single or three phase. Most household voltage in the United States is 240 volts single phase. Typically only schools, institutions and factories have 208 volts or three phase.
HOW DO YOU KNOW? Do not assume you know your voltage. Check with an electrician or your electric utility company! There can be a variety of voltages in one building.
ENERGY SAVINGS? There is no energy savings for the various voltages or phases; choosing is purely a matter of what you have available.
480 VOLT MODELS We can make DaVinci and 29" diameter Jupiter kilns in 480 volt versions using an industrial control panel.
WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU ORDER THE WRONG VOLTAGE? Be careful because if you order the wrong voltage the kiln will not operate properly (for instance a 240 volt kiln will loose 25% of its power when operated on 208 volts). You will have to change elements at considerable expense.
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NON-US VOLTAGE Voltage outside the United States is typically 220 single phase or 380 three phase. We make special elements for 220 volts at no extra charge and can wire kilns for 380 volt/3 phase. All models work on either 50 or 60 Hz.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT VOLTAGE Click here for an extensive PDF file about voltage.
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DUTY CYCLE [Go to Top]
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CONSIDER THE COST OF MAINTENANCE How hard are you going to use the kiln? If you are only going to use your kiln once a month for hobby use then perhaps you can get away with a cheaper kiln. If you are a school, an institution, a factory or a serious artist who depends on your kiln for a living, then you should seriously invest in the most trouble-free kiln you can buy. Although the exact cost of maintenance savings is hard to calculate - it can add up to major savings in time and money. Think about this when you compare kilns. |
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AUTOMATIC VS MANUAL [Go to Top]
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The DynaTrol features four Easy-Fire programs for ceramics.
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RELIABILITY, CONVENIENCE, ARTISTIC FREEDOM The newer program controls are quite reliable. They automate the firing process providing great flexibility and a new level of control which can open up new creative avenues. They are particularly helpful for busy teachers who don't have the time to baby-sit a kiln.
THE DYNATROL Our DynaTrol features four easy to use pre programmed firing profiles as well as six user-defined profiles. The latest in control technology is Dynamic Zone Control, which insures great accuracy top to bottom (better than ½ a cone). We also use a simpler control on the Liberty-Belle kilns.
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The Dawson Kiln Sitter comes with a timer on all manual L&L Kilns - at no extra cost.
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.WHY DO PEOPLE BUY MANUAL KILNS? Manual kilns are slightly less expensive and rely on pyrometric cones and manual turn up of kiln input switches to profile the firing cycle. Some people feel more comfortable with "hands on" control and some people don't want another programmable device in their lives. Manual controls are easier to understand (although not easier to use) and are not subject to electrical noise. That being said, all the catastrophic overfirings L&L is aware of have been caused by manual controls (improper adjustment, dirt in the cone tube assembly, etc.).
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THERMOCOUPLES Manual kilns use no thermocouples (which are a consumable item). Our unique Protected Thermocouples offer long life, inexpensive replacement and protection from thermocouple spalling (shedding metal into your kiln). |
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EASY-FIRE VS JUPITER [Go to Top]
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The Easy-Fire kilns are our most popular series of kilns
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EASY-FIRE KILNS MEET THE NEEDS OF MOST PEOPLE The Easy-Fire kilns were designed to meet the need for an uncomplicated easy-to-buy kiln that meets the majority of kiln users' needs. We selected four popular sizes and restricted the line to automatic only. We decided to use all of our best technology like element holders, thermocouple protection tubes, "Easy-Lift, Easy-Load" spring hinge, heavy-duty elements and zone control so, for the most part, there are no options you would likely want to add. There are no external plug-in section cords. This results in a sleeker kiln that is more acceptable in many classrooms and studios. However, even with this new design we maintained the famous L&L tradition of an easy-to-service and easy-to-remove control panel that is isolated as much as possible from the heat of the kiln. We also took advantage of the simplicity of the design to increase the power of the kilns.
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This Jupiter "Pull-Apart" kiln is customized to do sculpture.
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.JUPITER KILNS ARE MADE TO BE CUSTOMIZED If you want a manual kiln or one of the many sizes of the Jupiter line or one of the many options available in that line then by all means get a Jupiter. Some people prefer the completely separate Jupiter control panel. Some people like the "Pull-Apart" option. One might compare the difference to a "prefix menu" vs an "a la cart menu" - the choice is yours.
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JUPITER VS DAVINCI [Go to Top]
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DAVINCI KILNS ARE SQUARE & RECTANGULAR The DaVinci kilns are normally larger and are square and rectangular in shape. For some the shape is critical (for tiles for instance) and makes the kiln for efficient in terms of usable space.
