FrogBlog
The Fear of Buying your First Kiln
Don't sweat it! We've got you covered.From glass to pottery, heat treating to annealing... we have handled thousands of questions that revolve around buying your first kiln. So, we thought we would share our favorite nuggets of advice from some of our most frequent questions.Q1: I am considering buying my first kiln. The choices and information seem overwhelming as they all look so similar. How do I know which one is right for me?It can be an instant information overload. We think that choosing a kiln becomes simpler when you narrow the search with these factors: The size of the electric circuit in your studio... your kiln choice will be limited by the number of amps available. The size of the kiln... estimate how much firing chamber space you need. For glass and clay, you may also want to consider the shelf size, too! Front loading or top loading, a choice with real consequences for ergonomics, capacity, and price. Max firing temperature. After you reduced the kiln selection search with those four factors and make a list of models that you are considering. Then, compare those kilns and manufacturers in greater detail. This process will make everything better, promise!Q2: I’m nervous about ordering my first kiln... and, have so many questions. Do you have any pointers that will help? We totally understand that ordering a kiln can be complicated. But, it doesn’t have to be. Here is a great checklist to help you avoid any issues: Is your dealer knowledgeable about firing? This can be as important as the price of the kiln. What about warranty repair? Make sure you understand how the manufacturer handles the warranty. If comparison shopping, have you asked about the cost of crating or residential delivery? Are you paying extra for the stand as some are not included? Do you need to order a kiln shelf? Most kilns do not include them. Do you have a covered, well-ventilated location for the kiln, protected from the weather? Is the area free of flammable materials? If you are going to use the garage, plan on parking the car in the driveway during firing. Is the kiln room large enough? You will need 12" of additional clearance on all sides of the kiln during operation. We do not recommend small, enclosed rooms such as closets. Will the kiln fit through the doorway? Measure to be sure. Sounds crazy but, we know of cases where doorways had to be torn down to move the kiln into the firing room. Are you sure about voltage and electrical phase? 240 and 208-volt outlets cause confusion because they look the same. Check with your electrician, if in doubt. Ordering a kiln of the wrong voltage can be very difficult to remedy! Will you need special wiring? Figure this into your budget before ordering the kiln. Q3: How will putting a kiln in my garage affect my homeowner’s insurance? Our friends at Paragon shared this info regarding homeowner’s insurance: Some insurance companies simply don't insure kilns. No matter what you tell them, they won't change their minds. Other insurance companies need extra information--i.e., the kiln is UL Listed--before they will OK the kiln. If they need more information about safety, we will be glad to supply it from the manufacturer. Still, other insurance companies have no problem with kilns and don't even care if you have one. A properly installed and operated electric kiln is very safe. Do not leave it unattended during operation, and disconnect the power when not in use. Keep flammable materials out of the firing room. If you fire the kiln in a garage, remove cans of paint and gasoline. Store them in a separate building such as a garden shed. If you follow these basic rules and the others listed in the manual, your kiln will be a source of joy rather than of worry.As always, if you need help or have questions... call us! We are happy to help!
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Increasing the Life of your Firebrick Kiln
Throughout the years, we have seen 10+ year old kilns with firebricks that are still in pristine condition and relatively new kilns that looked like they had been dropped from a three-story roof. It's pretty easy to tell when a kiln has been cared for and given that extra level of TLC or, what we like to call "KLC"... Kiln Loving Care! Here are a few tips from Arnold Howard at Paragon Industries on how to give your firebrick kiln that extra Kiln Loving Care: 1. Vaccuuming is a must. Vacuum the kiln interior regularly using the soft brush nozzle of a vacuum cleaner. Be sure to vacuum the element grooves, the inner surface of the kiln lid or roof, and the underside of kiln shelves and be gentle when you touch the firebricks with the nozzle. Vacuuming the grooves is essential if you have had anything explode inside the kiln. Pieces of greenware that lodge inside the grooves can burn out an element. Vacuum the kiln often if you use silica sand on the shelves. The sand, which is used to support ware during firing, can ruin the elements if it filters down into an element groove. As you vacuum the kiln, examine the walls for glass or glaze particles that have embedded into the firebricks. Dig these out carefully. Otherwise the particles will embed deeper into the firebrick during the next firing. 2. Kiln Wash is your friend. Apply kiln wash, liquid kiln coating or glass separator to the kiln’s firebrick bottom. But keep kiln wash away from the walls and elements. On Kiln Frog you can find kiln wash for glass and kiln wash for ceramic. 3. Dry your greenware. If possible, do not fire moist greenware. It should be bone-dry and warm to the touch. If you must fire moist greenware, wait until all signs of vapor have disappeared before heating past 200 degrees F. The moisture at higher temperatures is not good for the firebricks and can cause the greenware to explode. 4. Be gentle. Lower the kiln lid (or close the kiln door) gently. Slamming the lid can crack the lid the first time it happens. Fully disengage the lid support before lowering the lid. Forcing the lid downward can break the bricks near the lid hinge. From time to time, check the condition of the lid support. 5. Keep closed. Keep the lid closed when you are not using the kiln. This keeps dust out and prevents the lid from dropping while you are away from the kiln. Do not store anything inside the kiln. 6. Level it. The kiln stand should be level and rock-steady. An unleveled stand can stress the firebricks. A stand that rocks can cause the kiln to move when jarred, knocking over ware against the sidewalls inside the kiln. 7. Don't lean on me. Do not lean too heavily against the firebrick walls while loading and unloading. Some people use a small stepladder to reach into a deep kiln. You can also cut a piece of plywood to fit across the wall that helps protect the wall during loading. 8. Try not to touch. During loading and unloading, do not touch the sidewalls of the kiln with anything. Do not allow a shelf to bump into the firebricks. The extra time and care you spend loading and unloading may add years of life to your kiln. 9. Always look for drips. If glaze, glass, or other materials drip onto a kiln wall or the kiln bottom, repair before the next firing. Otherwise these materials will remelt and embed deeper into the firebricks. Remove the contaminant by scraping gently with a putty knife. If you remove kiln wash from the kiln bottom, apply a fresh coat to the bare spot. 10. Don't worry! Do not be concerned about small cracks that appear in the firebricks. The cracks are normal and act as expansion joints. During firing, they close tightly. Finally, if a firebrick edge breaks off, don’t stress. The damage is usually slight and does not affect the firings, and can easily be repaired with our Firebrick Kiln Repair Kit.
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