Selecting A Pottery Kiln

by

Al Farr

If you have decided to buy a pottery kiln, dont get overwhelmed by all the different models available out there.

When you tried making pottery for the first time, you may have been a bit overwhelmed by all of the different aspects of ceramics like glazing, firing, and using a pottery wheel. There were so many things to learn, so many aspects to look into. Just because you have gotten past that and are looking to buy a kiln, there is no need to be overwhelmed all over again.

A pottery kiln is a sort of baking oven in which your created pieces are going to be “fired.” This is of course after you have designed them to your own specifications and imagination, added a little bit of glaze on the surface of the pottery to give it that particular professional gleam.

Top Things to Consider

When you are going to buy the pottery kiln of your choice, remember the three considerations below:

1. What is your top priority? Are you using the kiln just for firing the products made up during the weekend? Or are you looking for a huge heavy-duty kiln, which can “fire” your professional products needed by customers?

An electric kiln is one option and is often used by professionals in studios, as well as people who want to use a kiln at home. Gas kilns are also available for those that prefer or have gas in their homes or place of business. An electric kiln easy to fire up and you are also going to get a much brighter color on the surface of your product. Gas kilns normally use propane, and the colors are going to be rather muted. The cause of this muting is due to the reduction of oxygen present in the atmosphere, while the kiln was being utilized.

Many electronic kilns have the sort of settings found in a good washing machine. For example, you are going to find temperature soak, delay start, ramp speed and other such computer-controlled instructions in an electronic kiln. So, if you are looking for a good kiln in which you can get a controlled and optimized temperature profile, always choose an electronic kiln. Remember to look at the voltage supply at your studio or your home and then buy the right electronic kiln with that particular specific voltage.

2. Size matters in kilns. You can choose the standard sizes in kilns, ranging from small kilns used to fire tiny jewelry parts to sizes of these different dimensions — 18 x 18, 29 x 27 for professionals and 23 x 27 for a weekend enthusiast.

You always have to remember that the size of the kiln is going to depend upon the product that you intend producing. Are you trying your hand on bowls and other crockery or are you going in for heavy duty sculptures? The kiln should be completely loaded before you fire it, so that you can get maximum and optimal efficiency out of it.

3. Temperature control is also important. The temperature of the kiln comes in a Cone 6-10 range, which means high-temperature. You may also want to go in for a kiln that has the timer and automatically switches itself off, when the optimal temperature is reached. A kiln that has an automatic electronic controller is always a good buy. That means you do not have to monitor the temperature manually.

Just remember to look at the kiln that suits your requirements and your budget and you cant go wrong. Happy firing!

Al Farr shares his

recommended pottery equipment

and helps you to discover the pottery tools and resources available to enjoy ceramics at home at

its-all-about-pottery.com.

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