I've been thinking about getting a small kiln to make porcelain jewelry. The dream is to buy a larger kiln one day, but this seems like a great model to get started with especially as I can still fire larger pieces at a local studio I attend. Also a bit more affordable even purchased new and even can find it in stock! It looks like the Firefly model is the exact same in terms of firing temp and volts, difference is the lid hinges to open. Thank you for sharing this!!!
Getting a kiln at all these days can be quite an achievement! It was a great one for me to get started. And if you're mostly working with rather small pieces it could probably take you a long ways.
FWIW, mine has worked well with cone 5 porcelain. Main limitation is the size: 7"x7"x7". But it has been useful for both pottery and some glass work I've also been doing.
Anyone still on the fence about buying one of these kilns. I’m with Kent, and recommend the caldera. I also got mine second hand. I use it for glass fusing and slumping, vitrigraph pulling, and bisque firing small pottery items such as jewellery or pots. I use a rack to hang ceramic pendants when firing. I did want to try silver clay in it, but I didn’t want to ruin the kiln for glass so haven’t. But I’ve been assured they can cope with metal clay. I have also put a plug in the window, and place fire bricks on top for bisque firing. My work is nowhere near as nice as Kent’s, but I’m mainly a glass artist. I just like to have fun playing with mud. Don’t hesitate if you come across one of these little beasts! Snap it up and have fun.
1. Kent, you have a beautiful nose. 2. Thank you for this! I didn't have any luck finding a used kiln so I bit the bullet and invested the $3000 for a small Cone Art Kiln. I have the area measured but it was nice to see the layout of what I could fit and stack in the kiln.
Hi Kent - Thank you for your video! It was very helpful - especially to see the size of the pieces you are firing. Your video is the only one that I've found like it and it is so daunting to buy a first kiln! I am hoping to buy a Paragon Caldera and use it for small porcelain jewelry that needs firing at ^6 with gold luster at ^018. I was wondering - it is possible to stack two shelves if the pieces are flat and do you think it would be tall enough to make a little structure to hang pendants? I saw that you can expand the height of the kiln too. Does this affect how high the kiln can fire? Thank you again - your videos are very much appreciated!!
That's great to hear! Yes, you can stack shelves. I think mine came with some tiny 1 inch kiln posts to put a second shelf on. And I've never hung any work, but yes, as long as the prices are short enough I'm guessing it would be fine. The ring to go on top definitely impacts firing speed/temp. It didn't like going to cone 6, but I could do a bisque fire that way.
@@PotterybyKent wow! thank you for such a fast reply Kent :) Oh good to know that shelves can be stacked. Oh that's a shame that the extra top keeps the kiln from reaching cone 6. I'm sure I'll be bugging you again soon - haha especially after I have the kiln!!
@@PotterybyKent Hi Kent! I knew I would be back with more questions :) I am trying to figure out where to put the caldera kiln and hoping you might have some suggestions. One option is in our garage and another is in a separate metal shed outside. I am concerned about fire safety, fumes and venting, and keeping the kiln in good shape. So curious about your set-up and insights.
@@shelleyaldrich8008 The safety considerations are of course up to you. Mine was in my garage and I opened it a bit for venting. Outside (even covered) from what I understand there can be issues with humidity in the bricks however I've never had one outside myself.
Kent, I bought the same Caldera about 18 months ago and have used it to make several pieces. I made the "mistake" of ordering the version with the window in the top; I eventually filled it with a piece of firebrick since it significantly limited the maximum temperature the kiln could achieve (couldn't reach cone 5, failed at about cone 1 if I remember correctly). Due to the size limitations, I just bought an oval 36x24x17 kiln which I am eager to use once I get the venting system installed. I have to admit, having that much volume to fill is a bit intimidating! I really, really need to step-up my hobby production!!!
Very nice. That journey sounds very familiar! I still haven't gotten use to my "new" old kiln - it is soooo much bigger than that Caldera. It does indeed take a lot more pots! But the advantage is being able to make bigger ones as well.
@@PotterybyKent One additional thought regarding the Caldera Viewport: When I originally covered the top similarly to your approach, I had a lot of damage to the sheet metal and paint. Trimming a firebrick and additionally packing with a piece of ceramic blanket has been a better approach for me. As to the new kiln, on today's "ToDo" list is to add an Orton vent and route it out through my garage wall. Original plan wss to put the kiln in my basement studio; luckily I realized it was going to be too darn hard to get it down a flight of stairs, especially since tt's one heck of a heater at some 14,000 watts... Would have turned my basement into an oven!!!
