A lot of people really like the muffle-type kilns.  Why not just use them since you have them?  It's just a case of getting used to them.  Ricky Frank does all of his work on the SC-2, as I do, and I would never go back.  I guess it's what you get used to.

Thanks Vera et al,

I so appreciate all the input from you all re: kiln preferences. Wadda group!

Linda

Hi Trish, do you have the name of your model Vcella, and is it 240 as opposed to 120?  What is the interior size?

Are the beehive kilns tiny?

thank you,

Mary Rose

Hi Vera, what is a muffle-type kiln; is it very small?

You like the SC-2, is that computer controlled?

Thank you,

Mary Rose

Hi Linda, is there a way to use the cck kilns without using the programming?

Thank you,

Mary Rose

The CCK's have to be programmed. There is, on the Paragon kilns, one program that allows custom settings.

All kilns either have a fire-brick lining or what they call a muffle lining which is a fibrous material that encases the heating elements...you know right away when you look inside.  Usually when people talk about a metal clay kiln they are referring to a muffle type kiln...usually, but not always.

Computer controlled kilns simply refer to the fact that there is a built in digital controller and it may be a fire-brick lined kiln or a muffle-lined kiln.

The SC-2 is a very popular well-priced Paragon kiln frequently used for metal clay and often used for enameling.  It is a muffle-type kiln and computer controlled.  There is a pretty good chance that it is the one at your school...just guessing based on popularity.

For specs, see the Paragon website.

One thing I really like about my SC-2 is that it heats up really fast...from the time I turn it on I can be enameling in 10 minutes!

You program it to heat to 1450 and stay there, or 1350 and stay there, or whatever temp you want.  It's really not a big deal.  The programming just gives the metal clay artists the option to do more complicated things that we really don't care about.

Hi Vera, is the SC-2 a small kiln, or the tall one?  Is it 120 or 240?

Sorry for all the questions.  If you don't use it computer-controlled, do you use manually?

MR

Mary Rose, Go to the Paragon Website to get the specs on the kiln.  It takes 120. 

All computer controlled kilns are only computer controlled...that means that you tell it by pushing buttons that you want it to heat up to a certain temperature and stay there for the duration of the firing when you are enameling.  When you are firing metal clay, you tell it to do other things by pushing buttons.  It's not complicated.  When you have the kiln, you just read the directions.  When you are thinking about it and you don't have the kiln, it seems complicated.  Trust me.  Everybody who can enamel can also operate the kiln. 

Hi Vera, thanks for your latest reply.  I appreciate your taking the time to write about the cck kilns.  Right now I am using a very basic kiln, not cck.

MR

Hello,

In my own studio I have a small Paragon firebrick lined kiln for my enameling, which I find to be perfect for this purpose.

I will be teaching an enameling class this coming Fall in a studio that has four computer-controlled kilns, usually used for metal clay. I prefer to use non-computer-controlled kilns and firebrick lining for enameling for several reasons. (1) the cck's tend to get stressed by the checking we enamelists do for fusing the enamel and (2) the firebrick holds the temperature better than the linings of the cck's, when the door is opened to check for fusing.

The studio where I will be teaching does not currently have a budget that will permit the purchase of a very large kiln, and, although I will be teaching making small objects (jewelry), at some point I do hope that the enameling classes will include making larger objects. This, however, is not a critical parameter right now.

I'm open to kiln recommendations from this group. Have you had experience using cck's that satisfied your needs as enamelists? Do you prefer cck's or manually controlled. Anything else you wish to share about kilns.

Thanks, in advance, for your input.

Linda Kaye-Moses