Looking for an enameling kiln

[Ginger_Meek_Allen]

Hello, Fellow Orchidians.

I am in search of the perfect enameling kiln!! Can you help me find it??? Features I am looking for are:

-front load
-relatively large chamber (minimum width 10-12 inches)

I would love to find one that one of of you might have and no longer need, or tips on a good source for a refurbished/used one. Thanks!!

ginger
ginger meek allen
metalsmith
www.gingermeekallen.com
wake forest, north carolina

[E_Luther]

My kiln is much smaller, but I wanted to put in a good word for
Paragon. I've had my Paragon SC2 for 5 years and it's gotten hard
use -- being taken in the car, carted all over to classes and being
run at top ramp speed for workshops, and it's holding up really,
really well.

Sierra makes a kiln the size you want:

Sierra PMC Kiln Model 1100
SK4-1100
Width 12 inches, Depth 12 inches, Height 8 inches.
$824.50

Source for the below:

http://www.aaproducts.com/SCKilns.HTML

All Sierra kilns have a baked white powder finish, with a peephole
in the door and a vent on top. All kilns use a 3-key controller, with
auto programs for firing PMC, PMC+ & PMC3.

PEOPLE OFTEN ASK US WHICH KILN WE RECOMMEND FOR PMC.

We recommend the Paragon SC-2 for the following reasons:

-The inside dimensions are comparable to the Sierra Model 360, but
the cost is quite a bit less.

-The Sierra tilted panel can be damaged with hot glass accidentally
falling on it when unloading.

-The electrical requirements for the SC-2 is identical to the Sierra
Model 360 giving the same heat.

-The controller of the SC-2 kilns is similar to the Sierra kilns and
is totally programmable for PMC.

-And finally, we have used both kilns and our personal preferance on
kiln quality and use is the SC-2.

The Thompson Enamel website has these sponsored links:

Wholesale Kilns - www.clay-king.com
Discounts on Kilns & Pottery Wheels Toll Free Customer Support

Gas & Electric Kilns - www.baileypottery.com Leading manufacturer of
quality gas and electric kilns at great prices.

Discount Kilns - www.bigceramicstore.com/ Paragon, L&L, Olympic,
Skutt, more Free shipping, awesome prices.

Elaine
Elaine Luther
Metalsmith, Certified PMC Instructor
http://www.CreativeTextureTools.com
Hard to Find Tools for Metal Clay

[Tammy_Kirks]

Ginger:

I bought mine from Paragon and have been very happy with it. They
have many different sizes, However, if money isn't an issue, I
strongly suggest Vcella. I learned on one and it was the best kiln
I've ever used. Plus, they are all made to order. I just couldn't
afford it for my first kiln. Please feel free to contact me offline
if you have any other questions. I did a lot of research on this
last year.

Tammy Kirks
@Tammy_Kirks

[arands1]

I highly recommend the vcella. I have had mine for 30 years, and
bought it used. Have never had a problem with it. What I like
especially is that it maintains an even heat with virtually no heat
loss when the door is opened. Also it is so well insulated that even
after hours of being heated to about 1500 degrees, the outside is
relatively cool.

The construction is excellent, and the door is still in perfect
alignment, which is more than I can say for other kilns. I taught
enameling at our local art center, and our biggest problem was with
the sagging doors of other brands of kilns. I had to use the
buddy system with the students---one would open and hold the door to
keep it from sagging, while the other inserted or withdrew the
enamel. The vcella kilns are expensive, but certainly worth the
money.

Alma

[kevdan]

I use a dental kiln it is bttom loading you put the stuff on a tray
and it raises up into the kiln I have used my neycraft kiln as well
but this dental gismo is awsome mine is manual but I have afriend
who is a dentist and his is fully programable to rise slowly to
preheat the piece and remove all moisture so you dont get pits and
stuff. I got mine at a demolition yard ( I have no idea why it was
there) I paid five bucks for it my friend bought his new and paid
4000 but I have seen them on ebay for a couple hunderd mine is made
by jelrus. bottom loading is great you dont burn your hands and no
heat escapes it maintains a perfect temperature all the time plus
kiln furniture is so easy to position when your hands arent on fire.

