Skutt KilnMaster Kilns Manufactured between 2000 and 2006 - Manual (Page 37)

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Replacing elements.
While Skutt kiln elements are not difficult
to replace, they require electrical connector
tools. We recommend you ask your Skutt
dealer about the procedure.
Replacing the thermocouple
element on KM Automatic Kilns.
(See page 5 for instructions on the Wall
mounted KilnMaster.)
1. Remove the screws that secure the red
control box to the kiln.
2. Swing the box open.
3. The thermocouple has a yellow, insu-
lated lead wire attached to the terminal
strip with slide on connectors and
marked with positive (+) and negative
(-). Note: The negative (-) wire is red,
not black!. Slide the connectors off the
terminal strip.
4. Remove the two screws that hold the
thermocouple terminal block onto the
heat shield.
5. Gently pull the thermocouple assem-
bly out of the brick.
6. Loosen the two screws which hold the
thermocouple element in place as
shown in the picture at right and
remove it from the thermocouple
block.
7. Insert the new thermocouple element
in place and tighten the screws. A
porcelain sleeve is included with the
thermocouple element. On early KM
kilns, it may be necessary to insert the
sleeve into the brick to accommodate
the new size thermocouple.
8. Reattach the terminal block onto the
heat shield with the two screws.
9. Reconnect the thermocouple lead wire
to the terminal strip, matching the posi-
tive and negative markings.
10. Close the box.
11. Replace the screws.
Glossary
Below is a glossary of some useful ceramic
terms.
Aftercrazing.
Glaze crazing after firing—
days, weeks or months later.
Bisque.
Ware which has passed through
its first firing without benefit of glaze.
Candling.
The practice of slow firing and
holding the kiln temperature around 150˚
for a period of time to thoroughly dry
ware.
Ceramic.
In general, any man-made solid
product resulting from the fusion of min-
eral substances. Also used to identify a
type of high-talc body which fuses at
moderate temperatures—Cone 05-03.
Clean-up.
The process of cleaning, scrap-
ing, sanding and sponging greenware to
make it ready for firing and decoration.
Cone plaque.
A stand or rest for holding
shelf cones during firing.
Controller.
Electronic device that can be
programmed for specific firing results.
Can be an independent device that is wall-
mounted, or built into the kiln.
Crackle glaze.
A type of glaze which
when fired is intentionally “crazed”.
Stains or other colorants are often rubbed
into the cracks to heighten the effect.
Crazing.
Small hairline cracks in glazed
surfaces that appear after firing. Usually
caused by underfiring the body.
Dipping. Application of glaze to bisque or
greenware by simply immersing it in a
container of the glaze.
Dry footing.
Leaving the base of a piece of
ware free of glaze, or removing applied
glaze from the underside of the foot by
wiping. Avoids the need to stilt.
Element.
A coil of resistance wire through
which current passes, creating the neces-
sary heat for firing.
Element groove.
The recess in the kiln
brick into which the element is placed.
Firing.
The act of maturing clays and
glazes by the application of heat.
Firebrick.
The insulating blocks which
form the chamber of your kiln.
Foot.
The supporting rim at the base of a
piece of ware.
Glaze.
A special finely ground glass sus-
pended in water with the aid of gum or
emulsifiers. Glaze may be clear or colored;
glossy, eggshell or matte; applied to
bisque or greenware by brushing, spray-
ing, pouring or dipping.
Greenware.
Unfired, fragile clay forms,
wet or dried.
Impurities.
Minute quantities of foreign
matter in clays which often cause spots in
glaze.
Incising.
Cutting through moist green-
ware in a desired pattern.
K ILN M ASTER C ONTROLLER
C IRCUITRY .
The KilnMaster controller components are
solid state and cannot be repaired in the
field. If repairs are necessary, call the facto-
ry to make arrangements for return of
parts. When the switchbox is received we
will evaluate the problem and call you
with a cost estimate.