Electric Pottery Kiln Controller

[Homercidal]

So my daughter is taking classes on throwing clay. I'm looking into the possibility of helping her build a wheel, and then of course I start thinking about a small Kiln so she can fire her creations herself. The information I've found indicates that you can use some soft brick for a kiln, and some Kanthal Wire as a heating element and fire small projects with 120V.

The biggest cost seems to be in the controller. They are going to like $80+.

My mind thinks that I should be able to power the element using a PID and SSR like I do my electric brewing elements.

I don't really "need" another project to play with, but I have always wanted to try my hand at a pottery wheel and I think she will like it (Although I will wait to build it until she is done with her introductory course before deciding to follow through...)

 

[doug293cz]

Of course you can use a PID + SSR for this. The PID will need to have a greater max temp capability than your intended firing temp. You'll need to use a type K thermocouple temp probe for a ceramic firing temp range. You'll also want to get the highest R insulating firebrick available if you want to reach temp with only ~2000W available. That type of firebrick is pretty soft (you can nick it with a fingernail) since it is basically ceramic foam.

Brew on

 

[Homercidal]

Thanks. I hadn't thought about finding a PID with a 2000F temp range. It's obvious now. I am not sure I have one of those, but I'll check online.

All in all it doesn't seem out of reach to do. She said she will probably need a wheel first, so I think I'll be focused on that design before worrying about owning a small kiln. I think we can load projects into the kiln in town for a small fee.

 

[Revvy]

Isn't it amazing how much stuff we might have picked up through brewing that we get to apply to other projects. I used one of my temp controller setups to keep my herb greenhouse warm this winter by using an stc-1000 with a probe in a container buried in the soil of one of my plants.

 

[Homercidal]

Well, I wish I could use one of my PIDs, but I believe they only read in the hundreds of degrees.

I did find a kit online with 2400F PID, SSR, and K-type Thermocouple. For $20...