[~janie]

I have a Paragon Touch N Fire kiln that I bought used a few months ago. We were thrilled to get it, as it is in immaculate condition and was used very little by the previous owner. We are finally in a position that I could
fire my greenware, IF I knew how to run this kiln.

I am terrified I will burn the studio down, although we have done everything right as far as installing the kiln. New wiring, 3/4" sheetrock on the walls, concrete floors, nothing in the kiln room that would ignite, etc., etc.

This is a programmable kiln, but it is all Greek to me.

Does anyone know where I can get the information on how to fire to bisque at ^06, with a 12 hour preheat, and fire to ^6 for my glazes? The instructions on the kiln have me shaking my head.
It is not the fault of the kiln. I guess I need an operators manual, to start at the beginning.

I just don't want to mess up all the work I have done, I don't want to ruin my kiln, and I sure don't want to burn the house down!

I appreciate any information.

[scoobydoozie]

Here's a link to the manual on Paragon's website: http://www.paragonwe...ce%20Manual.pdf

Touch-n-Fire is "TnF" on the manual cover. Check page 13 under the heading "TnF-Series Models". Hope this helps.

[Arnold Howard]

~janie, on 03 November 2011 - 09:18 AM, said:

Does anyone know where I can get the information on how to fire to bisque at ^06, with a 12 hour preheat, and fire to ^6 for my glazes? The instructions on the kiln have me shaking my head.

What is the controller model number? It is printed over the digital display window. We have a different set of instructions for each controller, such as the DTC 100, DTC 600C, Sentry 2.0, etc.

In addition to the controller manual, you will need a ceramic kiln manual. Here is the newest one.

http://www.paragonwe...c_Kiln_Inst.pdf

Here is a list of all the downloadable manuals:

http://www.paragonwe...ion_Manuals.cfm

Sincerely,

Arnold Howard
Paragon Industries, L.P., Mesquite, Texas USA
ahoward@paragonweb.com / www.paragonweb.com

[~janie]

WOW! Thanks! I appreciate it!

[meisie]

~janie, on 03 November 2011 - 10:18 AM, said:

I have a Paragon Touch N Fire kiln that I bought used a few months ago. We were thrilled to get it, as it is in immaculate condition and was used very little by the previous owner. We are finally in a position that I could
fire my greenware, IF I knew how to run this kiln.

I am terrified I will burn the studio down, although we have done everything right as far as installing the kiln. New wiring, 3/4" sheetrock on the walls, concrete floors, nothing in the kiln room that would ignite, etc., etc.

This is a programmable kiln, but it is all Greek to me.

Does anyone know where I can get the information on how to fire to bisque at ^06, with a 12 hour preheat, and fire to ^6 for my glazes? The instructions on the kiln have me shaking my head.
It is not the fault of the kiln. I guess I need an operators manual, to start at the beginning.

I just don't want to mess up all the work I have done, I don't want to ruin my kiln, and I sure don't want to burn the house down!

I appreciate any information.

I have a paragon tnf and was in the same boat as you were. I'd never fired a kiln before in my life. I came across this little video on the paragon website.
It's my controller on the front of the kiln I have and the woman explains it very nicely. The paragon website has lots of great information.
http://www.paragonwe...Info.cfm?VID=77

[~janie]

Can I use the sequence shown in the video for the Sentry 2.0 to program my DTC100C?

I have downloaded, printed and read the manual from cover to cover. I have the programing instructions, but I can't figure out how to put a preheat in there. The video seems so simple.....

[Arnold Howard]

~janie, on 08 November 2011 - 08:37 PM, said:

Can I use the sequence shown in the video for the Sentry 2.0 to program my DTC100C?

I have downloaded, printed and read the manual from cover to cover. I have the programing instructions, but I can't figure out how to put a preheat in there. The video seems so simple.....

The Sentry video does not apply to the DTC 100C, which has only one segment. But you can work around the one-segment limitation. Program a pre-heat. After the pre-heat has completed, then program the actual firing.

We began making the DTC 100C at the Paragon factory in 1997. About five years later, we gave our controller technology to Bartlett Instruments. Their first controller was the DTC 600C, which has six segments.

Sincerely,

Arnold Howard
Paragon Industries, L.P., Mesquite, Texas USA
ahoward@paragonweb.com / www.paragonweb.com

[~janie]

Thanks to ALL, I have finally fired my kiln! We did a full load of bisque, and are loading a glaze kiln today! What a relief!

Special Thanks to Arnold Howard. I appreciate you hanging in there.

~janie

[~janie]

OOPs, one more question. Is there any way to program a hold on the DTC100C, so it will hold the high temp for a few minutes before shutting off?

[Arnold Howard]

~janie, on 10 November 2011 - 08:03 AM, said:

OOPs, one more question. Is there any way to program a hold on the DTC100C, so it will hold the high temp for a few minutes before shutting off?

Sorry, Janie. The DTC 100C (C = ceramic version) does not have a hold. That feature came with the DTC 100 (heat treating version). But you could add a hold manually. After the kiln fires to completion and displays OFF, program another firing. Use a rate of 100, and program a slightly higher temperature than the first firing.

Just a reminder: Please disconnect the power when you are not using the kiln.

I hope you enjoy firing your kiln. Many DTC 100C controllers are still in operation--after 20 years! Some people swear by them.

Sincerely,

Arnold Howard
Paragon Industries, L.P., Mesquite, Texas USA
ahoward@paragonweb.com / www.paragonweb.com

[~janie]

Just FYI- I fired my kiln! I felt a great victory doing this! I took 57 pieces of bisque out of that kiln this morning, and we were laughing at how it was stacked and stacked! Nothing exploded, thrilled with that!

Thanks for all the help and suggestions. I could not have done it without you!

~janie

[~janie]

Now, I need to fire a glazed kiln. I am astonished at how much this kiln will hold! Is there a difference in how the kiln is programmed, or is it always the same?

Thanks!

[~janie]

I have fired my glaze kiln. Very happy, except.......

I fired stoneware, ^6, to a temp of 2230, going up at 175 degrees per hour.

When the kiln got to 2230, it shut off, and does not display the cooling temp, or anything else.

I am kind of concerned that I have done something to my kiln.

Any suggestions? It is still far too hot to open.

I appreciate all the knowledge in this forum. Don't know what I would do without you!

[Arnold Howard]

~janie, on 09 December 2011 - 01:00 PM, said:

When the kiln got to 2230, it shut off, and does not display the cooling temp, or anything else.

A blank DTC 100 display window might be due to a burned fuse. You will find a small fuse holder mounted to the side of the kiln's switch box. Remove the fuse and hold it up to the light. Look for a thin strand of wire inside the glass tube. If it is missing, the fuse is burned out.

Sincerely,

Arnold Howard
Paragon Industries, L.P., Mesquite, Texas USA
ahoward@paragonweb.com / www.paragonweb.com

[~janie]

Thank you so much for this information. My husband finally tracked it down and found a thrown breaker switch. He has decided we need more amps in our system, especially since I have 2 other kilns that I will most likely be firing at the time I am firing this kiln. So, the electric company is coming, the Master Electrician is coming, and they are going to install a 200 amp thingie.

My pots look pretty good, nothing broke, shivered, crawled, or cracked. I am happy.