Skutt KilnMaster Kilns Manufactured between 2000 and 2006 - Manual (Page 15)

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First, never load damp ware into your
kiln! Make sure it’s all bone dry first.
Keep a piece of old greenware on your
drying shelves. New ware should feel no
cooler on your cheek or forearm than an
old piece. If it does, water is still evaporat-
ing from it.
Plan your load carefully. Set out all your
pieces before you start loading, and pre-
arrange them as you would to load them.
Always load slowly—dropped ware on
shelves may damage the inside of your
kiln.
Balance out your load by density. If half
your load consists of small, heavy pieces,
and half of large thin-walled pieces, don’t
group the small heavy pieces in one sec-
tion, but mix them so there is a balance of
each type throughout the kiln. See the
photos at right. Don’t set pieces of ware
directly on the floor of the kiln. The first
shelf should be 1” off the floor of the kiln.
For best results ware should not be placed
within 1” of the elements. If possible, place
ware so that an element groove is under
the shelf.
Don’t place ware too close to the ther-
mocouple. We recommend keeping ware
and shelves at least 2” away.
Large flat pieces like plates that demand
the full width of the kiln should have their
rims positioned between two elements.
We recommend placing a Self-Supporting
Cone in every firing. Although you nor-
mally won’t watch it go down, its condi-
tion when you unload the kiln will prove
your firing was correct—or alert you to
possible problems if the ware displays
faults.
G REENWARE FOR B ISQUE F IRING
Greenware is easier to handle and load
than other ware. Greenware should be
placed in the kiln in its natural position,
but any large flat piece—such as a wall
plaque—can go on its flat side to prevent
warping. Canisters and boxes should be
bisque fired with lids in place for assur-
ance of good fit. For more efficient pro-
duction, you may wish to experiment
with nesting bisque, as shown below. Just
remember, never strain the rims.
P RECAUTIONS
The controller is a temperature control
device. It is not a safety device.
The maximum operating temperature is
105˚ F (41˚C). This temperature refers to
the room temperature and does not per-
tain to internal temperature of the kiln.
The minimum operating temperature is
40˚ F (4˚ C). See page 15 for cold kiln room
recommendations.
The controller contains static-sensitive
parts that may be damaged by static elec-
tricity. Use caution to avoid creating static
that may damage the equipment. In areas
where static electricity is common, or dur-
ing dry times of the year throughout the
country, touch the kiln lid handle before
touching the controller to discharge the
static.
Never leave the kiln unattended at the
end of the firing.
L OADING :
THE KEY TO CONSISTENT RESULTS
If this is the first firing of the kiln, or if you
have just replaced the elements, please fire
the kiln empty to Cone 04.
Careful loading will always be repaid
with satisfaction. Rushed, careless loading
can bring disaster to pieces you’ve
worked on for hours.