Skutt GlassMaster Kiln - Manual (Page 7)

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Remove any brick chips or other foreign matter from around the elements. Contaminants will eat through the elements. We
recommend that you vacuum the inside of the kiln to remove any dust that accumulates during shipment.
You will want to apply a shelf primer, also referred to as kiln wash, on your shelves to protect them from melted glass
adhering to them. There are a number of different formulations with different instructions for application, so be sure to follow the
directions of the brand you choose. Be sure newly coated shelves are dry before firing them in the kiln.
You may also wish to coat the floor of the kiln. Never kiln wash the walls or lid of your kiln!
Preparation Before Firing
The test fire ensures you that the kiln is functioning properly and has not been damaged in shipping.
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• Post up a shelf in the kiln chamber at a level where the top of the shelf is between 1” and 2 “ below the thermocouple.
Fuse with the shelf in this position relative to the thermocouple whenever possible for accurate and consistent results.
• Place a sample glass project using scrap fusible glass in the kiln and choose a GlassFire mode program using the
instructions in this manual. As a precaution you may want to provide a dam or barrier around the glass when fusing
more than 2 layers. With more than 2 layers, the glass will spread until it finds a level of 1/4” (5 mm).
• Let the kiln fire and then cool to room temperature before opening the lid. If the project is fused or slumped to your
satisfaction the kiln is operating correctly.
The first time the elements are fired they will give off some smoke. This is normal and expected. It is also common for
hairline cracks to appear in the floor of a kiln. This is caused by the expansion and contraction of the mortared brick and is
considered normal. It will not affect the firing of your kiln nor the life of the kiln floor.
Test Firing
Seating The Elements
The elements of your kiln need to be properly seated into the grooves of the brick. Elements have stress in them much
like glass before it is annealed. This stress is caused by winding and stretching the elements. By bringing the elements up to
a minimum temperature we allow the elements to settle into the grooves and relieve this stress. After the elements have been
seated, it is more stable and less likely to pop or crawl out of the grooves.
The controller should be pre-programmed to run the seating program in Ramp and Hold Mode, program #6. Press review
to verify that the program listed below is entered in the controllers memory. If the program matches the one below, simply press
START and let the program run. If for some reason the program is not loaded, please follow the instructions in the manual for
programming the Ramp and Hold program listed below. It is not necessary to use shelves for this firing.
Program - 6
Segments - 1
Heating Rate 1 - 500
Temperature - 1650 F
Hold - 0.00
Alarm - 9999
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