too cheap to buy another freakin' kiln

[jt007]

I have a little Paragon SC2 kiln that I use for PMC and fusing small glass pieces. I need to convert the front door somehow so I can stick mandrels in there to anneal beads. Paragon sells the same kiln w/ an optional bead door, but of course they won't sell just the door to retrofit onto mine because then they couldn't suck another $500 out of me. Sierra kilns sells an optional bead curtain to put in place of a door, but it looks kind of lame and it seems that too much heat would escape. Am I screwed? Do I have to buy another kiln just to anneal beads? Please say it ain't so....

[Firelilly]

Well, to quote Mr. Smiley, "You can never have too many kilns." :p

I'm not going to offer you any advice really. But I will say that I just went through trying to find a kiln that would do it all, and do it all well. I don't think there is such a thing.

You can probably batch anneal in your PMC kiln, but I think it could be argued that putting your beads straight into a waiting kiln would make them happier.

13855

Lil

[alissa]

You could build a mailbox annealer; I think the parts will cost you around $60.

[amberbryant1]

uh, what? build your own! My ears just perked up! Do you have to have a Kiln to start with? I'm sure you do. I'll just go ahead and DAMN now. I am new and don't have a Kiln yet. I am trying everything to find something cheap and good. There is no such thing. If you could elborate on the mailbox thing I would love it.

[alissa]

Yep, you need a kiln. Or a neighbor with a kiln. Annealing is necessary, and if you have your own kiln right next to your torch, you don't have to worry about cracking from thermal stress while cooling in a fiber blanket.

Mark Wilson posted a tutorial on Wetcanvas (http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=162187&highlight=mailbox+kiln) a while back; that should get you started!