On Thu, 24 Mar 2005 08:19:50 GMT, Gunner
wrote:

Another thought:

Since you have a 6" dia pipe as a "muffle", why not forget about the
nichrome wire and just use several of your cartridge heaters? Make
little clamps to transfer heat from them to the inner pipe, use enough
of 'em to comprise 2 or 3 KW and control the temp as previously
mentioned. Make as many "zones" as you can scrounge controllers to
drive.