@Robert Dunlop With my fire brick placed in the lid, I also got some discoloration of the paint, but didn't notice any problems with the metal luckily. Good luck with the install! Moving the bigger kilns around does take some effort, especially considering how fragile the bricks are.
@@PotterybyKent >Good luck with the install!< Thanks. Having to fall back on my years as a carpenter/building contractor as I punch a hole through the garage wall. I'm not planning to move the kiln again. At 400 pounds it's both too heavy and too fragile! I did put it on a rolling frame, but just to shove it around the garage so my wife doesn't ding her door getting out of her car. The fun never ends! :)
Good Day, I ordered a brand new Caldera XL test kiln. When I opened the packaging to inspect the kiln, I noticed it have some incomplete sealant between the floor and wall bricks. In addition, I noticed the lid had a chipped about 1"x0.5" and another minor chip. There was also a heating element kind of off-seated. When the vendor got back to me, they were saying this is normal, to be expected, and most seasoned potters would find these things cosmetic and can be easily sealed/repaired. However as a customer of various products (stained glass to clothes to food), I can't find their explanation logical. I actually do quality for work and if a supplier would have shipped a part in that condition, I would reject it and then write the supplier up dinging their ratings. Then it was starting to sound as if, they were going about to hint that I could do the minor sealant repairs. This is starting to sound/smell fishy, I wanted to get your opinion and thoughts. Is this really normal? Or is this just the result of poor packaging? Or are they trying to pull a fast one because I'm a novice? I greatly appreciate all and any advice you have.
I bought this kiln as pre-owned but never used. I don't think it had any defects like you mention. I did add a brick to the lid (closing the glass window mine had) and that sealant was easy to use. My other kiln was very very used. And digging into what needed to be repaired, it seems like damage to the bricks in general is not a big deal for the kiln's functioning. So back to your questions, I do think those types of issues are cosmetic and easy to fix (or really they don't need fixing). I have extremely limited experience with new kilns, so I'm not sure if those types of things are common with them, or if you got unlucky with this particular one.
I can give you the one I use now. It starts with a 2 hour delay which you could remove. And is in fahrenheit (so feel free to convert to C as needed) Time (minutes) | Temp (F) 120 | 165 130 | 195 240 | 250 485 | 1684 585 | 1828 590 | 1828
if the kiln is on for 10 hrs, etc. is it profitable ? it seems to be using a lot of electricity. Gas is always less costly than electricity but the handling is not as easy. Jus curious
Profit has two sides - costs and sales price. You can make just about anything profitable if you make it valuable enough (sales price). As a percentage of the cost of a pot, electricity is a factor, but likely a small one compared to labor. Electricity can also be generated from renewable sources. And while the kiln is "on" for that duration what it is really doing is toggling relays on and off to hit the target temperatures on the right schedule. One factor in choosing gas is to do a reduction firing - that really can't be done with an electric kiln.
Well you could ask for a new one under warrantee I guess. But assuming you don't do that, I can see 3 options depending on the break. If it's not too big (like just a chip) you can use it without the broken piece. If it's just a crack and is otherwise stable, you can fire it with the crack. Finally, if for some reason those don't work you can use refractory cement to adhere it. My kiln is actually the one originally intended for glass blowing and so there's a window in the top of the lid. I cut out a piece of brick and used refractory cement to close the hole up.
My kiln is in my garage and I usually fire with the door cracked open. In terms of offgassing it really depends on your materials but for my own firings I haven't found it to be a critical issue.
I want to get a small kiln like yours but I'm worried about the house I live in. I live in a mobile home and the last time I plugged a portable ac into the outlet it kept cutting off the electricity to one part of my house. It happened 3 times before I finally just return it.
Great video Kent! I’m highly considering buying a small paragon kiln, your video was really helpful and informative. Have a wonderful day 😄
Thanks! It's good kiln if the small volume works for you.
I've been thinking about getting a small kiln to make porcelain jewelry. The dream is to buy a larger kiln one day, but this seems like a great model to get started with especially as I can still fire larger pieces at a local studio I attend. Also a bit more affordable even purchased new and even can find it in stock! It looks like the Firefly model is the exact same in terms of firing temp and volts, difference is the lid hinges to open. Thank you for sharing this!!!
