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You can quickly change elements and repair bulging ones if you have the correct tools. Here is a list of tools that we recommend; most will also work with other brands of kilns. (These tools are for kilns that have element grooves rather than embedded elements.)

At the top of the photo:

• PROPANE TORCH: Used to heat a bulging section of element, which is necessary before shrinking it back into the groove. Use a trigger-activated torch such as the BernzOmatic TS4000 shown in the photo.

• VOLT/OHM/AMMETER: The ohmmeter tests whether the element is burned out. The ammeter tests how much amperage the elements are drawing. The model used at our inspection station (and shown in the photo) is the Fluke T5-1000.
• 1/4” NUT DRIVER: Tightens barrel element connectors and switch-to-element lead wires.
• VICE-GRIPS: Holds the element connector securely when tightening the connector.
• SNAP-RING PLIERS: Lengthens sections of a bulging element to fit the element into the corner of element grooves. (The element must first be red hot.)
• NEEDLE-NOSE PLIERS: Shortens bulging heating elements that are too long to fit into the element grooves. (The element must first be red hot.)
• DIAGONAL CUTING PLIERS: Cuts off the excessive length of the element after the element connector has been installed.

Written by :

ahoward

 

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