FrogBlog
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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Why is my Kiln or Oven Not Heating Properly?
Let's be honest... using a kiln comes with its share of emotional ups and downs.
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Everyone Needs a Good First Aid Kit!
A good first aid kit is a must in all studios and workshops, as accidents can happen anytime, anywhere, and it’s better to be prepared than to find yourself scrambling around for a bandage or disinfectant. Been there, done that! Let's face it... we all know it's gonna happen! A small cut may seem insignificant at the time, but if it gets infected you could be out of action for weeks. This is especially important in a teaching environment so, if you have students, make sure you are prepared! An effective first aid kit provides plasters, bandages, scissors, tweezers, and antiseptic wipes, as well as burn ointment, eye wash, and gauze pads. Here are links to our favorite First Aid Kit essentials: Johnson & Johnson Red Cross All Purpose First Aid Kit Clean, treat, protect, and care for cuts, scrapes, minor burns, itches, pain, skin rashes and insect bites with the Johnson & Johnson Red Cross All Purpose First Aid Kit. This versatile kit contains 140 first aid essentials, including cleansing wipes, gauze pads, antibiotic ointment, itch stopping cream, acetaminophen caplets, an instant cold pack, bandages, non-stick pads, rolled gauze, and more. Supplies come packaged in a durable, plastic box that keeps your items accessible, and organized! Medipoint Splinter Out Splinter Remover If you have anything in your studio or workshop, this is a MUST! Maybe, we should have made it #1... as everyone who works in glass knows that those splinters are the worst! Splinter Out is better than a needle because it is steam autoclave sterilized, and has a sharp tri-bevel point that is designed for loosening and pulling out splinters. There are 20 sterile splinter removers per box. Wall Mountable Eye and Skin Flush Station Eyewash Stations are critical! They are intended to mitigate eye injuries when control methods (eyeglasses or protective eyewear) do not prevent exposure to a physical or chemical irritant or biological agent. This Eye and Skin Flush Station includes two bottles of eye isotonic buffered solution with wall mount. Plus, an eyecup for easily focusing the fluid stream into affected eyes. Natural Burn Ointment / Silver Sulfadiazine Cream When you accidentally touch the bead or piece of metal because it looks cool... it becomes pretty important to have a good burn cream close by! FYI... This was actually the first thing I ever used from our first aid kit! ASAP365 Silver Gel by American Biotech Labs is formulated using their unique and patented 20 PPM SilverSol Technology solution. This silver gel can not only help to hydrate your skin but has also been shown to promote natural healing so, it's perfect to use as a natural burn ointment. WARNING: If you have a sulfur allergy, this is NOT for you! Keep in mind that a first aid kit is meant to be used to treat minor cuts, abrasions, and burns. You should never rely on a first aid kit to handle more severe injuries. As an Amazon Associate, Kiln Frog may earn from qualifying purchases.
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Kiln Q&A
Learning from others is at the heart of the kiln community. So, I thought everyone would enjoy some Q&A as we just love to share knowledge and information! When using or buying a kiln... this extra insight not only saves you time but, often money, too! Can a small test kiln accurately duplicate the firing of my larger pottery kiln? A digital controller on a test kiln can duplicate the firing of a large kiln. Find a test kiln that has a simple 3-key controller. It won't have all the features of the more expensive 12-key controller, nevertheless, it can slow the cooling to whatever speed you want. Keep in mind that most 120-volt kilns are rated to 2000 F so, make sure you use one that is rated to 2300 F. Examples for great small test kilns are the Paragon Caldera Digital and the Olympic HB86E. I need a small kiln that can be moved often. What do you recommend? Since you are going to move the kiln frequently, we would suggest a fiber kiln. They are lighter than firebrick kilns. However, you can move a small, tabletop firebrick kiln without damaging it, you just need to be extra careful. Whether you get a fiber or firebrick kiln, its a good idea to save the carton and foam packing from the original shipment. The packing is designed to protect the kiln. Also, be sure to place a sheet of foam packing material between the kiln body and door or lid whenever you move a kiln for extra security. Is there a reason to buy a ceramic shelf instead of a fiber shelf? A ceramic shelf is recommended for activities like pattern bars, pot melts, high fires, or any there techniques that requires temp to be held at 1450F or above. A fiber shelf will be marred by these activities and won't stay smooth as the glass moves. Can a kiln be safely operated on a wooden work table? Yes, but it's not ideal! You will need a liner to buffer the heat. We recommend a concrete board, i.e. hardy-backer or Duraboard, or at the minimum, a double layer of ceramic tiles. It is easy to find at your local hardware store, and it's fireproof so it will protect the table and the area. Metal is always the preferred surface for a kiln table or cart. I'm curious how hot a fiber kiln gets on the outside vs. a conventional kiln? A fiber kiln reflects heat internally and a brick kiln absorbs the heat, so a fiber kiln will not be as hot on the outside. With that said, at a full fuse (1480F) the kiln might be 200-300F degrees on the outside. Is it worth the extra cost for a solid state or mercury relay on a new kiln? Glass