Not to Buy a Kiln
I regularly receive emails from jewelry makers who want advice about buying a kiln. Making the decision to buy a kiln is a big step for most of us. As with any hobby, when you get serious, you need to start collecting larger and more expensive pieces of equipment. A pair of pliers just isn’t enough any more. A kiln can allow you to expand your jewelry skills in a number of ways including enameling, casting (used for burn-out), metal clay, and fused glass. I spent a lot of time and research before I decided which kiln was right for my needs. Hopefully, my research can also help you decide which kiln is right for your needs.
Buying any large piece of jewelry equipment is similar to buying a computer. You need to ask yourself two questions: What will I be using this for today? What might I be using this for tomorrow? I knew I wanted to buy a kiln so I could make fused glass jewelry. I also knew that some day I would want to use the same kiln for casting purposes. You can’t predict the future, but since you will probably be spending around $300-500, you want to make sure your kiln can be used for a variety of purposes.
Is it a table top model or does it have to sit on the floor? Where are you going to keep this kiln? For me, I knew I wanted a table top model that I would put on a work bench in my garage. I have a lot of animals in my house, so I knew there was no way I could have my kiln inside.
How does it open? Does the lid open from the front (called front loading), or does it open from the top? Also, if you ware interested in annealing lampwork beads, how would you stick those in there? From the top or the side? Since glass was important in my decision, I knew I wanted to be able to peek in on my fused glass, and I wanted to be able to stick beads inside to anneal. So, for me a lid that opened at the top was best, and I also wanted a kiln that had a side door for the beads.
How big do you need your kiln to be? Is there any way to add extensions to the kiln later? When looking at specifications, remember that the inside of your kiln will be smaller than the outside. The smaller the kiln, the smaller the price. However, I knew the small kilns, which have about a 6 inch shelf diameter, would be too small to slump glass bowls. My pocket book would not allow me to get a super big kiln. Therefore, I decided to find a kiln that was in the medium/small size. I also wanted a kiln that I would allow be to make larger, especially the height since I might want to put casting flasks in it one day.
Do you think you’ll need a pyrometer so you can control the temperature? Do you want to be able to program the temperature? I decided I did want a pyrometer because I wanted to be able to know exactly what the temperature was. However, I didn’t want to program my temperatures since half the fun (for me at least) of fusing glass is taking a look at your glass now and then when it’s fusing. With the programmable kilns, you just set the temperatures and leave them alone until the cycle is over.
Are there any additional charges you will have besides the kiln itself? Most companies sell the kiln, just the kiln. If you want a pyrometer, kiln shelf, kiln wash, protective gloves, goggles, haik brush (for the kiln wash), or kiln furniture, this is all extra. Except for the pyrometer, none of these other items are that expensive, but if you are on a super tight budget, you may want to factor in the costs of these also.
I finally decided to buy a top loading kiln that has a 8 x 8 inch fusing shelf. The model number is AF99. I acquired mine through A Show of Hand Glass Studio. However, this model is also available through Arrow Springs and Wale Apparatus.
Kiln Query - Tim McCreight recommends Rio Grande’s PMC kiln.
Fused/Lampwork Supplies - Links to kiln and glass suppliers
Metal Clay - Links related to metal clay including kiln suppliers
Glass Studio - See how I set up my kiln in my own studio.
All graphics created by Tammy Powley.