{"id":1087,"date":"2016-08-05T11:20:44","date_gmt":"2016-08-05T11:20:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/silverclayschool.co.uk\/?p=1087"},"modified":"2020-12-18T16:28:43","modified_gmt":"2020-12-18T16:28:43","slug":"top-tips-buying-kiln","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/silverclayschool.co.uk\/newsite\/top-tips-buying-kiln\/","title":{"rendered":"Top tips for buying a kiln"},"content":{"rendered":"

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My top tips for buying a kiln<\/span><\/h1>\n

Well if you\u2019ve made the decision to go ahead and buy a kiln, then you might be wondering what you need think about when choosing a kiln for Silver Clay firing.Here are some of my top tips for buying a kiln; things you need to consider. I hope it helps.<\/p>\n

\"Paragon<\/a>

Paragon SC2 with a viewing window<\/p><\/div>\n

\u00a0Do you need a digital controller?<\/span><\/h3>\n

This is the main differentiator between kilns when it comes to price. The less expensive ones (i.e. the Kitiki Mini Kiln) don\u2019t have a controller and the more expensive ones (I.e. Paragon SC2) do have a controller.<\/p>\n

So what does a digital controller do?<\/span><\/p>\n

It gives the operator far more control over the firing schedule.<\/p>\n

    \n
  • You can determine how quickly the kiln reaches the firing temperature<\/li>\n
  • You can tell the kiln how long you want it to hold the firing temperature for and the kiln will stop firing after that time and start to cool down.<\/li>\n
  • You can tell the kiln to ramp up the temperature slowly and for how long. And you can set different phases of firing too \u2013 so for example, you can fire for 30 minutes at 500o<\/sup>C and then another 2 hours at 900o<\/sup>C<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Now you might wonder why you need that sort of control on a kiln and that\u2019s a good question. A lot of these controls are for working with glass, where the careful ramping up and down of a kiln is important so that the glass is strong and doesn\u2019t have thermal shock.<\/p>\n

    BUT they are useful for Silver Clay too \u2013 if you\u2019ve made a piece with glass and you need to ensure that the glass survives the firing. Or if you are firing a complex hollow piece (with perhaps cork or wood clay as an armature), controlling how quickly the kiln gets to the ideal firing temperature is important.<\/p>\n

    But if you don\u2019t plan on making more complex items or if you\u2019re not going to include glass and you are prepared to set a timer on your phone to let you know when the kiln needs to be switched off \u2013 then you don\u2019t need a kiln with a digital controller.<\/p>\n

    \u00a0Safety! Where will you put your kiln?<\/span><\/h3>\n

    You need to think about the amount of space you have \u2013 the less expensive kilns tend to have a smaller footprint and take up less room. However, it\u2019s a bit more than that. You\u2019ll also need to think about the following;<\/p>\n

    You\u2019ll need to think about safety \u2013 yours and those who share your house (pets, kids and unaware spouses!). When firing, it is preferable to fire in a well ventilated area to allow the smoke from the binder to dissipate. Whilst the smoke, isn\u2019t harmful I am a great believer in making sure that you don\u2019t inhale anything you don\u2019t need to!<\/p>\n

    Also, kilns can get hot. So you\u2019ll need to make sure that little uns and animals can\u2019t get unintentionally hurt and keep it well out of reach. You will also need to make sure that it\u2019s in a place that\u2019s safe for you to load and unload the kiln. So placing a kiln in a position where you don\u2019t have to reach up or bend down is preferable. You\u2019ll also need a place to set your kiln shelf down without scorching any surface. I use a granite block for this purpose (bought from Asda (K-Mart) for a few pounds)<\/p>\n

    Buy some kiln gloves \/ gauntlets. These are a must if you are planning on emptying a hot kiln. I do that all the time because I am always impatient to see the pieces after firing! But take care \u2013 the heat is extreme when you open the kiln door and when you pick up the shelf, be prepared to move quickly! Because that thing is hot too and you can feel it through your gloves.<\/p>\n

    You can, of course leave the kiln to cool naturally but that will take a few hours. I certainly don’t have the patience for THAT!!<\/p>\n

    \u00a0Kiln Maintenance<\/span><\/h3>\n

    Kilns are easy to look after and usually have very little that goes wrong with them. But there are consumables that need to be replaced on occasion.<\/p>\n

    Themocouple<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

    This is the piece of equipment that helps regulate the internal firing chamber of a kiln. I have had my SC2 for 8 years and I have had to change it 3 times. It\u2019s an easy thing to do and there are some great videos on YouTube showing you how.<\/p>\n

    Maintaining firing temperature<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

    Normally your kiln will have its own firing variations and what I mean by that, is that it is perfectly possible for your kiln to be firing off temperature by a few degrees. Now in the case of one of my students, it meant that the first time she fired at 900o<\/sup>C \u2013 her pieces melted. Now that\u2019s extreme and to be honest, it was the first time I\u2019d heard of that happening, but it can and you should be aware. You can get pyrometric cones to test the internal temperature of your kiln at certain points, which means you can adjust your firing temperature accordingly. If you are in any doubt, speak to your Kiln supplier.<\/p>\n

    I hope that\u2019s helped! Buying a kiln is an investment and one that should be carefully considered. One of the things that helped me make the decision was that second hand kilns sell very well on Ebay \u2013 so if I wanted to, I could sell it and get a fair bit of money back!<\/p>\n

    <\/h3>\n

    Until next time!<\/span><\/h3>\n

    Emma xxx<\/span><\/h3>\n

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