Are any of these kilns any good?

[tobymac420]

Hey guys. So i am trying to start up on a budget. I know not the best wast but still im trying. I am currently reading contemporary lampworking about half way through. Seriously that book is so interesting. So i am looking for a kiln on craigslist. All you seem to run across is pottery kilns but i was told by someone these work. I don't want to buy any kiln without some knowledge from people who know. I have a 240 Watt plug setup for the kiln if i have to get a larger one i will. Here are some of my choices. No frontloaders like i was hoping for. I have looked for 5 months and never seen a frontloader on craigslist. Also i was told their was a great article about using cermaic kilns for glass. I have searched all over here for in as it was on the forum. If anyone can could you link me to it.

Knight Ceramic Kiln $75... Needs work but i figured if i offered $50 i could get it fixed up for maybe $200.
http://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/art/3349105110.html

Duncan Ceramic Kiln
http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwi/art/3357686432.html

Paragon Kiln
http://chicago.craigslist.org/sox/art/3354377959.html

Knight Kiln
http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwi/art/3348302483.html

Last the only glass kiln i have found
http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/art/3344796109.html

I know its not ideal but i appreciate you guys helping me in this chapter of my life. I just need a start as I am sure all of you did at some point. STAY AWESOME!


Toby Mac

[TobsterGlass]

As you said those kilns aren't ideal for starting in glass. They're bulky, take long to fire up and unless you have a high shelf you'll need to get gloves so you dont burn your arms. I'm actually about to upgrade my kiln if you're interested in getting one locally for cheap. Its not as big as those but its done awesome for me. Its a JenKen manual 9x9.

[notsure]

The only one that would be reasonable would be the last one (evenheat kiln). Your going to be going through a lot of energy and time working on those larger kilns if they need fixing. Also don't have digital controls so keeping heat at the right temp will be difficult and annealing properly you can forget about unless you add digital.

First Kiln I owned was similar to the evenheat and works fine, but having the kiln elements on top eventually started falling out (down) and was annoying. Also cannot get good anneal with out digital. Price is alright for that kiln for a starter as long as it's in good condition.

Anyway, good luck!!

[tobymac420]

I emailed you Toby :)

From, Toby

[maxtsunami]

You probably want a digital controller, otherwise you'd have to sit by your kiln for a couple hours, more if you were trying to kiln strike. Those all have analog controllers.

[tobymac420]

I knew i would need a digital control. Hopefully me and Toby can work out something. If not though how hard is it to install a digital control?

[maxtsunami]

Not terribly difficult, but more work than it's worth. Controllers can be like 300$. If I were you i'd buy a front loading paragon, glasshive, or aim.

[Role]

If not though how hard is it to install a digital control?

How experienced are you with electricity and electronics ?

A digital controller requires a transformer to drop the voltage and a rectifier to convert it to DC.

Then a relay, switched on/off by the digital controller, is used to power the elements.

So, 120V/240V split parallel, one side to the transformer to power the controller and SSR.
Then the other side of the split goes to the relay to power the elements.

On pro style kilns the relay setup is two stage with a MDR as the second stage for greater safety/reliability.

[TobsterGlass]

Digital is not needed for a "Good anneal". People have been annealing glass for I don't even know how long without a digital read and control. If you can afford the extra $150+ it usually is for a digital model then go for it. But that money could be spent else wear. I prefer my manual. Saved me money and keeps me aware.

[Role]

Digital is not needed for a "Good anneal". People have been annealing glass for I don't even know how long without a digital read and control.

Very true.

And it can be more accurate with a $50ish digital pyrometer.

[tobymac420]

Luckily tobster is a awesome dude. I think I will be getting my ideal kiln :).

[maxtsunami]

Digital is not needed for a "Good anneal". People have been annealing glass for I don't even know how long without a digital read and control. If you can afford the extra $150+ it usually is for a digital model then go for it. But that money could be spent else wear. I prefer my manual. Saved me money and keeps me aware.

True, I won't deny it, but if you want to run a striking cycle it could get really tedious as you would have to regularly check the kiln for about 5 hours. If you're home with nothing to do, then fine, but I can imagine needing to run back and forth between my shop and wherever else I wanted to be as getting annoying.

[aREa541]

Any kind of proper anneal would have you babysitting the kiln. You need to drop the temp at and below the stress point slowly, especially if the piece is thick. Most lampworker kilns drop temp too quickly if you just crash it after garaging all day. MANY glass blowers "anneal" their glass by keeping it in a 1050 oven all day then just turning it off. More than likely this is not properly annealing the piece. You can do it and pieces will not crack on you at all. If it has any stress it will be tiny stress fractures that can only be seen with a polariscope. Hard to say how long it would take for those stress fractures to grow into a visible crack, probably past our lifetimes? Not sure.

Food for thought at least for someone just getting in the game. I would put money on the fact that most pipes would fail the polariscope test. I know the first few thousand I made would of.

[Ikensel]

what you might also consider is what your intention for glass blowing is. I melt once or twice a week because I have a Job for support. Im in the studio, AKA shed and can watch my kiln( AIM 99LS) analog without the digi. AllStyles is melting full time very experienced and pushing glass full time( I think) his needs are way different than mine and Marktsunami seems to be realitively new to glass and might have even different needs short term and long term.
So consider, is this a hobby, profession or something your progressing into. Get the best Safe and preferrably front loading kiln you can afford without breaking the bank.