Kevin

[Taylor]

I strongly suggest Vcella. I learned on one and it was the best
kiln I've ever used. Plus, they are all made to order

I just visited their site: http://www.vcella-kilns.com I'm one of
those 'pay anything but buy it once' kind of people so I appreciate
the fact you posted about premium equipment. The 'Tilting Electric
Furnace' looks like fun; because I absolutely hate ingots - like
REALLY hate pouring ingots.

Do you remember what kiln you used and why you liked it?

Vcella Kiln
https://www.ganoksin.com/resources/detail-vcella_kiln-1689.html

Help others make informed buying decisions with Vcella Kiln. We
welcome your opinions and experiences with their products, ordering,
customer service and and over all satisfaction.

Write an Anonymous Review
http://www.ganoksin.com/resources/review.php?id=1689

Cheers,
Taylor in Toronto

[Noel_Yovovich]

Hi, Kevin,

I enjoy your posts, and don't mean to cramp your style, but they'd
be a lot easier to follow if you used just a little more
punctuation! On the other hand, I can recognize your style as soon
as I start to read!

Noel

[jennifer_friedman]

I have a paragon that is at least 50 years old and still working just
great. Of course the price was right, I bought it used 35 years ago
for $25. So, if you can find a used one, go for it they are wonderful
and Paragon has all the parts for them and a terrific staff if you
need help. All kilns need a parometer.

Jennifer Friedman
enamelist, jewelry artisan, ceremonial silver

[Hsgonnella]

Hi, buy the best new or used kiln you can possibly afford. These
things make you so much money over the years, not just thousands but
10's, 100's of thousands and they last forever. Kilns hold their
value tremendously. I've got this electronic pottery kiln that has
seen heavy production use over the last 10 years. I recently figured
out that it is worth what I paid for it, 650.00, as new is way over
double that. How excellent.

When I see these little enameling kilns worth 850.00 or something, I
think, how reasonable, cant you pay for that in like 2 to 4
productive firings. I recently got cheep and purchased a brand that
was 800.00 for a glass fuser instead of the killer Skutt brand for
1250.00 (they wouldnt give me a discount). It could be the guilt of
not buying the product made in my own home state of Oregon, but it
has been a big pain in the neck so far and I have regrets.

Bye now, Holly

[Marianne]

Hello , I've been out of the loop...really busy and not reading the
posts, so sorry if this answer doesn't meet the question.

I don't know what kind of enamel work you intend to do, and in what
kind of quantity, but my favorite kiln of the 5 that I own
(including the computer controlled one ) is still my 38 year old,
$12.50 trinkit kiln that I started with. For small pieces and for
pieces that will be going in and out of the kiln a lot; and for
pieces that will not have uniform firing times this little guy has
served me very well!

It now has a clothes pin held in place with binding wire for a
handle ( second clothes pin over the years) ; I've gone through
numerous elements and cords,,,but this kiln and I, like and old
couple, just suit each other. I like that I can see into it and
take pieces in and out without lifting the lid or opening a door ( I
have made a modification by creating a cover for the opening out of
layers of ordinary aluminum foil); the contact element heats a piece
very quickly; it doesn't use as much energy as heating a chamber so
it heats faster runs cheaper; doesn't take up a lot of room, is
portable if needed; doesn't burn your eyelashes off when you're
checking inside (you are supposed to be wearing glasses to protect
our eyes, but I think eye damage is even minimized by this tiny
kiln). And so on. I don't know where you can get one
anymore...there are some other brands of these Hot plate type kilns
on the market ( over $100 now ) and they do all the same things...I
just happen to love my old Trinkit! If any one knows a place to get
replacement elements for them would you PLEASE be so kind as to let
me know off line? Not that I want to keep it a secret...I just want
to be sure to get the info and an email is always read.

back to the benches! Marianne Hunter

[JM1]

Marianne Hunter recommends her favorite kiln, a hotplate- type kiln [they have a sealed element so don't try using a regular hotplate]. Have you seen how beautiful her work is? I am excited to have read her post because I feel the same way about my [30+ year old] hot plate kiln. I got it when I was 12. I think it was sold by the Tandy Company.

I did lots and lots of cloisonne pieces with it. I haven't enameled for some time now but I the last pieces I did were 18K butterfly earrings [a custom order], two large fine silver and 18k cloisonne chokers and plique a' jour wings for a dragonfly. I have other kilns but I love my hotplate kiln and for all the same reasons that Marianne mentioned. It will always be my first choice as long as my project fits within the confines of the rounded lid.

Good Luck
Jennifer