EvenHeat Kiln Coil Issue

[David Wesner]

I've had my evenheat kiln for about 8 years now.
Its performance has been flawless.......... with one exception, the little ceramic rods that hold my coils in each of the 2 back corners.

I had the kiln for about a year or so before the first rod broke. Not long after, the second rod did the same (I think due to expansion and contraction of the coils when heating & cooling).

No problem, I picked up a couple new ones and slipped them in via the access holes on top of the kiln.
I've made that replacement three times now, only to have each attempt break in less than a week of operation
And let me tell ya, those little buggers don't come cheap

Since the last breaks, I simply took a couple rectangular pieces of soft fire brick and stuck them in the inside corners to hold my dangling coils in the slots. A temporary solution .............. and one I don't like it :grumpy:

Has anyone tried a little blob of satanite (or some other type refractory compound) to hold the coils into the inner slots ?

Would that contact with refractory mortar be detrimental to the life of my coils ?

Any other ideas that might help me out of this jam ??

Any help would be greatly appreciated :thumbup: :thumbup:

 

[jdpalmer]

work with the coils hot and stretch them just a little until they stay where you want or use a piece of an old element a straight piece to pin it into place
J<D<

 

[KnifeMaker.ca]

Evenheat has element pins to hold coils in. Made for those times when the slot is just a little too loose.

Rob!

 

[LRB]

I had the same problem early this year, but not that often. Evenheat said their coils contract when they heat up. I was told to stretch them a little. I did, and have had no more problems. Yet.

 

[David Wesner]

work with the coils hot and stretch them just a little until they stay where you want or use a piece of an old element a straight piece to pin it into place
J<D<

Thanks for taking the time to post jd :thumbup:

Evenheat has element pins to hold coils in. Made for those times when the slot is just a little too loose.
Rob!

Thanks Rob :thumbup: From day one my element slots were wider than the diameter of my element coils. The coils just lay in the slots. The only place they are held fast is in the back corners, via the ceramic pins that keep breaking on me.

Are the element pins you mentioned the same ceramic pins that I'm having trouble with ?

I had the same problem early this year, but not that often. Evenheat said their coils contract when they heat up. I was told to stretch them a little. I did, and have had no more problems. Yet.

Thanks LRB :thumbup:

FWIW, I've stretched my elements more than a few times to give them the extra length they need to stay in the element slots. They always contract again, breaking the back ceramic rods and eventually falling/dangling out of the slots.

Sounds like you're on the same road as me LRB Give it a little more time and by all means bookmark this thread so you can reference it when that time comes


No feedback on whether or not several little blobs of strategically placed satanite will work for holding the elements in ? ? ?

 

[KnifeMaker.ca]

Thanks Rob :thumbup: From day one my element slots were wider than the diameter of my element coils. The coils just lay in the slots. The only place they are held fast is in the back corners, via the ceramic pins that keep breaking on me.

Are the element pins you mentioned the same ceramic pins that I'm having trouble with ?

They are just little U-shaped "staples" - obviously from some kind of metal designed to withstand the extremes. You could check with Mike Kelly at Evenheat. I'm pretty sure he keeps a bunch in stock.

Rob!

 

[Justin King]

You can buy high temp pin/staple wire from Duralite. I am guessing the Satanite would break off and leave you with the same problem but if you have some on hand it might be worth a try.

 

[butcher_block]

have had mine for a few years and no problems
BTW guys its good practice to not handle the coils much and use gloved hands

also lettig the kiln cool off slowly is good for longer life

i worked with kilns awhile with other work and this is what i have always been told

 

[oldwolf]

I make my pins from stainless wire that came with the Kanthal coil I purchased (home built oven). I use plenty of them. Also just found out about some hi-temp putty that Budget Casting has that you apply sparingly to only the back part of the coil. Really holds well. It doesn't seem much different than the hi-temp furnace cement I have, but not sure if it would work as well.

 

[David Wesner]

They are just little U-shaped "staples" - obviously from some kind of metal designed to withstand the extremes. You could check with Mike Kelly at Evenheat. I'm pretty sure he keeps a bunch in stock.

Rob!

You can buy high temp pin/staple wire from Duralite. I am guessing the Satanite would break off and leave you with the same problem but if you have some on hand it might be worth a try.

Thanks guys

I'll try to contact Mike Kelly at Evenheat for some staples :thumbup:

I make my pins from stainless wire that came with the Kanthal coil I purchased (home built oven). I use plenty of them. Also just found out about some hi-temp putty that Budget Casting has that you apply sparingly to only the back part of the coil. Really holds well. It doesn't seem much different than the hi-temp furnace cement I have, but not sure if it would work as well.

oldwolf, in regards to the high temp putty. I knew I had seen a product, somewhere out there, for "adhering" coils to firebrick.
It was quite some time ago and for the life of me, I couldn't find them again
That's what initiated my satanite inquiry.

have had mine for a few years and no problems
BTW guys its good practice to not handle the coils much and use gloved hands

also lettig the kiln cool off slowly is good for longer life

i worked with kilns awhile with other work and this is what i have always been told

Sounds like good advice to me Butch, Thanks :thumbup:




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