BEFORE YOU START
LOCATING THE KILN
1.Locate your kiln near a 120V outlet. Position the kiln to the left of your electrical outlet so the cord will have a direct path to the outlet. Never use an extension cord.
2.Install it in a well ventilated, sheltered area such as a carport, garage, utility or hobby room. It should be convenient to where you are working, and out of the way of traffic areas.
3.Allow at least 18” (46 cm) of space between your kiln and adjacent walls.
4.Do not locate the kiln where flammable materials will be stored.
5.Never fire your kiln within a four sided cabinet or closet. The fourth side must always be open to room air to prevent the kiln from overheating surrounding surfaces. It is best to leave at least two sides open for easy access to controls and viewing holes. Fully automatic kilns should not be located in a room that exceeds 105 °F (40.5 °C) or is less than 32 °F (0 °C) as damage to the electronic components may result.
6.The kiln must be placed on a non combustible surface such as cement, brick, metal or ceramic tile.
7.When installing a kiln in a room with a fire control sprinkler system, please check the sprinkler head rating to insure that heat emitted from the kiln will not activate the sprinkler system.
TEST FIRING
The test fire ensures you that the kiln is functioning properly and has not been damaged in shipping. Be sure that the coating on the shelves is dry before your first test fire.
TEST FIRE PROCEDURE
•Place a shelf in the kiln chamber on three 1” (2.5cm) posts.
•Place a sample glass project using scrap fusible glass in the kiln and program the kiln using the instructions on page 14. As a precaution you may want to provide a dam or barrier around the glass when fusing more than 2 layers. With more than 2 layers, the glass will spread until it reaches a thickness of 1/4” (6.5 mm).
•Let the kiln fire and then cool to room temperature before opening the lid. If the project is fused or slumped to your satisfaction the kiln is operating correctly. The need for slight adjustments to temperature are not uncom- mon.
The first time the elements are fired they will give off some smoke. This is normal and expected. It is also common for hairline cracks to appear in the floor and lid of a kiln. This is caused by the expansion and contraction of the mortared brick and is considered normal. It will not affect the firing nor the life of the kiln.
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