Specifications
3
T
his section applies to ceramics, pot
-
tery, stoneware, china painting, and
enameling. For glass, see page 14. For
an in-depth guide to selecting a kiln, see “Build
a Kiln” at www.paragonweb.com.
Temperature
Be sure the kiln you order is rated hot
enough for the ware you intend to fire. The
higher the kiln’s temperature rating, the more
types of ware you can fire. See Specifications,
pages 24-27, for kiln temperature ratings.
G
2350°F Porcelain and stoneware
G
2300° - 2000°F Low-fire ceramics
G
1400°-1700°F China painting, glass fusing,
glass slumping, enameling, bead annealing
Kiln Size
The larger the kiln, usually the lower the
cost per cubic foot of interior space. The
8-sided kilns (page 7), which average 3 cubic
feet, are the most popular hobby size, because
the cost per cubic foot is low, and 8-sided kilns
are large enough to fire most greenware, in
-
cluding Christmas trees.
The most popular sizes for dolls are 6- or
7-sided kilns (page 6) and the 8-sided
S-1613-3 or TnF-1613-3 (page 7). Doll kilns
average 1.2 cubic feet.
Before purchasing a 10- or 12-sided kiln,
visit a studio that has the kiln on display.
Reach down inside the kiln to be sure you are
tall enough to load it. If you have difficulty
loading a studio kiln, consider the shorter S-,
SnF- or TnF-23-3 and the TnF-27-3 (pg 8-9).
House or Apartment?
You can own a kiln even if you live in an
apartment. You will probably want a portable,
120 volt model.
Your kiln will need a well-ventilated, cov
-
ered area, away from flammable materials. If
you fire the kiln in a garage, remove cans of
paint and gasoline, lawn mower, etc.
Electrical
Will you need a new circuit for your kiln?
Have only a licensed electrician install it. Use
copper wiring, not aluminum.
208 volt wiring is becoming common in
commercial areas, strip malls and schools. 208
volt and 240 volt circuits use the same wall
outlets, so you can’t tell them apart visually.
Call your power company or electrician if you
are not sure about your voltage or phase. If
you fire a 240 volt kiln on a 208 volt circuit, it
will fire slowly and may never reach maximum
temperature. Some schools have both 240v
and 208v, so always check the voltage.
Incidentally, 240 volt kilns do not necessar
-
ily fire hotter or faster than 120 volt kilns.
Round or Square
On a per cubic foot basis, the “round” kilns
(6-, 7-, 8-, 10- and 12-sided) are less expensive
than the square, because they are easier to
build. Ceramists usually buy the round mod
-
els. Schools and potters sometimes buy the
large square kilns, because they are especially
durable and slow-cooling.
Top- or Front-Loading
Front-loading kilns are preferred for enam
-
eling, where pieces are removed from the kiln
at 1450° F. This would be difficult with a
top-loading kiln since the heat rises when you
open the lid. Ceramists use the small front
loaders for glaze testing and small pieces.
The front-loading Dragon and Iguana kilns
(pages 10-11) are easier to load than top-load
-
ing kilns. They are ideal choices for those with
back problems.
Insulating Firebrick
Wall Thickness
Most ceramic kiln walls are either 2½” or
3” thick. Kilns with 3" walls and lid take
slightly less energy to fire due to the extra insu-
lation. However, their main advantage is that
they reach a higher temperature than their
2½” counterparts. They also cool more slowly,
important when firing heavy pieces prone to
cracking, and for special glaze effects. To fire
stoneware or porcelain, buy a 3” wall kiln.
Model numbers of most Paragon 3” wall kilns
end in “-3”.
The Dragon and Super Dragon walls are 4
- 4 ½” thick (pg 10). The extra wall thickness
yields energy savings for the production potter.
Manual or Automatic
If you prefer a manual, switch-operated
kiln, don’t worry. We’ll continue making them
even though the automatic kilns are more
popular. We have the widest kiln selection in
the industry.
Automatic kilns are gaining in popularity,
because they are much easier to fire. Paragon
kilns come in either digital automatic or
SnF-series automatic with cone shut-off.
Please turn the page for details.
Recommended Accessories
Kiln Furniture
When estimating the price of a ceramic
kiln, include the cost of furniture (the shelves
and posts stacked inside the kiln). With furni
-
ture, you can stack multiple layers of ware.
Without it, you could fire only the ware that
fits on the kiln bottom.
Orton Vent Master
Especially recommended for garage and
basement studios. Vents fumes out of the fir
-
ing room and improves firing results. (See
page 20.)
AOP Outlet
An outlet on the switchbox of some digital
models enables the controller to turn off the
kiln vent. (See page 21.)
Deluxe Stand with Casters
Recommended if you will move the kiln out
of the way when not in use. (See page 21.)
Firing Safety Glasses
Use our firing safety glasses when looking
into the peephole of a hot kiln. We consider
them a must for all kiln owners. (See page 22.)
Ordering Check List
Ë
Is your dealer knowledgeable about firing?
Unless you are a kiln expert, this can be as
important as the price of the kiln.
Ë
Can the dealer perform warranty repair? If
not, you may have to do any warranty work
yourself or send the kiln to the factory. Es-
pecially if you buy the kiln over the Internet,
find out how the dealer handles warranty.
Ë
If comparison shopping, have you asked
about the cost of crating? (Paragon kilns
are crated at no extra charge. Crates for
most kilns are sturdy wood.) Are you pay-
ing extra for the stand or the Limit Timer?
Ë
Do you have a covered, well-ventilated lo-
cation for the kiln, protected from the
weather? Is the area free of flammable
materials?
Ë
Is the kiln room large enough? You will
need 12" of additional clearance on all sides
of the kiln during operation. We do not rec
-
ommend small enclosed rooms such as
closets, which can overheat.
Ë
Will the kiln fit through the doorway? Mea
-
sure to be sure. (Passage clearance needed
for large kilns is listed on pages 24 - 27.)
Ë
Are you sure about voltage and electrical
phase? 240 and 208 volt outlets cause con
-
fusion because they look the same. Check
with your power company if in doubt.
Ë
Will you need special wiring? Figure this
into your budget.
Ë
Larger kilns: Will you need help unloading
the kiln upon delivery? Package handling
companies off-load and uncrate for a small
fee. Otherwise make sure you have enough
people to help unload the kiln. Ask if a
forklift or truck with lift gate is available.
Ë
When your kiln is delivered and you sign
for it, add the notation “Subject to inspec
-
tion” next to your signature.
Many thanks to Steven Drollinger for his ideas
in this check list and for other suggestions in
the catalog.
How to Choose a Kiln
See Kiln Selection Chart, page 23
G
120 volt
G
240 volt
G
208 volt
G
_____ Other voltage
G
Single phase
G
Three phase
220 volts is not an actual voltage reading in the U.S.A.
It is a label used for appliances that can be used on ei
-
ther 208or 240 volts.