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Tips, Techniques, and Questions -- Technical questions or tips |
2013-12-25, 3:20am
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Mar 21, 2011
Location: Sweden
Posts: 113
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Choosing Kiln
Hi!
I got a pleasant problem. Hubby gave me a bead annealing kiln as a christmasgift. Now I have to choose the kiln and I would like your advice. Tell me anything you think I should think about when buying my first kiln (brand, size, features, cost, anything/everything else)
There are a few things I know I want
- Bead door
- Work for bead annealing, glass fusing and silver clay
- Service/spareparts avaliable
Happy hollidays =)
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2013-12-25, 4:19am
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jun 16, 2005
Location: Port Townsend, Washington
Posts: 865
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Contact Mike and Pamm. They can build one to order. And are wonderful folks also. The Glasshive.
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2013-12-25, 8:40am
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jul 15, 2005
Location: Eastern West Virginia
Posts: 2,936
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Get one from Glass Hive. Mike makes wonderful kilns and Pam provides customer service that is second to none.
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Carol O. (Cricket with 5 lpm oxycon)
"The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start" John Bingham
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2013-12-25, 8:45am
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Dix Harrison
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Join Date: Mar 31, 2009
Location: KCKS - But my heart is in Scotland
Posts: 526
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I just recently completed a compilation of information on kilns for research.
I put everything on a spreadsheet so I could easily compare features.
I chose to research these features because they were most important to me:
Vendor
Kiln Name
Manufacturer
Model Number
Max Temp
Amps
Watts
Breaker
Wire Sz
Volts
Controller Type
Weight
Exterior Dimensions
Chamber Dimensions
Kiln Price
Shipping Cost
Total Price
Notes or Special Features
I chose to sort by vendor because some vendors carry more than one manufacturer and model, and I was shopping for the best price--delivered. I only considered kilns with a bead door, so that was not a feature I included in the spreadsheet.
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2013-12-25, 12:01pm
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one day at a time
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Join Date: Jun 27, 2005
Location: We are MOVING!!!
Posts: 8,319
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Never mind all the other brands out there. Go with the Glass Hive kiln. I don't even own one yet, I have a Paragon. But when I'm ready to get another, I'm going with a Glass Hive. I have been a member of the glass community since 2002 and have read countless posts over the years on the excellent quality of the kilns and the wonderful customer service. You will also have many kilns to chose from and they do custom orders. Almost forgot, they have a very flexible payment plan (layaway).
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You live in a world of money. Money means choices. No money, no choices. Welcome to reality.
Melody (Marlee Matlin) from Switched at Birth
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2013-12-25, 12:57pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Aug 01, 2005
Posts: 2,159
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glass Hive does a good job, I've got one of Mike's kilns and like it a lot. It's mostly firebrick and is well made. I use it for soft glass and boro.
I also have a Skutt GM10 with a bead door on it that is great if you are doing a number of tasks which require different programs. It goes up to 1800 degrees max and can hold at least 6 different programs for soft glass, boro, clay,etc. It's also firebrick.
Both run on household current and depending on the model you might choose from Glass Hive the price points are similar. From there it really depends on wht your budget is and what you plan to do with the kiln.
Robert
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Robert Simmons
(Former) Director for Bead Donations
Beads of Courage, Inc.
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2013-12-25, 2:31pm
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tweetysweetie
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Join Date: Jun 30, 2005
Location: Alaska, I was here first!
Posts: 1,854
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I own three kilns from the Glasshive...top quality, top notch service and guarantee...you can't go wrong....they have great models to choose from or Mike can build one to specs...Glasshive is the bestest. Congrats on your new gifty...
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I am NOT the authority on anything/everything, but as old as I am... and given the mistakes I've made? I've got a jump on most as to what IS right and what WON'T work!! ~CWeaver 2006
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2013-12-25, 2:36pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Mar 21, 2011
Location: Sweden
Posts: 113
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Thank you all! I will consider Glasshive though I think it will be very expensive since they are not found in Europe. I believe the tax and the freightcost will probably be as much as the kiln itself. The good word you put in ways a lot though considering that service is a one of my "must haves".
kansassky: Thanx for the sugestion about a spreadsheet and the list with features. I will do that.
