What Are the Types of Kilns I Can Get for My Studio?
Purchasing a kiln is a huge investment, and evaluating your options can feel overwhelming. After all, choosing the right kiln depends on your space, artistic needs, and experience level. Ceramic kilns are ideal for various clay types and come in electric and gas options. Raku kilns, a type of gas kiln, are specially designed for the raku firing technique, allowing for quick removal of hot pieces. Glass kilns, which are exclusively electric, feature heating elements on the lid and sides to maintain uniform temperatures for glass projects. And for artists working with both clay and glass, dual-media kilns provide versatility with adjustable digital controls.
Purchasing a kiln for your studio or home is a big decision and not one you should take lightly. You want to be sure you’re selecting the kiln that will fit your space, serve the needs of your studio and projects, and last for many years to come.
There are a lot of different types of kilns you can choose for your studio, and knowing which does what can help ensure you make the best decision for your pottery- or glass-making needs.
Ready to learn about the different types of kilns available and discover the right one for you? Let’s dive in.
Ceramic Kilns
Ceramic kilns, sometimes called pottery kilns, are ideal for clay-slingers, whether your clay of choice includes stoneware clay, earthenware clay, porcelain clay, raku clay, ball clay, or fire clay. Plus, they work to fire creations dipped or coated in glazes. Depending on the type of ceramic kiln you have, you can operate at temperatures as low as up to 1,700°F and as high as 2,700°F.
The beauty about today’s ceramic kilns is that the vast majority of them include digital controllers that simplify the operating process and control the internal temperatures for you—no need to babysit the kiln while you’re using it!
One thing to be aware of, though, is that ceramic kilns can be divided into two fuel types: electric and gas.
Electric Kilns
Electric kilns are great for all potters, from those who are relatively new to the pottery game to those who are highly experienced in making clay and ceramic creations.
Because they rely on electricity, electric kilns take longer to heat up, but they offer more temperature control throughout the firing process.
The reason most opt for an electric ceramic kiln, whether they are starting out or deep into their pottery journey, is because electric kilns are easy to install, easy to operate, and don’t require a ton of attention like gas kilns do. Plus, if you foresee yourself sticking to pottery and ceramics, you won’t go wrong with an electric kiln.
Gas Kilns
Gas kilns are for highly experienced potters, particularly those who have been trained to use them along their pottery journey. These kilns use natural gas or propane as their fuel source, which allows them to heat up fast. Depending on the type of gas kiln, internal temperatures can reach 2,400°F.
Because they rely on gas or propane, these kilns are much more finicky than electric kilns and require a good bit of skill and expertise to operate. While electric kilns are pretty safe to walk away from while they are in operation, a gas kiln requires the user to hang around, keep an eye on it, and make manual adjustments to maintain or control the temperature throughout the firing process.
However, many potters still prefer the use of gas kilns because of their interesting and unique effects on pottery pieces, the various firing techniques they can allow, and the efficiency of the firing process.
Raku Kilns
You can fire raku clay in a ceramic kiln, but if you specialize in the raku firing technique, you may want to opt for a raku kiln. Raku kilns are gas kilns with a unique design that allows you to remove the piece from the kiln easily and move on to the next steps in the raku process.
Raku is the technique of removing a piece from the kiln while it’s still extremely hot. This technique is difficult to carry out using an electric kiln, especially the common top-loading kiln. Some say the severe temperature changes that occur when you open an electric kiln too early often damage the pieces; some say the design of the electric kiln makes it hard to extract the pieces safely and without causing damage.
Whatever the reason, raku kilns are designed so that the body rests on the bottom half, where the pieces are placed. When the kiln has reached the desired temperature, the body lifts from the bottom, exposing the now incredibly hot pieces for easy access.
Glass Kilns
It may seem obvious, but glass kilns are used for projects involving glass. People who work with glass require a kiln that can reach temperatures as high as 1,700°F for slumping, draping, fusing, raking, or casting glass to create pieces of art.
While ceramic kilns heat on the sides, glass kilns feature heating elements on the lid and the sides. Glass requires heat that radiates onto the surface of the project and a uniform, stabilized temperature throughout the kiln. Without this method of heating, the glass inside could crack, ruining the project.
All glass kilns are electric, as the internal temperature must be stabilized throughout the firing process. Electric kilns and the electric controller attached allow the temperatures to rise, fall, or hold as needed to protect and fire the glass inside.
Dual Media Kilns
For those who like to work with both clay and glass, electric dual-media kilns can handle both mediums with proper programming and use.
The qualities of a dual media kiln include:
- Heating elements on both the sides and lid of the kiln.
- Digital controller to increase, decrease, or hold temperatures as needed in the firing process.
- Reaching temperatures as high as 2,350°F for clay.
Looking for a New Kiln for Your Studio? Talk to Clay-King About Your Needs Today!
Clay-King carries all types of high-quality kilns from brands like Skutt, L&L, Olympic, Amaco, Evenheat, and Cress. Available in a variety of sizes and for a variety of applications, our kilns deliver the firing solutions you need to complete your studio and take your pottery or glass-making game to the next level.
Check out our selection of kilns, or contact us to tell us about the kind of kiln you’re looking for today!
Call 888-838-3625 or email info@clay-king.com.
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