Kiln Question...

[epiphanyglass]

I really (really, really) want a kiln. But....DH is worried about the electric bill. Can anyone tell me how much difference it makes. I'm not wanting a monster kiln, maybe something like Delphi's EZ Pro 15-6. 

[Tom]

I have an Olympic 14 inch square kiln, 120 volt, 15 amp.  Now I dont use it every day or sometimes even every week.  I just dont have time, but when I have time and the inclination I may use it making an average of 2 firings a day (they can take up to 12 hours or more each), and I may use it 3 days or more in a row.  2 months ago my electric bill was 20 to 25 dollars more than usual,,,,,,BUT I cant say it was because of my kiln use.  The kiln may have had something to do with the bill going up, but I was also using my table saw, electric drill, my large drill press, a chop saw, an electric miter saw, electric meat smoker, among other regular stuff.

If you use it for 2 firings a day every day I would imagine you will have a much bigger bill, and when you first get a new kiln, that might be what you want to do.  Play with it and learn how it works and all that...after all a new toy is a new toy...lol... but unless you are giving up all other glass work and only going to use the kiln for your glass work, I would imagine you will settle into a routine, probably not like my routine, but something where you wont be firing every day.  My opinion is it should not be a big problem for the bill once your routine is established.

But if worse comes to worse, tell the DH to get a second job!  You deserve it!

  

[Becki]

I really (really, really) want a kiln. But....DH is worried about the electric bill. Can anyone tell me how much difference it makes. I'm not wanting a monster kiln, maybe something like Delphi's EZ Pro 15-6.  

Not as much as you think. Considering that your kiln is only on 5-10% of the time you're firing it probably costs less than running a clothes dryer.

[Marsha]

Hasn't changed my bill but very slightly......or I would have heard about it from DH!!

[gws732]

My husband watched to see how ours was and it changed only a few dollars. Doubt he would hardly notice it and complain.

[Kev]

I have a large oval kiln and at one time was running it almost daily and only noticed a small increase.

[JudyK]

Same here. My husband figured our big kiln takes about $5 a firing, for contract purposes. But I only fire occasionally. I spend way more time preparing for the firing. The little kiln is probably much less than that.

[Stephen Richard]

Look at the Kwh rating of your desired kiln.  If it is a small one it can be fired at ca. 400C to 800C.  That will take two hours.  Multiply 2 times the Kwh rating times the rate for your electricity and you will have a slight overestimate of the cost of one fuse firing.  Slump firings will be a bit less as the top temperature is less. 

[epiphanyglass]

Thanks everyone! I just might get a sweet Christmas present. And, Tom, I would put him to work but he's kinda working on fighting this cancer thing he's got going on so I figure he's got his plate full. Otherwise, heck yeah, that would be the perfect solution! Does anyone actually have that particular kiln? If not, what do you have or what would you recommend for a newbie?

[Kev]

My thoughts are with you and husband. I wish him health and strength.

I have an Olympic kiln and a Jen Ken kiln. Of the 2, my preference lies with the Jen Ken.  My reason for this is that on the Jen Ken kiln, the elements are set in a grooved enclosing channel, and do not depend on pins to hold it in place as is the case for the Olympic. As elements get older, they can warp and start to drop out of the channel if it is not of the type that actually holds the element/coil in place. I've had to pin my element back into place on the Olympic. This also causes kiln dust to drop on your glass, so I have been more reluctant to use it. Olympic may have changed their construction of the kiln lids since my purchase. Other than that, I do like the Olympic as well.

Make sure you opt for a quartz window so you can view what is going on inside the kiln, and get one larger than you think you need because you WILL want a larger one in a very short time and you need to have some flexibility to be able to try different techniques, and for that you need space.

[Scope Builder]

I have an Olympic Square 18" 110 volt kiln with a 12 key controller.  You can put in your rate per kilowatt hr and the controller will show the cost at the end of the firing.  I figured about $3 per firing on average. 

I can put you in touch with a lady that can save you 30% on a new Olympic kiln.  PM me if you are interested.  I bought mine through her and I even called Olympic before-hand to make sure she was on the up-n-up.  The deal worked like a charm.  They are northeast of Atlanta, GA just in case you want to pick it up at the factory like I did.  Then you can stop in and see Rebecca while you are at it.

Don't let voltage be an issue most 240 volt equipment is more efficient than 120 Volt equipment.  I bought 120 volt because I didn't have access to 240 volt service

[gws732]

I have the Hot Start pro by Shutt.  As Kev said now wish I had one bigger. I love mine and it does most things I want to do but I can see doing some bigger things in the future. It is easy to use , has a 13' round shelf, heating elements in the lid and 110 volt. I have mine on a metal table in the floor at a height that makes it easy for me to put things in with my short 5'2" frame. It does have legs but made it to short even for me to just sit in the floor by itself. I thought the price was what I could afford and still be happy with it.

[Scope Builder]

If you are shopping for kilns look at square kilns.  An 18" square kiln offers much more shelf than an 18" octagon kiln.