A Beginner’s Guide to Choosing Your First Kiln

Starting your pottery journey can be very exciting. Diving into this new hobby can become overwhelming if you don’t have the proper equipment to work with. This includes high-quality clay, carving tools, a pottery wheel, underglaze, and to finish it all off, a nice pottery kiln. The kiln is the oven where you’ll bake all your creations and give them their new life.

What to Consider when Buying

Size

The size of your kiln is one of the most important considerations. It mainly depends on what you’ll be making and how many creations you’ll be baking. If you’re a beginner it’s probably a good idea to invest in a smaller kiln. You’ll have time to get used to it and learn how to operate it easily.

These beginner kilns are suitable for smaller items. You’ll be able to test and improve your designs over time. However, if you’re planning on starting big and already have some experience with pottery and baking, then you should get a larger kiln. There’s a wide variety of pottery kilns to choose from and the bigger ones are made for larger, more complex projects.

Larger kilns can accommodate a heavier load than smaller ones if you intend to make more pieces at the same time. Another thing that will affect the kiln’s size is the space where you’ll place it. If you don’t have enough room don’t buy a large one. Kilns need a lot of ventilation. To get the perfect amount of airflow there should be at least 50cm of space on each side.

Heat Source

When it comes to the heat source, your two main choices are gas and electricity. They’re very different and can have an influence on the firing process and how the final product looks like. They generate heat differently. Electric ones have heating coils and gas ones use gas or propane to get things started.

A lot of potters favour electric kilns because they’re suitable for low to mid-fire baking. If they work on high heat a lot, the coils may wear out quickly. They’re ideal for newbies because of their user-friendly nature. Some of them even have preset cycles and programable controllers.

They also have a downside. Because they can’t create a reduced atmosphere you won’t be able to get a wide range of glaze colours. But they’re still a favourite because they’re simple, reliable and affordable. Professional potters lean towards the gas kilns. This is mainly because of the glaze colours they can get.

Gas options are considered more costly when compared to electric kilns due to their high precision technology. You can regulate their internal firing atmosphere and raise the temperature much higher. Also, gas kilns can reduce, or remove oxygen from their internal atmospheres. This reduction is what makes beautiful colours like copper reds.

Top-Loading or Front-Loading

Beginners often have trouble deciding if they want a top or a front-loading kiln. Top-loading pottery kilns are great for small projects. They’re easy to use and have a lid that opens up upwards. You simply raise it and place the item inside. If the item is bigger, you might have trouble getting it in.

The door of a front-loading kiln hinges at the front, making it easier to load large items. The main benefit of a front-loading kiln is its convenience, particularly for those who have back problems. They come in many shapes and sizes and can fit items of different structures. That’s why they’re more expensive. But it’s an investment worth making especially if you’re working on larger projects.

Controller Types

The controller types in ceramic kilns can vary from one manufacturer to another. In the past, they had buttons, knobs and units to control everything on the kiln. Nowadays, we have a more modern approach to the whole thing. Almost all of them are digitalised. They have touchscreen features and sophisticated mini-computers. The digital interface they have provides potters with a more pleasurable, simpler baking experience.

Kiln Accessories

There are a few accessories that can make the kiln a more practical baking item. One of them is the furniture kits which allow you to bake multiple items simultaneously. You can find them in several forms depending on your needs. Aluminium shelves are a very common choice. Another choice is Corelite shelves. They’re lightweight and durable. If you’re baking at higher temperatures, go for silicon carbide shelves.

The kiln stilts are good for medium-low temperatures. Otherwise, they’ll lose their shape. Bead racks are great if you’re focusing on making jewellery. You’ll likely require several kiln posts to support the shelves and maximize the space inside.  Bricks will help you retain the heat and energy inside the kiln. 

Safety Considerations

• Don’t put anything on top of the kiln;
• Don’t fire it if it’s not vented;
• Never lean against it even if it’s not working;
• Supervise it closely during the whole process;
• Clear the area of combustible materials;
• Follow the manuals and instructions;
• Have a fire extinguisher close by just in case.