Paragon Caldera Kiln or Bead Cube or......

finks · December 17, 2008, 08:24:32 AM

Have read through lots of threads and spent time on more than a few web pages and still undecided.....
I am enjoying playing with melting glass and making some jewellery for myself from my shed time. However people have started asking me to make things for them so I think it is time to consider a kiln.

Have come down to these 2 but not sure what to do....I would like to experiment more with other glass so am wondering whether it is better to invest in a bigger kiln now. But I also know that the kilns tend to hold there value so am thinking about staying with the bead cube until I decide to really do other work?

The thing that concerns me about the paragon is the weight. I am not sure where I will put the kiln and might want to move it so thinking the lighter option is probably better....I could go on because my head is spinning with pros and cons.....
Advice?

?
Thanks in advance!

Pam · December 17, 2008, 08:29:14 AM

http://www.frit-happens.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=8776.0
Don't know whether this might help.

finks · December 17, 2008, 08:51:56 AM

Thanks, I have read that thread and lots more, my gut instinct is to go with the Bead cube, but should you buy a kiln on a gut feeling???

Billie · December 17, 2008, 08:59:31 AM

Quote from: finks on December 17, 2008, 08:51:56 AM
Thanks, I have read that thread and lots more, my gut instinct is to go with the Bead cube, but should you buy a kiln on a gut feeling???

I bought my caldera on gut instinct and have never regretted it

Only you can decide

Pam · December 17, 2008, 09:16:04 AM

I bought a kiln after a year of deliberation for fusing (I hadn't discovered lampworking then). I have since bought a paragons sc3 which is perfect for the beads. I must admit I have had thoughts of selling the fusing kiln as it is so big and heavy and I do such little fusing these days. The point is whatever you choose now you might change in the future so if you have done your research it probably is down to gut feeling. What you don't have you won't miss so to speak.
Good luck.

dinah46 · December 17, 2008, 09:18:34 AM

I love my caldera as it is so handy for small amounts of fusing and also good with the bead collar. However I do also have a larger kiln, inner diameter 50 x 40, which I also would not be without.

The caldera is cumbersome to move but can be moved in sections however I wouldn't recommend moving it regularly.

Do you live near to anyone who has a kiln so you could see close up what's involved. You are certainly welcome to come and see mine if you are anywhere near preston.

GoodMonkey · December 17, 2008, 06:21:07 PM

I love my Caldera as well - I am in Derbyshire and you are very welcome to pop over and visit it if you are any where near.

Redhotsal · December 17, 2008, 07:32:07 PM

Bead Cube is tiny and ultra portable. You could get quite a few beads in there hot annealling, batch annealing you'd get loads in. It will go up to 930C (ish?) so you could do small fused pieces and certainly PMC. I love it - it's easy to use and is the cheapest kiln on the market. It's from Kilncare so you've got good technical support. You need to consider the support you'll get from the supplier if you get the Caldera - make sure there is good cover in case it goes wrong.

You need to think about where it's going to go. The Bead Cube doesn't have any inner kiln furniture so you'll have to fashion a little mesh or something to hold the beads in at the back, but then again, I don't think the Caldera comes with anything either.

I think with the Caldera you need to get the bead collar separately so you'll need to consider how much it's going to cost with the extra cost and delivery as it's heavy. The Cube is really light to post.

There is also the safety aspect to consider - the Bead Cube has a concealed element but it is possible to jab a mandrel into the exposed elements of the Caldera so if you are a little cack handed you may need to think about this, although I'm sure most people manage to survive without electrocuting themselves.

The Cube certainly looks cuter than the Caldera but that's not the principle reason for buying a kiln! Dunno - I'd probably chose the Cube out of the two.

finks · December 17, 2008, 08:09:02 PM

Thank you for all your words of wisdom.....I have done it!! I bought a bead cube... so excited.
The portableness (Sp?) was what finally swung it, that and I want to concentrate on beads. I am very easily distracted and have decided to stick to one thing until I am really good, then might branch out... when and if that happens I guess I might up grade.

My friend who convinced me last night that spending money on myself wasn't a bad thing and that I should do it was astonished tonight when I said I had bought it.... I said you told me to!!!

Sandra J · December 17, 2008, 08:22:24 PM

yeh Well done you. I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

mizgeorge · December 17, 2008, 08:43:57 PM

Woohoo!
They're gorgeous little things

GoodMonkey · December 17, 2008, 09:25:20 PM

I have really, really looked at my Caldera and have to say it would take me a lot of trouble to point the mandrel into the elements. Mine has the collar at the bottom and a good height of firebrick - I think it would be virtually impossible to get the mandrel in where the elements are.

Maybe there are some where th bead collar goes at the top and this may be possible but no way on mine - what about yours Billie and Diane?

dinah46 · December 17, 2008, 09:35:51 PM

Quote from: Maytime on December 17, 2008, 09:25:20 PM
I have really, really looked at my Caldera and have to say it would take me a lot of trouble to point the mandrel into the elements. Mine has the collar at the bottom and a good height of firebrick - I think it would be virtually impossible to get the mandrel in where the elements are.

Maybe there are some where th bead collar goes at the top and this may be possible but no way on mine - what about yours Billie and Diane?

Must confess I also tried to see how a mandrel could hit the element after reading about it and decided I'd have to be a contortionist with an extra long bent mandrel

DragonflyLynne · December 17, 2008, 09:54:23 PM

Quote from: finks on December 17, 2008, 08:09:02 PM
..I have done it!! I bought a bead cube... so excited.

Congratulations!!! Happy times ahead.

Redhotsal · December 17, 2008, 11:27:39 PM

Quote from: dinah46 on December 17, 2008, 09:35:51 PM

Must confess I also tried to see how a mandrel could hit the element after reading about it and decided I'd have to be a contortionist with an extra long bent mandrel

Fair enough - I think it was Emma (Ralph) who posted recently about the elements on the Caldera but if you have one (and are obviously still alive!) then it's clearly not an issue.