Getting a kiln at all these days can be quite an achievement! It was a great one for me to get started. And if you're mostly working with rather small pieces it could probably take you a long ways.
FWIW, mine has worked well with cone 5 porcelain. Main limitation is the size: 7"x7"x7". But it has been useful for both pottery and some glass work I've also been doing.
Anyone still on the fence about buying one of these kilns. I’m with Kent, and recommend the caldera. I also got mine second hand. I use it for glass fusing and slumping, vitrigraph pulling, and bisque firing small pottery items such as jewellery or pots. I use a rack to hang ceramic pendants when firing. I did want to try silver clay in it, but I didn’t want to ruin the kiln for glass so haven’t. But I’ve been assured they can cope with metal clay. I have also put a plug in the window, and place fire bricks on top for bisque firing. My work is nowhere near as nice as Kent’s, but I’m mainly a glass artist. I just like to have fun playing with mud. Don’t hesitate if you come across one of these little beasts! Snap it up and have fun.
Thanks for your perspective!
1. Kent, you have a beautiful nose. 2. Thank you for this! I didn't have any luck finding a used kiln so I bit the bullet and invested the $3000 for a small Cone Art Kiln. I have the area measured but it was nice to see the layout of what I could fit and stack in the kiln.
Thanks. I'm glad this was helpful. And enjoy your new kiln!!
Hi Kent - Thank you for your video! It was very helpful - especially to see the size of the pieces you are firing. Your video is the only one that I've found like it and it is so daunting to buy a first kiln! I am hoping to buy a Paragon Caldera and use it for small porcelain jewelry that needs firing at ^6 with gold luster at ^018. I was wondering - it is possible to stack two shelves if the pieces are flat and do you think it would be tall enough to make a little structure to hang pendants? I saw that you can expand the height of the kiln too. Does this affect how high the kiln can fire? Thank you again - your videos are very much appreciated!!
That's great to hear!
Yes, you can stack shelves. I think mine came with some tiny 1 inch kiln posts to put a second shelf on. And I've never hung any work, but yes, as long as the prices are short enough I'm guessing it would be fine. The ring to go on top definitely impacts firing speed/temp. It didn't like going to cone 6, but I could do a bisque fire that way.
@@PotterybyKent wow! thank you for such a fast reply Kent :) Oh good to know that shelves can be stacked. Oh that's a shame that the extra top keeps the kiln from reaching cone 6. I'm sure I'll be bugging you again soon - haha especially after I have the kiln!!
Happy to help!
@@PotterybyKent Hi Kent! I knew I would be back with more questions :) I am trying to figure out where to put the caldera kiln and hoping you might have some suggestions. One option is in our garage and another is in a separate metal shed outside. I am concerned about fire safety, fumes and venting, and keeping the kiln in good shape. So curious about your set-up and insights.
@@shelleyaldrich8008 The safety considerations are of course up to you. Mine was in my garage and I opened it a bit for venting. Outside (even covered) from what I understand there can be issues with humidity in the bricks however I've never had one outside myself.
Kent, I bought the same Caldera about 18 months ago and have used it to make several pieces. I made the "mistake" of ordering the version with the window in the top; I eventually filled it with a piece of firebrick since it significantly limited the maximum temperature the kiln could achieve (couldn't reach cone 5, failed at about cone 1 if I remember correctly). Due to the size limitations, I just bought an oval 36x24x17 kiln which I am eager to use once I get the venting system installed. I have to admit, having that much volume to fill is a bit intimidating! I really, really need to step-up my hobby production!!!
Very nice. That journey sounds very familiar! I still haven't gotten use to my "new" old kiln - it is soooo much bigger than that Caldera. It does indeed take a lot more pots! But the advantage is being able to make bigger ones as well.
@@PotterybyKent One additional thought regarding the Caldera Viewport: When I originally covered the top similarly to your approach, I had a lot of damage to the sheet metal and paint. Trimming a firebrick and additionally packing with a piece of ceramic blanket has been a better approach for me.
As to the new kiln, on today's "ToDo" list is to add an Orton vent and route it out through my garage wall. Original plan wss to put the kiln in my basement studio; luckily I realized it was going to be too darn hard to get it down a flight of stairs, especially since tt's one heck of a heater at some 14,000 watts... Would have turned my basement into an oven!!!
@Robert Dunlop With my fire brick placed in the lid, I also got some discoloration of the paint, but didn't notice any problems with the metal luckily.
Good luck with the install! Moving the bigger kilns around does take some effort, especially considering how fragile the bricks are.
