Comments on: JD18-JH Update: Kanthal A-1 Elements http://jessehull.com/2008/04/29/jd18-jh-update-20mm-kanthal-a-1-elements/ Decorative Crystalline Glazed Porcelain Artwork: Vases, Bottles, Finial Jars, & Ornaments Sat, 04 Feb 2012 17:36:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: greg beckman http://jessehull.com/2008/04/29/jd18-jh-update-20mm-kanthal-a-1-elements/#comment-776 greg beckman Tue, 21 Dec 2010 01:18:11 +0000 http://jessehull.com/2008/04/29/jd18-jh-update-20mm-kanthal-a-1-elements/#comment-776 hey jesse, do you know, is the only positive thing about the APM's over the A-1's their lifespan? Or can the APM's fire faster? or to higher temps? (i know thicker kiln brick helps with higher cone fire.) i just started doing crystalline firings several months ago. i have a skutt kiln bought all standard and i would like to try some ^11 and ^12 crystalline glazes but i am pretty new to the scene and have been afraid to try anything over ^10 since thats the max for the kiln (so it says). i know upgrading the brick to 3" helps, but i also heard APM elements helps attain higher cones and was considering getting them for this reason. is this true? i have had great crystal success since day 1 so the elements i have now are great, but i wanted to push the cone rating a bit and wasnt sure if my elements would be ok with that. <strong>The main concern I have with APM elements is that they are expensive and just as vulnerable to being destroyed if (for instance) a speck of glaze lands on the element when loading, or a piece falls during the firing, etc. I know folks with 140+ firings to the ^10-12 range on the thicker gauge A-1's of the JH series kilns, so I don't see the benefit of APM's myself. ~Jesse.</strong> hey jesse,

do you know, is the only positive thing about the APM’s over the A-1’s their lifespan? Or can the APM’s fire faster? or to higher temps? (i know thicker kiln brick helps with higher cone fire.) i just started doing crystalline firings several months ago. i have a skutt kiln bought all standard and i would like to try some ^11 and ^12 crystalline glazes but i am pretty new to the scene and have been afraid to try anything over ^10 since thats the max for the kiln (so it says). i know upgrading the brick to 3″ helps, but i also heard APM elements helps attain higher cones and was considering getting them for this reason. is this true? i have had great crystal success since day 1 so the elements i have now are great, but i wanted to push the cone rating a bit and wasnt sure if my elements would be ok with that.

The main concern I have with APM elements is that they are expensive and just as vulnerable to being destroyed if (for instance) a speck of glaze lands on the element when loading, or a piece falls during the firing, etc. I know folks with 140+ firings to the ^10-12 range on the thicker gauge A-1’s of the JH series kilns, so I don’t see the benefit of APM’s myself. ~Jesse.

]]> By: David http://jessehull.com/2008/04/29/jd18-jh-update-20mm-kanthal-a-1-elements/#comment-695 David Thu, 30 Sep 2010 15:04:18 +0000 http://jessehull.com/2008/04/29/jd18-jh-update-20mm-kanthal-a-1-elements/#comment-695 Hello Jesse, Thank you for your very useful information. It's a big help. I have been fireing cone ten oxidation in a gas kiln for years. I want to start fireing electric because I am moveing to a house with very good solar panels. I am looking a the L & L e quad and the JH series. Can you tell me which one you would recommend? Is the JH series a better choice even though it is $5,000 compared to $3,000 or the e quad? I drop cone ten and do not tip cone eleven. I do not fire crystals so I do not hold at cone ten. Thank you. David <strong>Hm. I guess I would suggest speaking with the folks at L&L and explain what you're wanting the kiln to do. When I was collaborating on the design for the JH series, I was after a kiln with a longer lifespan and less maintenance where high temperatures (^10-12), even firing, and rapid cooling are necessary. Keep in mind that many components on a ^10 kiln aren't actually rated for that temperature range. ~Jesse.</strong> Hello Jesse,
Thank you for your very useful information. It’s a big help.
I have been fireing cone ten oxidation in a gas kiln for years. I want to start fireing electric because I am moveing to a house with very good solar panels.
I am looking a the L & L e quad and the JH series. Can you tell me which one you would recommend? Is the JH series a better choice even though it is $5,000 compared to $3,000 or the e quad?
I drop cone ten and do not tip cone eleven. I do not fire crystals so I do not hold at cone ten.
Thank you. David

Hm. I guess I would suggest speaking with the folks at L&L and explain what you’re wanting the kiln to do. When I was collaborating on the design for the JH series, I was after a kiln with a longer lifespan and less maintenance where high temperatures (^10-12), even firing, and rapid cooling are necessary. Keep in mind that many components on a ^10 kiln aren’t actually rated for that temperature range. ~Jesse.

