FrogBlog
What Can a Kiln Be Used For? 8 Uses
Kilns boast a long history, having been employed by different cultures for millennia. They can generate and maintain high temperatures, making them incredibly versatile tools.
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Bringing Home Your New Kiln
Many artists assume they need to rent a dedicated space to work on kiln-glass projects. But you can accomplish a lot in a home studio with just a kiln, a table or bench, and some basic tools. In this Bullseye Glass short 4-part video lesson, they set up a home studio around a Paragon Fiber Fuse-16, a compact top-loading kiln used in many home studios. Plus, they cover basics like tools, furniture, and other equipment; where to place your kiln; and how to prepare for your first firing. Additionally, safety in your new studio is always important! Here are some things to consider: Good housekeeping and common sense go a long way toward ensuring safety in the kiln forming studio. Ventilate your studio well, keep dust to a minimum, and confine hazardous materials to a limited area. Avoid eating and drinking in the studio. Toxins and dust are easily ingested when you handle food and kiln-working materials in the same space. Wash your hands upon leaving the studio. If you can’t change clothes, wear a smock or apron while you work. To avoid tracking dust and toxins to other locations, consider dedicating a pair of shoes to studio use only. Thoroughly read the manual and other information provided by the manufacturer. Operate your kiln in a well-ventilated area. Full-fuse firings of glass on primed shelves will not release fumes, but firings that involve fibers, enamels, glazes, and other materials can. Avoid burns by wearing protective clothing. Use heatresistant gloves whenever opening a hot kiln. Always turn off the power before reaching into a hot kiln (for example, during glass combing or other manual forming). Protect your eyes. Looking into a hot kiln for prolonged periods of time exposes your eyes to potentially damaging infrared light. Excessive exposure can cause cataracts. Wear safety glasses with protective ANSI shade 1.7 lenses. Didymium glasses used for flameworking DO NOT provide protection from infrared light. Want more on specific hazards, check out Bullseye Safety in the Kiln-Glass Studio!
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When the Kiln Lid Flakes...
Great information about kiln lid repairs from our friends at Paragon... At Paragon, they coat the inner lid surface of all kilns to reduce brick dust. Sometimes the refractory coating is too thick so, it will blister and flake off when the kiln is fired. An especially thick coating looks like a network of peeling cracks similar to a dried mud puddle. This cracking is due to the difference in expansion between the firebricks and the coating. Conversely, correctly applied kiln coating will look like it disappeared after the kiln has been fired. The good news is that cracked lid coating is easy to repair. Just lightly remove the blistering coating with sandpaper and apply a new coat of liquid kiln repair cement. Keep in mind that the natural tendency is to apply too much lid coating because it just looks better than a thin layer. If done correctly, you should still be able to see the firebrick pores under the coating! First, shake the container very well! Then, pour some of the coating into a bowl. Make sure to stir it just before you apply it to the firebricks. Apply the coating with a large, soft sponge. Moisten the sponge with water; then squeeze out the excess... this is a very important step! Dip the sponge into the bowl of kiln coating. Wipe the coating over the lid surface. Do not let excess coating run into the element grooves of the kiln. Applying a light coat will prevent this from happening. If the coating drips along the edges of the grooves, remove by wiping a cotton swab or rag along the groove. Many people have asked us... "What is the difference between kiln cement and Liquid Kiln Coating? Can a lid be coated with a thin mixture of kiln cement?" The answer is YES! Kiln cement thinned with water will work as a lid coating. Liquid Kiln Coating is simply a mixture of kiln cement, fine brick dust, a gumming agent, and water. The great news is that lid coating lasts for several years. So, it's not something you need to worry about on a daily basis. But, if you start getting kiln brick dust on your work, maybe it's time to re-apply. Some kilns such as the Paragon CS-14S allow you to upgrade to a fiber top, which helps to keep your kiln cleaner and reduces the chance of debris in your pieces.
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