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I just got a new Jen-Ken Oval-9 kiln (thru CDV) but the shelves are a mess - big scratches and gouges and severely pitted in many places. Jen Ken is going to get new ones but no idea when for certain. Has anyone tried milling down the surface of one of these dudes. They are fairly flat with a slight convex surface so it wouldnt take a lot. I got a guy with a Bridgeport that owes me a few favors but wanted to know if it was practical. I would assume slow and wet? Thanks

On a Bridgeport slow and wet with tungsten carbide cutters but I would be afraid of contraminating the lubrication system with the abrasive cuttings removed from the shelf. Not at all like metal cuttings. I you have access to a surface grinder with dust collection I would rather try that.

Best wishes,
Tom in Texas

Ron Bell wrote:I just got a new Jen-Ken Oval-9 kiln (thru CDV) but the shelves are a mess - big scratches and gouges and severely pitted in many places. Jen Ken is going to get new ones but no idea when for certain. Has anyone tried milling down the surface of one of these dudes. They are fairly flat with a slight convex surface so it wouldnt take a lot. I got a guy with a Bridgeport that owes me a few favors but wanted to know if it was practical. I would assume slow and wet? Thanks

The shelves R quite soft

U might try grinding them by hand on a flat peice of glass with grit

Or by hand with a battery drill thingy

A belt sander with a sanding frame might work, too. Dusty, though...

Marty from Centre deVerre told me that kiln shelves can be resurfaced with a wide belt sander such as those used in large woodworking shops for flattening wide, glued-up panels... those usually operate with dust collection.

Tony

I've used a random orbit sander to resurface several kiln shelves. The quality of the finsihed surface depends on the make-up of the shelf.

Some shelves are made from what looks like a mix of hard and soft particles and being cast have a nice smooth finish from the factory. However sanding sometimes causes the softer material to erode faster than the hard particles and you end up with a vary coarse surface. Other shelves sand nice and smooth. Hook up a shop vac to control the dust if you go this route.

Grinding is an alternative that does work, check with a place that grinds stone. A lap grinder and 80 grit silicon carbide will grind any shelf as smooth as a baby's behind.

If all else fails, take them to Lowes or Home Depot and have them cut into dams.

Ron

Thanks for the help folks, I'll be sanding this weekend!