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Pottery Tips and TechniquesThe Cost Of Firing A Kiln Load
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The cost of electricity is figured in kilowatt-hours (KWh). Example15 amps x 240 volts = 3,600 watts.Divide the wattage of your kiln by 1000, which gives you the kilowatts, and move the decimal point 3 spaces to the left. Examples10,800 watts ÷ 1000 = 10.84,800 watts ÷ 1000 = 4.8 800 watts ÷ 1000 = .8 To figure kilowatt hours for your kiln, multiply the kilowatts by the number of hours that all the elements are turned on. If the heating elements for a 10.8 kilowatt kiln stay on continuously for 5 hours, the kiln would use 10.8 X 5 which equals 54 kilowatt hours. To find out what it will cost to fire your kiln, multiply the number of kilowatt hours by the amount your power company charges for a kilowatt hour If they charge .09 per kilowatt hour, multiply 54 by .09 which equals $4.86. The heating elements do not usually stay on throughout the whole firing cycle. Now, if your kiln uses infinite control switches or a digital controller, the elements cycle on and off to control the heating rate. The clicking noise that you hear during the firing is the sound of the switches or relays turning the elements on and off. The faster or hotter your kiln fires, the longer the elements stay on per hour. As a rough rule of thumb, figure that the elements stay on half to three quarters of the total firing time. Example:A kiln draws 10,800 watts and the firing lasts 5 hours. You estimate that the elements remain powered during half of the firing. Below is an example of how to figure the cost. 10,800 watts ÷ 1,000 = 10.8 kilowatts 10.8 x 5 hours = 54 KWh (kilowatt-hours) 54 ÷ 2 = 27 KWh only on half the time during a 5-hour firing 27 x .09 = $2.43 the cost to run the kiln for five hours.
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All About Clay The best way of starting out is to take a few lessons. You will probably waste quite a bit in materials when you first get started. Figuring out how to truly make handmade pottery correctly and shape into what you want it to be can be quite an ordeal. The different tools that a normal shop will have can be fun to try. You will soon see which ones you like to use the most and then when you are ready you will know which ones to buy. With the help of the internet, you can now purchase most if not all of your ceramic and pottery tools and supplies online. We are located far from any well supplied dealers and yet working with reliable ceramic and pottery suppliers online has allowed us to recieve most of our orders within a timely manner. When you get all set up, just enjoy the hobby and have fun at it. Some people get pretty serious and start selling their creations at craft fairs and small stores, but others just like to create items for themselves, relatives, and friends. Whichever kind of handmade pottery you desire to endeavor, enjoy the hobby and have fun doing it.
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