Low fire ceramics in sc kilns and height

[theseahorse]

Hi
I don't know if anyone can help me. I'm about to buy a kiln, primarily for bead annealing and enamelling, although I'd like to a do a bit of fusing. Ideally it would be good if I could do some ceramics eventually. However, reading the threads it seems no one kiln is great for everything. I think I will probably go for a Paragon SC2 (or perhaps SC3) with a bead door and window. I noticed that the Paragon site says that these kilns can be used for low-fire ceramics. I just wondered if anyone has used their SC kiln for this, or if anyone knows what low-fire ceramics is. I guess it is ceramics fired at a low temperature, but just wondered whether I'd be best forgetting the idea of doing a little bit of ceramics one day in an SC2/SC3. I realise that there could be an argument for buying a 2nd much larger kiln in the future if I'm really interested in this.

Also, the only difference between the SC2 and the SC3 is about 5 cm in height. Do any of you who have an SC2 wish that you had the extra height provided by the SC3, or is the 14.5cm perfectly adequate?

Many thanks for your help

Sam

[Zeldazog]

Sam, I am guessing "low fire ceramics" is referring to earthenware - usually terracotta - which can be fired to 1000 centigrade (it can sometimes be fired higher, but that's standard temperature) - or bisque/biscuit firing, which is sometimes done to 900/950.  And some glazes fire at that range too.

But stoneware goes much higher, as does porcelain.  So you'd have to consider what you might want to fire in there.

I think the SC's go to 1000 don't they?  But the recommendation is that if you're going to fire a kiln to a certain temperature more than very occasionally, you need to get one that the maximum temperature goes higher than your needs if possible.

Have you considered the Caldera?  It goes to 1260 when i hasn't got the bead collar on IIRC, which you can take on and off.  I did think it was probably the most flexible of the small kilns.

You're right, there is no singular right kiln, I spent ages making that decision, and as much as I love my Hotstart, it still doesn't do lots, but it fits my current needs the best right now (and I have access to ceramics and enamelling kilns at Uni, not sure what I do when I leave - buy a bank of kilns??)

Good luck!

[Trudi]

I have an SC2 and with regards to the height - it's fine for me!!

If I batch anneal I have 2 layers set up - so I can do quite a lot of beads!

[Rachel]

Hi Sam

I had that dilemma too.  I would like to do ceramics but I came to the conclusion that you really need 2 seperate kilns as there isn't one that seems to be good for everything.  As Dawn said, the Caldera is pretty versatile as it has a removable collar with a bead door for annealing as you go.  But from the pics I've seen it isn't very big so I don't know how many beads you'd get in there.  If you're batch annealing though it's no problem as there would be plenty of room.  If you remove the collar you can use the kiln for ceramics as it goes to 1290 c.  For enamelling though you really need a front opening kiln like the SC2.

I recently sold my SC2 as I got a MAXine for annealing.  You can fit quite a lot of beads in an SC2 plus you can do small fusing and enamelling. I'm hoping to get a seperate ceramics kiln in the new year.

[*rowanberry*]

I originally bought my SC2 thinking I could do ceramics in it, as I missed working with them. But alas I didnt do all my reading around rightly and it's not quite suitable for it and also apparently the window in my door cant stand the temp anyway. I've just replaced my SC2 with a Maxine for annealing, and the SC2 will now be used primarily for silver clay and fusing.

I am wondering whether the Caldera would be better - or just get another kiln at a later date if you have the room? You can find small pottery kilns really cheap quite often on eBay.

[Les]

If you are looking for an old second hand kiln just for ceramics, I'd recommend keeping an eye on this site...

http://www.corbykilns.co.uk/

I got my first kiln from these guys... it has been used for batch annealing for almost 3 years now with no problems. Now I have a MAXI, I can begin to use my original kiln for it's intended purpose, ceramics

[theseahorse]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts. I did consider the Caldera, but thinking about it and having just totted up the costs of upgrading from my hothead, with the oxycon etc, I think I will probably be best starting with an sc2 which is a bit cheaper and then saving up for a larger kiln for ceramics in the future. I expect I've got more than enough to learn with the glass at the moment!

Claire, what happened to your window at high temperatures? I have read something on here about the window being unsuitable for higher temperatures. Do you think I could do without one? When I learnt enamelling, we used kilns without windows and just opened them to check on things. Would I need a window for fusing? I don't want to complicate things if I don't need to. I nearly bought a kiln later today, but then I became indecisive over the window

Les, thanks for the link for 2nd hand kilns. I'll remember to look at that when I eventually think about ceramics in the future.

Many thanks everyone, this is a very helpful forum.

Best wishes

Sam

[Zeldazog]

Would I need a window for fusing? I don't want to complicate things if I don't need to. I nearly bought a kiln later today, but then I became indecisive over the window

Nope, don't need a window.  I have a top loading glass kiln, I can't see a thing, do it by timing.

[theseahorse]

Thanks Dawn,
I think I'll forget about the window to keep things simple.

All the best

Sam

[*rowanberry*]

I've never used the window in mine, I thought I would have to, but didn't.
I think the glass in it isnt meant to cope with the highest temps that the SC2 can go.