]]> By: Robbrecht Troost http://jessehull.com/2008/04/29/jd18-jh-update-20mm-kanthal-a-1-elements/#comment-474 Robbrecht Troost Wed, 22 Jul 2009 22:38:28 +0000 http://jessehull.com/2008/04/29/jd18-jh-update-20mm-kanthal-a-1-elements/#comment-474 Hello Jesse. I bought one of these kilns about a year ago and it is a really good kiln for growing crystals. I was also debating in the beginning to get APM elements but with a new kiln that came with the Kanthal elements upgrading to APM was still a additional $500 or so. I decided to use the Kanthals first and then decide wether I wanted to spend the extra money for the APM. I am now on my 135th firing,a few of those are bisque (maybe 10) but the most are ^10 firing and they are still working good. They are starting to lean into each other a little and it is taking a few more minutes to reach temperature; but I just lower the top temperature a few degrees and am still getting great results. So I am not sure that the APM's are the way to go seeing the price difference. Ok then see you at Phil's in october. LTR Robert. <strong>Hey Robert, 135 firings -that's great to hear! I'm not convinced that APM's are really necessary in regard to a JH series kiln. My view of APM's in general is that if a piece of glaze, clay, silica, etc lands on your elements, or if a glazed pot falls on them during a firing, that metal isn't going to stand up to it any more than Kanthal A-1. If an accident does occur, then the APM's are going to cost A LOT more to replace. With nearly 90 firings on my current set of elements in the cone 10-12 range (and all the reports I've gotten from others using this gauge of Kanthal), I can't see myself ever going with APM's. Looking forward to Phil's as well! ~jesse. </strong> Hello Jesse.
I bought one of these kilns about a year ago and it is a really good kiln for growing crystals.
I was also debating in the beginning to get APM elements but with a new kiln that came with the Kanthal elements upgrading to APM was still a additional $500 or so. I decided to use the Kanthals first and then decide wether I wanted to spend the extra money for the APM. I am now on my 135th firing,a few of those are bisque (maybe 10) but the most are ^10 firing and they are still working good. They are starting to lean into each other a little and it is taking a few more minutes to reach temperature; but I just lower the top temperature a few degrees and am still getting great results.
So I am not sure that the APM’s are the way to go seeing the price difference.

Ok then see you at Phil’s in october.

LTR
Robert.

Hey Robert,
135 firings -that’s great to hear!
I’m not convinced that APM’s are really necessary in regard to a JH series kiln. My view of APM’s in general is that if a piece of glaze, clay, silica, etc lands on your elements, or if a glazed pot falls on them during a firing, that metal isn’t going to stand up to it any more than Kanthal A-1. If an accident does occur, then the APM’s are going to cost A LOT more to replace.
With nearly 90 firings on my current set of elements in the cone 10-12 range (and all the reports I’ve gotten from others using this gauge of Kanthal), I can’t see myself ever going with APM’s.

Looking forward to Phil’s as well!
~jesse.

]]> By: Paul Ouzts http://jessehull.com/2008/04/29/jd18-jh-update-20mm-kanthal-a-1-elements/#comment-459 Paul Ouzts Sun, 21 Jun 2009 12:18:13 +0000 http://jessehull.com/2008/04/29/jd18-jh-update-20mm-kanthal-a-1-elements/#comment-459 L&L just made another sale when I saw this 80+ posting. Astounding results and special thanks for generating this detailed professional assessment. I applaude your diligence. Paul O. <strong>NICE -thanks much, Paul!!! Enjoy the new kiln, and let me know how things go... ~jesse.</strong> L&L just made another sale when I saw this 80+ posting. Astounding results and special thanks for generating this detailed professional assessment. I applaude your diligence.

Paul O.

NICE -thanks much, Paul!!! Enjoy the new kiln, and let me know how things go…

~jesse.

]]> By: Tymen Brom http://jessehull.com/2008/04/29/jd18-jh-update-20mm-kanthal-a-1-elements/#comment-334 Tymen Brom Fri, 20 Feb 2009 06:51:05 +0000 http://jessehull.com/2008/04/29/jd18-jh-update-20mm-kanthal-a-1-elements/#comment-334 Hi, You have a great site. I am interested in your review of the Kanthal A1 elements. It is now about 10 months since you published this review and I am wondering if you views have changed. How many firings did you get before there was significant degradation in the performance? Thanks Tymen <strong>Hey Tymen, In regards to how many firings I get... Well, I haven't found out yet :) At 80+ firings in the ^10-12 range, they're still going like new! ~jesse.</strong> Hi,
You have a great site. I am interested in your review of the Kanthal A1 elements. It is now about 10 months since you published this review and I am wondering if you views have changed. How many firings did you get before there was significant degradation in the performance?

Thanks

Tymen

Hey Tymen,
In regards to how many firings I get… Well, I haven’t found out yet :)
At 80+ firings in the ^10-12 range, they’re still going like new!
~jesse.

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