It sounds like you have the Paragon SC2. Do you have the new
owner’s manual? Call Paragon and ask for it, it’s very good. It’s
25 or so pages and covers the how to of repairs you can do yourself
and which ones are factory repairs. Paragon sells replacement parts
for all the repairs that you can do yourself.
My Paragon SC2 is holding up well after 3 or 4 years of steady abuse
– travel, being run at high ramp speeds in workshops.
Elaine Luther
Chicago area, Illinois, USA
Metalsmith, Certified PMC Instructor
Studio 925; established 1992 @E_Luther
I recently purchased an SC3 and couldn’t be happier, I wouldn’t
hesitate to contact the manufacturer if Rio hasn’t already! I wish Rio
was in Canada, as the importation fees have become prohibitively
expensive, not to mention the fact that the border people rummage
through the boxes!
As of yesterday . . . Rio Grande e-mailed me and told me that it
would cost me $330.00 plus to have the kiln repaired. Tim McCreight
(via PMC Guild) e-mailed me and told me that the kiln was not
purchased from Rio, but directly from Paragon and that the kiln was
only covered for parts and labor for a year. So . … now . . . do
I buy a new kiln or have the old one repaired?
If I buy a new one, I would not buy a Paragon kiln, nor would I buy
it from Rio Grande. I am truly disappointed with both! The “passing
the buck” is making me very unhappy.
Advice anyone? (Thanks in advance - I have only a few days to make
a decision . . .)
I feel compelled to clarify the situation with the kiln that was
complained about in the related post. We’ve done a lot of research
to get to the bottom of this one, and are in communication with the
specific customer. The kiln in question was purchased in May of 2000
at which time PMC instructors were not even buying that kiln from
Rio Grande. The particular senior instructor that sold our fellow
Orchidian the kiln actually bought it directly from the manufacturer
(Tim McCreight of the PMC Guild helped us figure that one out).
However, we have offered to assist our friend with the repair, and
the kiln is in our evaluation/repair shop awaiting her instructions
regarding whether or not she wants it repaired.
We do sell and support the newer model, and all three of our staff
certified PMC instructors use it to great satisfaction.
It was just driving me crazy to keep taking the hit on this one!
Thanks for humoring me
So if the kiln was not purchased thru Rio originally, why would you
not purchase your new kiln from them? They seem to be the innocent
party here. Your well deserved anger might better be directed
toward your instructor and Paragon. Have you thought of contacting
Paragon and seeing if they will give you a discount on a new kiln?
Or maybe they will take the old one in trade?
So if the kiln was not purchased thru Rio originally, why would
you not purchase your new kiln from them? They seem to be the
innocent party here. Your well deserved anger might better be
directed toward your instructor and Paragon. Have you thought of
contacting Paragon and seeing if they will give you a discount on a
new kiln?
I was told that the kiln was recommended by and purchased through
Rio Grande, the course was sponsored by Rio Grande, the instructor
is a Rio Rewards Certification instructor, and no, it doesn’t seem
that they are innocent. I was purchasing the kiln directly from a
RIO representative (obviously this was all mis represented in the
literature about the PMC Certification Class which stated that those
taking the Certification course would become Certified Instructors
and therefore better qualified to teach others, and all we became
were Certified artisans.) I am supposed to be getting a discount
from RIO due to the Certification, and that doesn’t seem to be
happening either.
Update on the broken kiln which was returned to Rio. I am gettting
that one back, and will have to contact Tim McCreight for
instructions on how to change the baffle which is bad for one that I
will eventually order so I have two kilns (can’t afford that right
now.)
I spoke with Judi Anderson from Rio, and we agreed that rather than
spend $377.00 (plus shipping)for the repair, I would be much better
off ordering a new kiln directly from Rio Grande, at a bit of a
discounted price. The new kiln will arrive Thursday or Friday, the
old kiln will be shipped back too, but I assume that will come
ground.
I am going to be contacting Paragon as soon as I have the necessary
and maybe I can get a replacement baffle at a
discounted price . . . I still think that this kiln should have
lasted longer thaen it did. And hopefully, the new kiln will last
for a very, very long time!