@@PotterybyKent >Good luck with the install!< Thanks. Having to fall back on my years as a carpenter/building contractor as I punch a hole through the garage wall. I'm not planning to move the kiln again. At 400 pounds it's both too heavy and too fragile! I did put it on a rolling frame, but just to shove it around the garage so my wife doesn't ding her door getting out of her car. The fun never ends! :)
@@PotterybyKent BTW, do you use Fusion 360 to report the volume of your silicone casts?
Good Day,
I ordered a brand new Caldera XL test kiln. When I opened the packaging to inspect the kiln, I noticed it have some incomplete sealant between the floor and wall bricks. In addition, I noticed the lid had a chipped about 1"x0.5" and another minor chip. There was also a heating element kind of off-seated. When the vendor got back to me, they were saying this is normal, to be expected, and most seasoned potters would find these things cosmetic and can be easily sealed/repaired.
However as a customer of various products (stained glass to clothes to food), I can't find their explanation logical. I actually do quality for work and if a supplier would have shipped a part in that condition, I would reject it and then write the supplier up dinging their ratings. Then it was starting to sound as if, they were going about to hint that I could do the minor sealant repairs.
This is starting to sound/smell fishy, I wanted to get your opinion and thoughts. Is this really normal? Or is this just the result of poor packaging? Or are they trying to pull a fast one because I'm a novice?
I greatly appreciate all and any advice you have.
I bought this kiln as pre-owned but never used. I don't think it had any defects like you mention. I did add a brick to the lid (closing the glass window mine had) and that sealant was easy to use. My other kiln was very very used. And digging into what needed to be repaired, it seems like damage to the bricks in general is not a big deal for the kiln's functioning.
So back to your questions, I do think those types of issues are cosmetic and easy to fix (or really they don't need fixing). I have extremely limited experience with new kilns, so I'm not sure if those types of things are common with them, or if you got unlucky with this particular one.
I have a mini kiln
But instead of choosing the cone
I have to enter the firing schedule
Can u please share
Cone 06 glaze firing schedule?
I can give you the one I use now. It starts with a 2 hour delay which you could remove. And is in fahrenheit (so feel free to convert to C as needed)
Time (minutes) | Temp (F)
120 | 165
130 | 195
240 | 250
485 | 1684
585 | 1828
590 | 1828
if the kiln is on for 10 hrs, etc. is it profitable ? it seems to be using a lot of electricity. Gas is always less costly than electricity but the handling is not as easy. Jus curious
Profit has two sides - costs and sales price. You can make just about anything profitable if you make it valuable enough (sales price). As a percentage of the cost of a pot, electricity is a factor, but likely a small one compared to labor. Electricity can also be generated from renewable sources. And while the kiln is "on" for that duration what it is really doing is toggling relays on and off to hit the target temperatures on the right schedule. One factor in choosing gas is to do a reduction firing - that really can't be done with an electric kiln.
I bought a new paragon firefly when it arrived it had a broken brick I have the piece how to glue it back in
Well you could ask for a new one under warrantee I guess. But assuming you don't do that, I can see 3 options depending on the break. If it's not too big (like just a chip) you can use it without the broken piece. If it's just a crack and is otherwise stable, you can fire it with the crack. Finally, if for some reason those don't work you can use refractory cement to adhere it. My kiln is actually the one originally intended for glass blowing and so there's a window in the top of the lid. I cut out a piece of brick and used refractory cement to close the hole up.
Hi, do you not need ventilation for this?
My kiln is in my garage and I usually fire with the door cracked open. In terms of offgassing it really depends on your materials but for my own firings I haven't found it to be a critical issue.
I want to get a small kiln like yours but I'm worried about the house I live in. I live in a mobile home and the last time I plugged a portable ac into the outlet it kept cutting off the electricity to one part of my house. It happened 3 times before I finally just return it.
You'd want this on its own circuit. Or in my case I had it on one with nothing else plugged into it.
Thank for your video .. can you please post a link for where I can get this online?
I'm not sure the best place to get it online. I bought mine second hand (new old stock) locally.
So does the kiln stop firing automatically once the Pottery is ready?
Yes, it will run according to a set program - eg I ran it for my glaze firing to Cone 6 and it automatically ramped the temperature up as needed.
@@PotterybyKent cool, thanks
A bit to small
Depends on your purpose. You can always get a bigger one but it was a great way for me to fire for a solid year