Kiln · Cress
Cress replacement elements
Cress has been a mainstay in school and studio ceramics for a long time, and the B and FX series are both common, sturdy designs with element counts of four in the B-18, B-23, and FX-23, rising to six in the FX-27.
Find your Cress model
We hold element counts and supply voltages for 4 Cress models. Pick yours and we will confirm the spec back to you before asking for anything.
Cress element specifications
Typical ranges across the Cress lines we see most. Always confirm against your own rating plate.
Where to find the data tag on a Cress
Cress kilns carry their data plate on the control box, usually beside the switches or controller. The plate lists the model and serial, which is what we need to confirm element gauge and resistance since Cress has produced both its FX and B series across long, sometimes overlapping production runs.
Model series we supply
- FX-23
- B-18
- FX-27
- B-23
What is specific about Cress
Cress has been a mainstay in school and studio ceramics for a long time, and the B and FX series are both common, sturdy designs with element counts of four in the B-18, B-23, and FX-23, rising to six in the FX-27. Because these kilns are often kept in service for many years, including in institutional settings where they see heavy use, elements are one of the most frequently replaced parts, and matching gauge and resistance to the original is what keeps firing behaviour consistent. We wind every replacement in-house from Kanthal A1 to within ±2% of the original resistance, with a 48-hour standard turnaround rather than waiting on distributor stock. As always, confirm whether your Cress unit runs 240V or 208V from the data plate before ordering.
How Cress elements typically fail
- Element sagging or lifting from the brick groove after years of regular firing, common on high-use school and studio kilns
- Thinning wire leading to a visible break, often in the section nearest the peephole or door where heat loss is greatest
- Corroded terminal block connections, especially on older units that have sat in humid studio spaces
- A section reading open on a multimeter test while adjacent sections still read within spec
Confirm before you order
Test the element before replacing it. A meaningful share of "dead element" calls turn out to be a thermostat, sequencer or limit switch, and the test takes ten minutes with a multimeter. Our resistance test tool tells you what your reading means.
What to send us for a Cress quote
- Model and serial from the rating plate
- Voltage and wattage, if legible
- A photo of the old element, especially the terminal end
- What the equipment is doing — or failing to do
If the plate has faded past reading, our model number guide covers the other places manufacturers record it.
Other kiln brands
Cress element questions
My Cress kiln is old and I cannot find the manual. Can you still wind an element for it?
Yes. If the data plate on the control box is still legible, the model and serial are enough for us to confirm the original spec. If not, send us the old element or its measurements, wire gauge, coil diameter, and groove length, and we can match it from that.
Why does one section of my Cress kiln always seem to fail first?
It is usually the section nearest the door or peephole, since that area loses more heat and the element there works harder to hold temperature. Over years of firing this uneven load tends to wear that coil down faster than the others, so it is worth checking that section first when a kiln starts underfiring.
Is a B-series element different from an FX-series element?
The series share the same winding principle, Kanthal A1 to a target resistance, but chamber size and section count differ between them, four sections on the B-18, B-23, and FX-23, six on the FX-27, so the coil length and total resistance are not interchangeable across series. Confirm your exact model before ordering.
Get a quote
Get a Cress element quote
Send the model and serial, or a photo of the rating plate. We confirm the exact fit in writing before anything ships.