Looking for Kiln

Hi- Just emailing for help on buying a kiln, so any advice would be
GREATLY appreciated!!

My sister and I are looking for a kiln that we could both use- she
wants to learn how to do pottery and I would like to start working
with PMC. We are both willing to put some extra money into it if
need be-as long as it’s dependable and able to do everything
required for our work. Thanks in advance for any help!!

~kara

My sister and I are looking for a kiln that we could both use- she
wants to learn how to do pottery and I would like to start working
with PMC.  We are both willing to put some extra money into it if
need be-as long as it's dependable and able to do everything 

You will need two different kilns, since the products require
different kinds of firing applications. PMC must be fired in a kiln
that can maintain a certain temperature for a period of time, unlike
clay, which needs to reach a temperature (cone whatever) and then
the temperature can drop.

i bought one for use of pmc which so far has been great i think it’s
quite commonly used I bought it from rio grande they have ones that
are visibly damaged that they sell off cheap perfect in working order
i got mine $100 cheaper than new as it had a scratch on they’ll tell
you the imperfections of it before…its about 6x8" inside so long
as your doing small pottery projects i’d reccomend it sentry xpress2.0
(that is if you can get thru to rio on the phone these days)

Dear Kara, I had some similar questions about PMC and kilns and was
directed to A woman by the name of Judi Anderson at Rio Grande. She
was super helpful, very enthusiastic about PMC, and said that she
got PMC certified and uses it regularly. I highly recommend her as a
person who will give you helpful without trying to force
her company’s products on you. Her phone # is 505-839-3717. Good
luck!

From,
Caryl

Hello Kara, My PMC kiln is pretty small and although it reachs
ceramic firing temps, few pots would fit inside. Before I bought
the kiln, I asked several potters about firing PMC in their kilns -
this was for the original PMC that takes some specific times and
temps. All said the temp varied enough with their kilns that the
“heat soaking” time required was unlikely to work… so I bought a
PMC kiln.

Today's newer PMC formulations allow some options - like torch

firing! You may not need a kiln. Go to their website:
http://www.pmclay.com Under Resources are FAQs and an opportunity
to ask your own questions by email.

Go to the Gallery and search for "ceramics".  You'll find artists

who do both clay and PMC. Those folks might offer some useful
answers to your question. Best of luck, Judy in Kansas

Judy M. Willingham, R.S.
Biological and Agricultural Engineering
237 Seaton Hall
Kansas State University
Manhattan KS 66506
(785) 532-2936

kara asked advice for buyin a kiln. the october issue of lapidary
journal has an article about shopping for a kiln: page 79.

jean adkins