One of my less inspired hobbies is the creation of ceramic tokens for geocaching, trading and just leaving around. My go-to method for firing was pit firing. This gave good and interesting results, but I was tired of the amount of breakage (due to thermal shock) and the general non-repeatability of the process. So I was looking for an inexpensive, small kiln to fire "low fire" ceramics and this was the best I could find. I had to get the one with the electronic controller due to the complex heating and soaking schedule required for properly matured ceramic material.
First of all, pay particular attention to the interior dimensions. It was adequate for my needs, but if you are looking to fire your large vases, look elsewhere. It might be OK for a large coffee cup at a time, but that is about it! It is 110 volts, so no special power needs are required. The controller is not intuitive at all, but there is a video which goes through the programming for the burn-out process (required to burn off lubricant and properly oxidize the heating elements). It takes some math, but you can convert firing schedules into the format required by the controller. If anyone is interested, I converted a nice slow cone 04 bisque schedule and a cone 06 glaze schedule into the controller "language" (you can e-mail me if you would like them). I wish that you could program separate schedules into the controller and choose which one you want, but all this one seems to do is execute the last program that was programmed into it.
Unless you purchased the painted version (for an added $50), you will notice the exterior stainless steel beginning to discolor after a few firing sessions. Not a flaw really, but it does make the unit look a little trashy. If it matters to you, you can paint it yourself with some high-temperature gas grill paint (comes in all colors now).
I'm overall happy with the performance of this unit. If you are just dabbling in ceramics, this is the kiln for you.
I'm very happy with this kiln. I already seasoned it and tested the programming a couple of times.
When I unboxed it here in Florida, I left it on my workbench in my garage. The next day rust marks began showing on the casing in the shapes of fingerprints and handprints. Logically, they were from factory assembly. So, I cleaned it, masked specific areas and painted the outside of the assembly with black barbecue paint capable of withstanding up to 1200*F.
As much as I'm very happy with the kiln overall, I thought it odd not to be housed with stainless steel. Please consider this when producing them, especially for crafters in the humid southern States...
It's super portable and lightweight and great for craftsmen/artists in home studios or who travel with their equipment frequently, and the customer service from the company was excellent. I always got quick responses with genuinely nice and friendly care when I needed assistance--very helpful and knowledgeable people who go the extra mile for their customers.
I like the fact that it is so portable. I bought it for my dental lab which is perfect because we don't use large investment cylinders. I would suggest verifying if it is large enough for your application
The product was easy to use and was able to be up and running within minutes of receiving the Kiln. The work envelope is as described, but a little smaller than I had thought. I wish they would make a larger kiln. Overall, the product works, rather simple to program (once you read ALL of the instructions) and maintains an accurate temperature.
Feature Product
- Iteighs just 12 lbs, ultra-portable with carrying handle
- Heats to 2200°F (1200°C) within 8 to ten minutes
- Large firing chamber (6" x 6" x 5") with front-loading door for easy access
- Designed with a programmable digital controller with 30 settings & lighted cooling fan
- Perfect for precious metal clay, ceramics, enameling, glass fusing, bead making, jewelry making, and more
Description
Offers the ultimate combination of portability, function, and performance demanded by professional artists. Ideal solution for jewelry making, enameling, metal clay, glass fusing, and ceramic firing. Comes complete with a digital control panel, an embedded heating element, a 6" x 5" x 6" firing chamber, 1500 Watts of power, and a wide opening door. Designed to rapidly heat to 2200°F (1205°C; displays in both). Uses a PID temperature controller with 30 steps Ramp/Soak (has all of the features of the standard PID controller, except for the manual control mode). This is a dual display, 1/16 DIN (48 mm x 48 mm) programmable PID temperature/process controller for applications where it is desirable to have the set point automatically adjust over time. The dual alarm relay can be activated either by the temperature set point or by program steps. It can be used to interlock other equipment in the process. Dual alarm outputs made standard at no extra charge. Features a high brightness, large LED display that can easily be read from a distance. Also includes a manual and a limited 90-day manufacturer's warranty. *Please note that due to the nature of raw steel under extreme temperatures, the steel surface will experience tempering and coloration changes over time.
Additional Details:
30 Programmable stamps for ramp, soak, & other logic actions.
PID controller with fuzzy logic enhancement.
0.2% accuracy over the entire input range.
Percent output indication.
Selectable security access levels.
Outside Dimensions: 8" x 7" x 13" (wide x diameter x high).
Power: 1500 watts with a standard 15 Amp circuit.
16 Gauge Coiled-Type Resistance Wire.
*WARNING: Not for use for wax burnouts. Please see our Amazon listings ASIN: B07H43Q81K or B07GWX18K9.
Please contact us with any questions. Thanks for looking!
Works as expected, thank you.
I was so excited when I finally had enough money to purchase this and even more excited when I received the slip telling me it came. It's so small and cute and really packs a lot of power. Anyone who is low on space and needs a starter kiln or just an extra one should really check this out. It was totally worth the money.
Fast shipping, Product was just as described
Nice but small.
We have found this furnace to fit into our lab very well and will certainly be purchasing a few more.
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