fusing kilns are much harder on relays than ceramic kilns because of the very long glass annealing times that are typical with glass. (The glass is cooled slowly during annealing.) The same holds true for heat treating, crystalline glazes, bead annealing or any kiln that is holding temp for a long period. With that in mind, we think the optional mercury relay or solid state relays are well worth the money. They cut down on maintenance and help you elements last longer too! How much heat is lost through a kiln’s bead doors when mandrels are inside? With bead mandrels extending out past the bead door of a kiln, there is some loss of heat, but it is minor. In our opinion, not enough to make a difference. The kiln's digital controller and thermocouple will sense any differential and accommodate for this by firing the elements when needed to make up for any heat loss. Do I need a top load or a front load glass kiln? Top load kilns offer the most size for the cost. They can fire most glass projects but they are not good for projects that require manipulating the glass during the firing as the artist is subjected directly to the heat when the lid is opened nor are they recommended for bead annealing. Front load kilns are better for bead annealing and manipulating glass during the firing. They are also easier to load with large glass projects on the kilns shelves. What type of kiln is best for copper enameling? Copper enameling is best done in a front-loading kiln. This is because the copper pieces are removed while red-hot. When you open the door of a front-loading kiln and remove the piece with an enameling fork, you are comfortably out of the way of the rising heat. Removing an enameled piece from a top-loading kiln is more awkward and can be dangerous. Before opening the kiln to remove the piece, always turn off the power to the elements, which may mean turning the kiln off if your kiln did not come with a power interrupt switch. To enamel another piece, you can turn the power back on after you have closed the kiln door. To check out an example take a look at the Paragon SC2. How is depth measured in a kiln? The interior depth is always front-to-back for a kiln with a door and top-to-bottom for a kiln with a lid. For outside kiln dimensions, depth is the distance from the front to the back. For glass, do I need elements in the top and sides or only the top? Glass does not like temperature variation. Though top elements offer even heating across a flat piece of glass, top and sidewall elements are recommended for firing tall or deep pieces with molds. Side elements offer more even heating of the sides of drape molds or deep castings. Basically, the deeper you want to slump, the more side elements become necessary. How do I get a wide ceramic kiln through a 32” doorway? Many top-loading ceramic kilns are sectional. You can disassemble them and carry the sections through narrow doorways or downstairs. It can take some time for a beginner to disassemble and reassemble a sectional kiln. If the kiln is front-loading, you can temporarily remove the door handle and the back element cover. If necessary, you could also remove the door itself. Please have a kiln technician remove and reinstall the door for you if you do not feel comfortable with the project. An example of a kiln that is structured in sections is the Olympic 2827HE. Have more questions? Call us... as always, we are happy to help!
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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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Opaline Overlays
Bullseye Glass Quick Tip: This Quick Tip shows you the beauty of Opaline sheet glass! Amazing on its own—also a great tool to expand your color palette in kilnforming, creating new colors with distinct properties. As an overlay, expect subtle changes when fired over light value styles and more dramatic effects over dark values. Style codes for glasses above:White (000113-0030), Driftwood Gray (000132-0030), Elephant Gray (000206-0030), Deco Gray (000136-0030), Slate Gray (000236-0030), Black (000100-0030)
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The Color Purple
Did you know that Purple was the 2018 Color of the Year? Specifically, the chosen hue is PANTONE 18-3838, most commonly known as Ultra Violet. That's interesting... because, by definition, actual "ultraviolet" light is invisible. "Each color of the year encompasses something about fashion, decorating and design trends while also reflecting what's needed in our world today," said Pantone Color Institute's vice president, Laurie Pressman. Last year's color of the year was a "life-affirming" shade of green. The year before, it was a pairing of rose quartz and serene blue that was seen as "anti-stress". So, what does Purple have to say about our planet in 2018? According to Pantone, Ultra Violet is a dramatically provocative and thoughtful purple shade that communicates originality, ingenuity, and visionary thinking, all of which point us toward the future. Historically, mysterious purples have been symbolic of unconventionality and artistic brilliance. Musical icons Prince, David Bowie, and Jimi Hendrix brought shades of Ultra Violet to the forefront of western pop culture as personal expressions of individuality and creativity. There has also been a mystical or spiritual quality attached to Ultra Violet. The color is often associated with mindfulness practices, which offer a higher ground to those seeking refuge from today’s over-stimulated world. The use of purple-toned lighting in meditation spaces and other gathering places energizes the communities that gather there and inspire connection. So, whether you're a lover of Purple Rain or Purple Haze... it's time to crank up the volume and get creative!
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