Selecting a Kiln

[frantzglass]

With so many different kilns available, it is a hard decision and it may be the biggest financial outlay that a beadmaker will make. For the most part, I think that all the kilns being sold are excellent. Fiber or Brick? Top loading/front loading. Elements encased in glass? Budget? Recommendations? I think that a little investigation into Kiln 101 would help. Talking to other beadmakers, checking out archives on ISG.ORG, how about going to websites or to actual supply shops? You have to weigh Price/Quality/Availability/Service/functions/pyrometer verses controller. If you make the right decision, your kiln should last for years, if not, opps.

Mike Frantz

[Stacylynne]

Mike
Yep true about making the wrong choice.
I have had a few friends that have had horror stories with the kilns they purchased, I have 3 kilns one biggin,,,,, and 2 small, One is a Mike Crowley Kiln that has been a work horse and a jen Ken, another work horse and an even heat hot box that does all my small stuff. If you are not well versed in kilns and what you want to use it for you can get into trouble........ Stacylynne

[jacinda]

Well does the stars align for me or what because that is what I have been doing for the last three days... Looking for a good kiln.

Since this IS THE BIGGEST PURCHASE I HAVE MADE ON MYSELF IN MY WHOLE LIFE.... EXEMPTING 2 CARS.....

I want to be soooooooooo careful and make the absolute right decision. while getting the best price.

Yet, I research kilns. I know I want it insulated with brick. A bead door.
But, The digital controller is holding me back because I dont know if I should hold off on buying more glass (which I do not want to do, causethen I can just sit there and look at my kiln for a month)
OR go for a kiln with no digital.........

One thing that intrigues me is I have been reading an insert in Corina's book. It says something about letting your beads set and just shutting the kiln off because the brick soaks the heat.
And none of hers has broke for 4 years............

WOULD THAT NOT BE BLISS FOR ME OR WHAT.. THEN I COULD ORDER THE KILN FROM FRANTZ AND THE GLASS.........

SO PLEASE TELL ME WHAT YA THINK..
I AM ALSO POSTING A THREAD ABOUT THIS SO HOPEFULLY I CAN GET A KIND OF PERCENTAGE OF OPINIONS.

This is so hard for me to make a decision like this cause I read so many different opinions.
Thanks for any help

[Stacylynne]

Jac I'll respond....... I like my digital I dont have to worry about it at all walk away to another part of the house and or yard and check it as I walk by. I cant tell you about the manual kilns but I do know that My little hot box I have to watch all the time adjusting the temp to what I want it to stay at when Im doing cabachons. I love the brick it retains the heat for ever. I hope others will chime in here. Your budget is something to consider here also, I say (if you can) buy the best kiln Your budget will allow. and down the road if you can (after youve made and annealed your beads and sold them get another kiln) Hope this helps........ Stacylynne

[BillBrach]

Jacinda,

Please do yourself a tiny favor and get the digital controller. In the long run, the little extra expense is nothing. In the short run, you will kick yourself for NOT getting the digital controller every time you have to go check the temp and lower the inifinte switch knob a little.

I'd even to willing to stick my neck out a little and say that kilns equipped with digial controllers are SAFER too. There have been several threads about kiln contents meltdown, both here and on ISGB. I KNOW that most (if not ALL) of those kilns were equipped with infinite switches. Infinite switches are really problematic in their desgin in the first place.

Yes, it is possible to mis-progam a d.c., but highly unlikely if you have read and watched the first run carefully. After that, they stay programmed at whatever you set. The only thing I'd say is that the Fuji d.c.'s are a little tricky to program, so look at other brands a little more carefully.

Bill