kiln ?

[Amber]

so yes, I'd love to buy a new toy but I can't afford to spend the high hundreds or low thousands so I've been scouring for used and I just can't find anything in my price range near by (withing 4 hours driving or so).
While I've read that you can use ceramic kilns and slower temps is this actually realistic?? I can find smaller ceramic kilns within a days drive back and forth, or reasonable shipping, but I'm hesitant without more feed back. Or is there some sort of great site for finding used small glass kilns out there?

[Rebecca]

I use a ceramic kiln.  They don't usually have temperature gauges and never have controllers.  You can buy a Type K pyrometer and you can see the temperature and control it by setting a timer and checking it regularly, then adjusting as it needs it.  If you keep good notes, after awhile you will get a feel for how it works and you won't need to check it as often.

Rebecca

[Kev]

Now that sounds like a real pain in the U-Know-What..LOL.

Have you checked Craig's list for your area?

[Becki]

As Rebecca said, she, as well as many others, use ceramic kilns for glass and it is different from learning with a glass kiln.  A glass kiln also has top elements while a ceramic only has side elements so if you ever want to switch over to a glass kiln you'll be learning to write schedules all over again! Not a major thing but kind of like starting from scratch!

I personally wouldn't want a kiln without a digi controller.

[Glassic]

Have you checked Whittemore-Durgin? They might have something not on their website.

[Scooch]

Continualy check Craigslist.  I found my kiln there.  It is to small to do much in the way of fusing but it works great for my needs and only cost $50.00.  In the search for my kiln I did see many others there.  Just keep checking it daily.

[Amber]

craigs list isn't really used here, we're more of a kijiji province *lol and nothing is coming up within driving distance :(. I'm thinking I may look at ceramic kilns if folks can use them though, happy to hear that.
I just got back from an afternoon at the local shop setting up some bowls that they're gonna fire for me *woohoo*!

[Rebecca]

As Rebecca said, she, as well as many others, use ceramic kilns for glass and it is different from learning with a glass kiln.  A glass kiln also has top elements while a ceramic only has side elements so if you ever want to switch over to a glass kiln you'll be learning to write schedules all over again! Not a major thing but kind of like starting from scratch!

I personally wouldn't want a kiln without a digi controller.

Not quite from scratch!  All kilns are different and even a new glass kiln will take a little practice to get a handle on those differences.  I have a glass kiln and use it also.  It is smaller than the ceramics kiln, so I use the larger one more often.  The glass kiln has elements in the lid only and the ceramics kiln has elements in the sides only, but there is not much difference in the programs I use for them.

Rebecca

[Becki]

Ok, maybe I exaggerated a tiny bit!  Yes all kilns are different and it does take getting used to a new one.  A glass kiln, depending on the size, can have elements in the top and in the sides.  A kiln with elements in the sides only heats the glass from the edges and usually needs a slower schedule than a kiln with elements in the top that heats the entire surface of the glass.