DAVINCI KILNS ARE LARGE There are simply no other sectional kilns that are made this large.
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This is the crossection view of an 10 sided Jupiter or Easy-Fire kiln.
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GREAT FEATURES The counterbalanced lid system and angle-iron stand are very heavy-duty on the DaVinci kilns and make even the heaviest lid easy to lift. The control panels on most DaVinci kilns (except the X2327, X2336 and X2345 which use a Jupiter panel mounted on the kiln) are floor standing and feature 50 amp circuits. The DynaTrol on the DaVinci kilns (again except for the X2300 models mentioned) is a handheld model that attaches to the kiln with a four-foot cable and can hang on the wall or the panel. The DaVinci kilns are use 3” brick. The share many of the same options like Dawson back-up for automatic kilns, bottom elements, etc.
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This is the crossection of a T3400 DaVinci rectangular kiln
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SINGLE ZONE VS MULTI-ZONE [Go to Top]
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THE PROBLEM WITH GRADED ELEMENTS Many kilns on the market have all elements controlled as one zone. Typically in such designs the elements are graded in power output from top to bottom (to adjust for temperature uniformity due to greater heat losses at the top and bottom). There are two problems with this. First, there is no way to adjust for varying load conditions. Second, as the elements age and change in power output (and they will do that at varying rates because of their different designs) the built in adjustment will change. The only way for you to fix this is to change all the elements at one time - an expensive proposition.
ZONE CONTROL IS MORE EVEN In most L&L sectional kilns (Easy-Fire, Jupiter and DaVinci), both manual and automatic, each section is a separate zone controlled by individual contactors or zone switches. Either the automatic control automatically adjusts the zones or, in manual Jupiter kilns, you can adjust the zones. If you use our TRU-VIEW multi-zone pyrometer system you can see what the kiln is doing so you can make intelligent adjustments.
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TOP-LOADING, FRONT-LOADING, BELL-LIFT
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Easy-Load front loading kilns
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EASY OF LOADING Many people prefer front-loading kilns for ease of loading and better insulation. These are more expensive than top-loading kilns. The reason is that they take much more time to build and require more expensive materials (i.e. there is a heavy welded case). Beware of “inexpensive” front-loaders that are cheaply made. Front-loading kilns are also more expensive and difficult to repair. See our Easy-Load front-loading kilns. Also check out our Bell-Lift design for easy loading in a sectional kiln. |
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Bell-Lift DaVinci kiln
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SECTIONAL VS SINGLE PIECE [Go to Top]
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An L&L sectional kiln next to a single piece kiln. Click on photo to enlarge.
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MOVING AND REPAIRING A SECTIONAL KILN IS EASY Top-loading electric kilns are either sectional or one-piece construction. Typically sectional kilns have 9" high sections that sit on top of each other. Sectional kilns are easy to move (often one person can do the job) and easy to repair. Kilns made with a single piece case are usually less expensive but have obvious disadvantages. They are very difficult to move and repair (you may have to disassemble the whole kiln).
ADJUSTING HEIGHT - A UNIQUE L&L FEATURE L&L Jupiter and DaVinci sectional kilns are designed to be adjustable in height for firing different loads. (This is not true for most other sectional kilns including the Easy-Fire). Because of the flexible cords on the Jupiter and DaVinci kilns and the separate control panel the sections are extremely easy to unplug and move around.
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BRICK AND INSULATION [Go to Top]
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ENERGY SAVINGS Top-loading kilns typically come with either 2-1/2" or 3" thick insulation. You will save energy with 3" brick (and have a stronger kiln). 3" brick will also slow the cooling of the kiln (which is often desirable for pottery). However, total energy saved is minimal in low-fire applications. This is because 3" brick takes more energy to heat itself up. We definitely recommend 3" brick for high fire applications (over cone 1 - 2000F). See brickstudy.pdf for details.
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ELEMENTS [Go to Top]
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Almost all electric kilns use alloy elements made of Kanthal A-1 or the equivalent.
HEAVY-DUTY ELEMENTS Low watt density and heavier gauge elements are an inexpensive upgrade on our Jupiter kilns and standard on our Easy-Fire and DaVinci kilns. Upgraded elements are recommended for high-fire kilns (above Cone 1), when doing long soaks, for schools, or when doing constant production firing. Click here for information about heavy-duty elements. Automatic kilns tend to have longer firing cycles and can benefit by having heavy-duty elements.
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APM ELEMENTS Another rather expensive upgrade, APM alloy elements, is available at more than 3 times the cost of heavy duty elements. We don't recommend APM elements except for the most extreme circumstances (like everyday firing at Cone 10). Click here for more information about APM elements.
