Hi.
I have found this kiln on Ebay and was wondeing if any one on here knew whether it could be used for Fusing Glass? I think it has a programmer "Kiln sitter Dawson model no LT3K"?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/KILN_W0QQitemZ230373174475QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Crafts_Ceramic_PotteryMaking_SM?hash=item35a34faccb&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14
I know the bidding has finished but I have contacted the lady (I am assuming it is a lady - not sure why!) and am hoping to be able to buy it from her.
Hope you can help!
It looks a very nice kiln but seems to operate on the kiln sitter only - little ceramic cones which fit into a mechanism that shuts off when the desired temperature is reached. To anneal or fuse glass you really need a digitally controlled kiln. These controllers can be purchased separately. If you telephone Potclays the staff there are usually very helpful. You may find the kiln a little large for beadmaking only but useful if you're thinking of also doing ceramics.
Diane x
I have a cromartie kiln this size with a kiln sitter and it takes a lot of experimenting with the cones and the ramp knob to figure out what the glass is doing but it's great for annealing beads, enamel paint firings and other stuff once you get to know it. I have a notebook 1.5inches thick with photos and notes about cones 21 down to 15! he he
Before I bought my SC2, I used my old Fulham Pottery Kiln for bulk bead annealing. Also used it for everything else glass related, slumping, fusing, pot melts and glass combing. I bought it second hand many years ago from Essex kilns and they fitted a seperate simple digital programmer to it so I never had to use cones. I kept a loose leaf notebook of every firing, one on each numbered page, with notes of start temp, end temp, soak time and at what temp I opened the kiln door. Also took notes of whether vented at what temp. I recorded the results whether the firing was successful or not and why. I very soon had a series of successfull firings that I could refer to for each process I wanted to carry out. On the first page of the notebook, I entered the page number for each type of successful firing so that I could easily reproduce what I'd done before to get a good result. For firing stained glass enamels, Essex Kilns made me a metal, I think stainless shelving system that stood inside with metal trays in which I could place flattened (white powder, sorry can't remember proper name) on which painted glass was placed for firing. Someone (Rachel perhaps or Dawn) jog my old brain, it wasn't powdered dry batwash but more probably powdered chalk.
Quote from: Pat from Canvey on September 10, 2009, 09:32:47 AMFor firing stained glass enamels, Essex Kilns made me a metal, I think stainless shelving system that stood inside with metal trays in which I could place flattened (white powder, sorry can't remember proper name) on which painted glass was placed for firing. Someone (Rachel perhaps or Dawn) jog my old brain, it wasn't powdered dry batwash but more probably powdered chalk.
At Uni, we use a loose powder for kiln shelves rather than brushed on batt wash (probably cheaper, is quicker, and of course ceramics doesn't require a smooth surface) - I am not sure, would have to check, but it could be Alumina?
Echo everything that has been said here.
One thing to think of is if you do decide to add a controler you'll be shelling out the best part of £300, that'll make the kiln cost approaching £500 with collection or delivery. Not far off the price of some new models that are around.
That's the point I would have made too, Lee.
And whilst, as Rachel says, you can use a kiln sitter with cones, you have to be prepared to be around the kiln a lot, to be able to alter the controls when needed. Are you willing and able to do that? Batch annealing beads is a relatively simple programme. Up, soak, slow cool down.
If you're interested in fusing and slumping (And I already know this ;) ;)), then you have more complicated programming, involving several segments, and I admire anybody for doing that with a non-digital programmer, so hats off to you Rachel!
Pat's kiln firing log is something we should all do anyway, it's good practice. I am a bad glass artist.....
Agree with Lee and personally I wouldn't buy a kiln with a sitter for glass! I got mine free and it's been fine for what I used it for but that's limited, fusing no thicker than 6mm and no larger than 20cm square, no casting work and no way of holding at a temperature for large flameworking.
I have swithered about upgrading the kiln to a digital controller but due to it's small size I don't think it's worth the £300+ cost involved. I keep an eye out for kilns on Ebay and ones with digital controllers do appear so it's worth looking but see if there's anyone in your area who hires kilns out, that way you get to know about kilnwork first hand without the expense.