Maybe I'm about to get lucky ;)

[Amber]

I'm honestly jealous reading everyone's response to Marsha's post about the kiln upgrade, most of you really keep an eye on craigslist and with a little patience the right kiln comes along. I've spent the past few months watching the Canadian version (kijiji) and across Canada I can count all the glass kilns for sale on one hand *lol, we seem to have fewer glass ones second hand on the market :(. Anyways I've knew that next year I'd be buying a new larger kiln but it's something I was going to have to save up for, then today I think I got super lucky!!!! A lady vendor across the way mentioned that she's focusing more on gem stone cutting and working with a stronger focus on high end jewelery and that she has 3 kilns at home and she'd sell me one of hers!  I asked a few questions and I guess she picked up a paragon 22 frontloader 7 years ago while in the states, she's a snowbird and lives in Florida from mid December until June, so she got this kiln on a whim for a  good deal and has hardly used it since she works with her other two. And even those she hardly uses anymore *lol.
I was hesitant at first, even a good price would be more then I could afford right now for something like that but this woman is giving me an amazing price just to get it out of the way! It retails for between $2000 to $2500 US so my price would be much higher after ordering it to Canada, plus she's including the rolling stand and furniture and all for $500 bucks!!!!! I'm going to make arrangements to pick it up in Nova Scotia before she travels down on the 16th or so and cross my fingers it's not too good to be true!!!!

[Barbara]

Wow, This sounds great Amber. 

[ct4mom]

Oh Amber I'm so happy for you. Those deals dont come around too often. I know you wont believe it till you see it and get it in your car that the same feeling I had driving all the way to NC for mine. But the lady was awesome and so was the kiln. Good luck

[Amber]

I'm hoping it all comes together *cross my fingers*. She said at this point in her life she really wants to focus on her love of cutting stones, she's 70 years old (but doesn't look it at all) and says it's time to have fun and do what makes her happy and I guess the new challenges are really up her ally!
I know she'd like to leave for Florida earlier and it's just a couple dental appointments keeping her here, this New Brunswick show is her last one of the season and after Sunday she goes back home to Nova Scotia to wrap things up to leave around the 16th. My hubby himself comes back on the 7th/8th so after he's done work this coming week we're going to drive down and have a look at it, then try to figure out how to get it into our vehicle *lol. I still can't get over the deal she's giving me, I know for her it's a dust collector but if she wanted to ask for more she'd certainly find a buyer who could buy it right now for a higher price, i appreciate the break though! That and I really like the lady and I gotta say so long as she doesn't change her mind and the kiln works then I'll be so happy :). It was really nice to meet someone like her, it's hard to explain but she's not at all like I expected..... the lady has more game then I first thought *lol.

[Malinda]

awesome news....good for you!

[Lady Helen]

Happy for you! You must have been a good girl this year and she is Mrs. Claus in disguise. ;)

[Kev]

She shots she scores...BIGTIME!!!!!! Way to go Amber..congrats!!!!!!!

[Audrey]

Sounds like it was worth the wait. I am thrilled for you.

[Becki]

Amber, I don’t know whether you assemble your work in the kiln or out but you might want to consider it when looking at this kiln.  Some front loaders can be difficult to assemble work in the kiln and difficult to rearrange pieces if they move while putting a shelf in the kiln. I don’t know how big the opening is on this kiln but it’s just a thought and something you should pay close attention to. Just a thought.

[Kev]

That thought crossed my mind as well. I suspect she was using it to anneal beads?

[Amber]

Good thought, I assemble in the kitchen and then walk the work to the kiln but one of the things I like is being able to see if anything shifted before I turn it on... it'll be harder with this one. The internal chamber is 22" square and 13" deep so I can play but my view won't be as good as I have it now. I was originally looking at 22" square clamshells for my next kiln, but for the price I'm willing to bend my wishlist *L.

The other funny thing is this kiln will go in the garage, it has the right wiring already installed and I don't know if I can fit both kilns in my current work room. I don't look forward to the idea of walking down the stairs to get to the garage with prepped kiln shelves but what can you do, hubby will have to take out a bunch of stuff and move it to the shed (oils and what not) and take down some shelving so that the truck, his tools and the new kiln can all coexist in peace ;) .

[Marsha]

YAY Amber!!   I am so happy for you!!

[Anne]

sounds like a great find if you can make it work for you.  Congratulations

[Judy K]

Wow! That is an awesome find!!!!!!!!! I paid $3200 for all the stuff you mentioned, a little over a year ago. that includes shipping. Mine is a semi clam shell though. My friend has the one you describe and the front loading aspect is not a problem for her. It is a real work horse!!!!!! You may want to use glue more often when setting up. I love a drop of "White rain" hair spray to hold things in place.

$500 ....... Oh my gosh. For that price you could order any new parts and still be way ahead. Wow!

Merry Christmas!