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ELEMENT SUPPORT [Go to Top]
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L&L's unique hard ceramic element holders will add years to the life of your kiln.
It is so easy to change elements in your L&L kiln without damaging the firebrick.
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THE PROBLEM WITH MOST KILNS Most electric kilns have grooves routed in the firebrick for the elements to lay in. The elements are often pinned in for further support. There are a number of well known problems with this. First, the firebrick "wall" that supports the element also insulates the heat of the element from the kiln (creating energy efficiency problems and element life problems). After one or two element changes and a few years the fragile firebrick starts to fall apart and pins become the primary element support. It only takes one accidental bump with a kiln shelf to permanently damage a kiln around the element groove.
WHAT ABOUT PINS? Pins can actually make the problem worse because as they expand and contract (at a different rate than the brick) the pins fracture the firebrick more.
L&L'S UNIQUE & EXCLUSIVE HARD CERAMIC ELEMENT HOLDERS L&L's hard ceramic element holders embedded in the firebrick solve this problem. You can actually hit the holders repeatedly and cause very little if any damage to the firebrick interior of the kiln. [Click here for more details about our Dyna-Glow element holders.]
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The top edge of another brand of electric kiln WITHOUT hard ceramic element holders
Another example of broken brick because of inadequate element support.
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TEMPERATURE RATING [Go to Top]
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DO YOU NEED A CONE 10 KILN? Electric kilns range in maximum temperature usually up to Cone 10. This is mostly a function of kiln power available. Can the kilns reach Cone 10? Even if you are not going to use the kiln to Cone 10 you will still benefit from the higher power available. As elements age the kiln firing will slow down. If you start with a more powerful kiln you will get more life out of your elements.
FIRING ABOVE CONE 10? Higher fire electric kilns are available with silicon carbide elements or molybdenum disilicide; however, these are very expensive. (See www.hotfurnace.com for more information on ultra high temperature electric kilns).
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VENTING [Go to Top]
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L&L makes the best and safest downdraft kiln vent on the market.
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WHY VENT A KILN? A powered kiln vent is a good idea. It eliminates the need to crack the kiln lid to manually vent the kiln. Carbon, carbon monoxide, sulfur, water vapor and other fumes are generated from firing clay and glazes. A powered vent removes these fumes from your kiln and kiln room. The fumes can damage the kiln or your ware and can be hazardous (for instance carbon monoxide).
WHY USE A DOWNDRAFT VENT? A downdraft vent that attaches directly to the kiln is recommended because it is so effective, promotes kiln uniformity, and improves glaze colors.
WHY USE AN L&L VENT-SURE DOWNDRAFT VENT? The Vent-Sure is the safest vent on the market because it keep fumes under VACUUM rather than pressure while in your room. It has the strongest motor of any competing brands. It is adjustable. The motor is kept away from the heat of the kiln and the vibration of the motor is kept away from the kiln and your work. [Click here for more information about our VENT-SURE vent system.]
GENERAL VENTING A good room vent or at least an open window is also recommended in conjunction with the kiln vent.
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UL / CANADIAN LISTING [Go to Top]
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Most L&L kilns are c-UL-us listed.
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All L&L Easy-Fire, Jupiter and DaVinci kilns in all standard configurations of voltage (except special 480 and 380 volt versions), insulation thickness, control system and powered bottom are c-UL-us listed. They are tested to US and Canadian standards. This may be required in certain schools, institutions and factories. Even if not required it provides you with an extra measure of confidence and security. This is the world’s most recognized safety label. [See more.] |
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SERVICE AND SUPPORT [Go to Top]
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We are here to help you! Please call, email or fax us with your questions
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SERVICEABILITY How easy is it to service a kiln? Sooner or later you will change elements. Is this something you can easily do in the kiln you are buying? (L&L's Dyna-Glow element holders make this so much easier because you do not have to form and pin them carefully in place while leaning into the chamber to get to the bottom of the kiln).
FACTORY SERVICE FOR YOUR PANEL Would you prefer the ease and confidence of getting expert factory service on the control panel? How easy is it to remove the control panel? (L&L panels remove easily with four screws and easy plug-in sections).
GREAT PHONE & WEB SUPPORT: See what other customers say.
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REPUTATION How long has the kiln company been in business? (L&L has been making kilns for 60 years). How quickly does a company ship parts? (L&L is committed to shipping most parts in one to two days). Does the company have a long term commitment and concern with service and dependability? (We do). Compare features. Ask around. A kiln is a major investment that you will live with for many years. A kiln that doesn't work well wastes your valuable time and can cost far more than you might save on the initial price. [See more.]
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[Go to Top]
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