Kiln opinions

[jeannette]

Hello,

I guess you are asked this a bunch of times and different ways...I had a look through some of the threads, but I am looking for something a little different (I think).
I'm looking to buy a kiln, I'm interested in glass fusing and slumping and I hope to have only one kiln for this...ideally, I'd like a reasonable internal dimension as I'd like to get some small/medium sized bowl pieces, slump some wine bottles and do some tiles.

What kiln do you use? What would you buy?

It's just a hobby for me, should I get something and concentrate on jewellery, get good at that and then mould things and get another kiln? Space and money are not limitless, so I am trying to investigate thoroughly and buy once!

Any help appreciated, especially your experience with kilns.
Thanks
Jeannette

[JKC]

I have a kilncare hobbyfuser, I use it for beads and fusing.  I really like mine and it is cheap to run and plugs into a normal socket. Janet

[Glassy Lou]

Think I'll be in the market for a new kiln come 2012 too considering the door just fell off my Chili Pepper 

[Glyn Burton]

Hi, I have a number of kilns of various sizes which I use for fusing, slumping and casting. I have a couple of Skutt hotstart Pro's which I use all the time. They seem to be reliable, easy to use and cheap to run and use a standard 13amp socket. The controllers come with factory set programmes which are fine but it is easy to put in custom programmes when you get more confident. They are available from Warm Glass, about £600+vat which I think is good value for what you get.
Remember what ever size kiln you buy its never big enough I have a 2m by 1m and would get a bigger one if I had space to put it in.

[Zeldazog]

Remember what ever size kiln you buy its never big enough I have a 2m by 1m and would get a bigger one if I had space to put it in.

Aint that the truth!

I got Hobbyfuser earlier this year as I wanted more space than in my Hot Start Pro, and I already sometimes (often) wish I had a BIGGER kiln...!!

[GaysieMay]

Yes I have a hotstart pro too and also a bead cube.  I used my hotstart to batch anneal quite successfully but found anything with thin walls or lentils where the thickness of the glass was different started to thermal crack, so I invested in the bead cube.  I hardly use my hotstart now, but occasionally the mood will take me and I'll feel like doing some fusing so its good to hold onto.  My only regret now is that I didn't buy the maxi, and I would consider trading up my bead cube for one in the future.  I'm not sure if you can use them for fusing though.  I did have an old enamel kiln when I first started it didn't even have a controller on it and I found a suitable cycle for fusing small pieces by trial and error, they made lovely little pendants, it was a uhlig - got it cheap off the bay! 

[jeannette]

Thanks for your replies. And I agree already Glynn. I thought I would get the smallest cheapest and go for the paragon 2 but I can see I will quickly be frustrated and trading up or buying another.
I think in terms of size, him indoors and I have agreed that we will go max size without disrupting anything. If I need to take it bigger after that, if will mean a new room or another solution. So I am researching the paragon 16 and hobby fuser size. I will check out the ones you all mentioned, thank you so much.
Back to off road driving though now! 

[Krysia@No98]

Once you have decided on your kiln, it might be worth checking what deals the suppliers do,  I think one of them might do a 10% discount of all their other products for a year.  (I might be very wrong) but it's worth checking out