Electric Kiln

[Peter Cordell]

Materials used in construction

Fire bricks  good upto 1700c
REX C100 Digital PID Controller Regulator
25A SSR Relay
1250 C Thermocouple K type 100mm Probe Sensor
4 206x4mm Forging Pottery Heating Heater Element Wire Coil 500W
16amp rocker switch
16 amp heat resistant wire
High Temperature Ceramic Fiber Blanket 15mm
Some thin steel sheet, 6mm studing, 15mm sq bar, 25mm angle, clear plexiglass

2 x 4kg Graphite Crucible

did try some electric fire heater elements but these melt over 300c so it turned out

[Peter Cordell]

End result some covers for my mini mill dro need a little machining to clean them up

[John Rudd]

Nice project.... But I dont fancy your electric bill.....lol..

[shipto]

Nice project.... But I dont fancy your electric bill.....lol..

With the controller the electric bill is not as bad as you would think mine is around 4.8kw and it melts aluminium really quick and once up to temperature it turns the element on for a few seconds then off for 4-5 seconds. I havent done the sums but I melt about 1.6 litres in approx 30 minutes. The big advantage is you can hold it until you need to pour.

[Peter Cordell]

As it takes just under 30min to hit 750c but you have to remove the crucible to top it up as the aluminium melts down, so over all its running for about an hour, if i got me maths right 2000watts per hour at 11.620Kwh = 23.24p per melt

[Biggles]

Nice one Ben. I was thinking about something like that, then thought about the leky bill.   

[tom osselton]

I think it depends on what your making, machining can take a while to get to final shape using up alot of your time the casting reduces that.