| If you're looking for a kiln, you've
come to the right place. But it can be overwhelming at first!
This page will give you an overview of the
different kinds of kilns, so you can start to narrow it down.
Buying-a-Kiln Tutorial This page is also
helpful. Selecting a Kiln
Things you need to consider:
 | The size of kiln you need (based on the room you
have as well as the size and quantity of pieces you want to fire)
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| The amount of power you have available.
Sometimes if you can't add a larger electrical circuit, this limits
the size of kiln you can get. You might need a 120v kiln (which
can't go any larger than about microwave sized), or one that runs on a
dryer outlet which is 240v 30 amps. (Don't even consider a gas
kiln unless you are experienced at kiln firing. They are much
more difficult to deal with.)
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| What you're using if for. Ceramics needs
higher temperatures than glass, enameling, PMC, china painting,
etc. So a "ceramic" kiln can always do other things,
but not all kilns get hot enough to do ceramics. Even within
ceramics, there is a variety of temperatures needed. A kilns
that fires earthenware or terra cotta ceramics doesn't need to get as
hot as a kiln that fires porcelain and stoneware.
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| Controls. Most kilns now are sold with
electronic controllers. With them you can program exactly how
you want the kiln to fire. They typically had a couple hundred
dollars to the cost of the kiln. If you don't get an electronic
controller and are firing ceramics, you will probably get a kiln with
a kiln sitter which uses a pyrometer cone to turn the kiln off.
(You have to turn the kiln up and down as you fire.) If you are
firing glass, enamels, PMC, etc without an electronic controller, you
will want a pyrometer to show you the temperature in the
kiln.
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| Your budget.
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| Remember that you will need kiln furniture
(shelves and posts). You never want to put your pieces directly
onto kiln brick. And you may need/want a vent. Read
about kiln ventilation. |
Think about these questions, then email or call
us for further assistance. Note that small kilns can ship by
UPS. Sometimes they are in stock, and sometimes they take a couple
weeks. Anything "larger than a microwave" will require
truck shipment. When you place an order for one of those kilns, the
first thing we do is contact you to clarify a bunch of things about your
voltage and delivery. So you don't have to worry about making a
mistake. In fact, you could enter an order for the kiln you think
you want, and in the comments say "Here is what I am looking for, is
this the best kiln for that?" Then we will get back to
you before processing the order.
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