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2013-12-25, 3:39pm
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I'm meeeeelting
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Join Date: May 27, 2007
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 2,236
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Do you know what brands are available in Europe? It may be more helpful to you if you post that information so people can tell you what they know about those brands or particular kilns within those brands that would work for what you want to do.
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2013-12-25, 3:47pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Aug 02, 2007
Location: Nahant Ma
Posts: 1,901
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Maqea
Thank you all! I will consider Glasshive though I think it will be very expensive since they are not found in Europe. I believe the tax and the freightcost will probably be as much as the kiln itself. The good word you put in ways a lot though considering that service is a one of my "must haves".
kansassky: Thanx for the sugestion about a spreadsheet and the list with features. I will do that.
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Hi Magea, I thought this might be helpful. I am from the Boston area in the US and have been a member on LE for years. I am also a member on a forum I found in England that has great people like LE does, with you beeing on that side of the world they may be able to help you more.
Here is the link:
http://www.frit-happens.co.uk/forum/
Merry Christmas:
Bob
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2013-12-27, 10:20am
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Mar 21, 2011
Location: Sweden
Posts: 113
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Felicia - I did not say anything about where I was from at first because I wanted to know about your first choise first and not adjusted to me beeing from europe. =)
Second I am not shure about all brands of kilns there are so therefore I asked here at LE to learn more before I buy a kiln.
Right now Im looking at a Paragon SC2 with beaddoor but maybe there are better and cheaper kilns somewhere I dont know about.
Bob - I have asked the same question at Frit-Happens =). There are a whole section about kils at FritHappens and Im working my way through that info. Thanx for the sugestion though.
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2013-12-27, 11:53am
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jun 19, 2009
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 392
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Without a doubt you can't go wrong with a Glass Hive kiln.
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Erin
MiniCC / EX15
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2013-12-27, 11:59am
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one day at a time
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Join Date: Jun 27, 2005
Location: We are MOVING!!!
Posts: 8,319
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If your concern about the Glass Hive kiln is the cost of shipping from the US, then you should PM Mike or Pam. I'm sure they would be glad to give you an estimate of the shipping costs to your country. As for the additional cost of customs fees, you would have to find that out on your own.
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You live in a world of money. Money means choices. No money, no choices. Welcome to reality.
Melody (Marlee Matlin) from Switched at Birth
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2013-12-28, 7:45pm
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KILN BUILDIN FOOL
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Join Date: Jun 14, 2005
Location: OREGON COAST
Posts: 1,738
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We get them there for right around 225.00.
Mike
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2014-03-01, 2:42pm
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HI-DEE-HO!
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Join Date: Feb 23, 2014
Location: Reno Tahoe area of N. Nevada
Posts: 16
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Just ordered my first kiln! Regular Guy Tall with Double Hinge Doors from The Glass Hive.
The reputation of the company is excellent and I like the fact that this is made in the USA by real glass people.
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2014-03-02, 12:11pm
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SCIENCE Teacher!
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Join Date: Jul 19, 2005
Location: Wylie, TX
Posts: 2,140
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I've had my Arrow Springs AF99 forever. Digital controller. Love it. Craig is wonderfully patient with questions or problems and he has been making these for years and years. He even talked me through creating a custom annealing program.
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Yes, I am FosterFire Bead Release.
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2014-03-02, 4:29pm
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offically down under
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Join Date: Dec 22, 2005
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 3,131
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I have a Glasshive that Mike and Pam made to Aussie current (220) and it came beautifully boxed and delivered. All I had to do was attach an Aussie plug.
Do to my love to push buttons, I accidentally reset the preset program. Pam, patiently talked me through reprogramming the machine.
I love my Glasshive and it was a great choice.
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Tammy
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