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| Tips, Techniques, and Questions -- Technical questions or tips |
2013-01-13, 9:38pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Nov 22, 2012
Location: Eastern Shore Maryland
Posts: 958
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In love with your Kiln?
I am looking to purchase my first kiln...I am a beginner lampworker so any information would be so very helpful and appreciated!!
Are you in love with kiln and why??
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Happy Torching! Julie
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2013-01-14, 12:20am
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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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Glasshive... Look no further. Beautifully built, quality kiln with great customer service. I live in a coastal area where salt plays havoc on tools and equipment. I've had my kiln for 3-4 years and it looks practically brand new. Customer service is top notch. I'm a bit of a button pusher and I managed to reprogram my kiln. On an overseas call, Pam took me step by step to reset the program.
There are several recent threads on this subject so I suggest you do a search and you will find many many happy lampworkers using Glasshive products.
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Tammy
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2013-01-14, 1:03am
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Nov 08, 2005
Posts: 2,907
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Glasshive is the way to go. You will never need another kiln.
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GTT Scorpion, Griffin Glass footpedal, EX15 oxycon
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2013-01-14, 5:31am
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jul 19, 2011
Location: New Orleans, LA
Posts: 624
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absolutely Glasshive. they are beautifully made, easy to use and the customer service is best around.
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Autumn
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2013-01-14, 5:36am
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Wyoming Silvers
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Join Date: Jan 31, 2007
Location: Cowboy State
Posts: 273
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Oh yeah,,,glass hive .. Love mine!
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Lovin my Lynx with M20
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2013-01-14, 6:04am
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Oct 25, 2010
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 107
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Another Glass Hive user here. Customer service is the best and the kilns are top notch. I do not 'love' my kiln, but that's only because it is too small. I bought a short guy several years ago when I could only do a couple of beads at a sitting. Now I am frustrated by how fast my kiln gets too full!
Sheralyn
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2013-01-14, 10:01am
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Shelarious
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Join Date: Jul 18, 2007
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Posts: 1,961
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I have a Jen Ken, had it for about five years. http://jenkenkilns.com/af3p-119w4flipdoor.aspx
I've never had a single problems with it, huge space in the interior and I don't really know what their customer support is like b/c I've never had to call them to find out.
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~Shelley
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2013-01-14, 10:28am
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ScrapSurfGlassPaddleSew
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Join Date: Jan 22, 2012
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 3,223
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I have an AIM kiln that I bought before I had a clue - hadn't even discoverd LE yet, so hadn't had the benefit of the resources here. Thankfully, I did well, especially given that I had no clue what I was doing, it meets all my current and projected needs, and it hasn't given me a bit of trouble.
But if I HAD been here first? I'd have a Glasshive, for the customer support alone! Having someone you KNOW you can reach out to and get answers? Priceless!
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Pat The journey is the reward
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L-111
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2013-01-14, 11:11am
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Wonder-wench
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Join Date: Aug 09, 2010
Location: land of milk & honey
Posts: 1,104
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Paragon SC2. I love it because it has the following features and will last me through many phases of glass and other kiln projects:
bead door
bigger, main door for sculptural stuff
several built in programs, including for metal clay
4 customizable programs
vent at the top for metal clay
window for peeking if trying to kiln strike
120V (normal household voltage)
solid construction, very durable
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Elizabeth
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2013-01-14, 2:53pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jan 22, 2010
Posts: 405
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I have the same Jen Ken as bshelle and have also had no problems in about 5 years, however, after spending time in LE and reading about their support, if I were ever in need of a new kiln I would go Glasshive, also.
Georgia
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2013-01-14, 5:02pm
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Now part of the Dark Side
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Join Date: Jul 02, 2010
Location: North Central PA
Posts: 966
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I have a Paragon SC3 it's just a little bigger than the SC2, my next kiln will be a Glass Hive. Biggest disadvantage to the SC3 is the punty door. You can use the punty door or the main door but not both at the same time. The main door is a swing out door like a house door, if you have something in the punty door it will sweep your kiln out.
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Roy
Hot glass does not crack.
Unless it is glowing and drippy, hot glass looks like cold glass.
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2013-01-16, 12:42pm
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I ate a big red candle!
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Join Date: Oct 29, 2005
Location: Crotchfester, NY
Posts: 854
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I highly recommend Glasshive as well, but I have also had a Jen Ken bead annealer for the past several years and it was great for me as a beginner. The only reason I upgraded was because of space.
If you're on a budget, I would look for a Jen Ken used. I would say to look for a glasshive used, but you would have to pry it from folks' cold dead fingers.
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My fledgling etsy shop
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2013-01-16, 12:50pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jun 05, 2005
Posts: 2,391
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Arrowsprings makes a great kiln, too.
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Available in my Etsy: Fits-Pandora tubing in silver, copper, brass and aluminum.
GinkoDesigns Supplies and Tubing:
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Ginko Beads
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2013-01-16, 12:52pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Nov 22, 2012
Location: Eastern Shore Maryland
Posts: 958
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Thank you everyone for all of your input!! This has been very helpful, since I am such a newbie, kilns are something that I do not know anything about. So with everything else in the lampworking world, I am trying to learn and make the best purchasing decisions about equipment and tools. I greatly appreciate all of the input!
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Happy Torching! Julie
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2013-01-16, 3:15pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: May 30, 2010
Location: Loving Bermuda, dreaming of Africa and looking forward to Maine!
Posts: 508
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Paragon Bluebird XL, had it shipped to Bermuda 3 years ago, never had a problem with it. Double doors so lots of space too.
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Amanda
"Don't compromise yourself. You are all you've got." Janis Joplin
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2013-01-16, 3:45pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Aug 09, 2005
Posts: 303
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I love Arrowsprings kilns. They have great customer service too. Craig is very patient and will walk you through programing. I think they are comparable to Glasshive, you might check out size and features and price to help make up your mind.
If you get a brick kiln, you can just turn it off 30-1 hour after you are done making beads and let it "ramp down" without a program. That might help you get a less expensive controller. But I'm not sure.
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Suzan
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2013-01-16, 4:50pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Nov 29, 2007
Location: Mid-Atlantic
Posts: 410
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First I had a Paragon SC-3, but as DragonHarper said it's hard to open the main door if you have mandrels hanging out the bead door. It's also small. I later got a GlassHive and use that always! Love it!!
Judy
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2013-01-17, 2:13pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Nov 22, 2012
Location: Eastern Shore Maryland
Posts: 958
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Thank you so much everyone...all good things to consider...such a decision!
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Happy Torching! Julie
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2013-01-17, 7:59pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jun 12, 2005
Posts: 131
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I know you're overflowing with good advice, but let me put in one plug for my Skutt GM10F. It's a firebrick kiln, the quartz elements are shielded behind a wall so I don't accidentally poke a mandrel into them, and it's got a 9" cubic firebox.
Here's a link: http://www.skutt.com/glass/products/beadkiln.php
Good luck!
Nolly
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2013-01-17, 8:13pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jun 09, 2012
Location: Spudsville
Posts: 182
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AIM kiln user here... love it, the size is perfect, I can anneal and then slump or fuse without issue.
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2013-01-17, 10:26pm
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Lover of Life
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Join Date: Dec 31, 2007
Location: Edmonton AB Canada
Posts: 1,671
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Got my Glass Hive Regular Guy last summer, and I absolutely adore it! 
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Becky
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"Your dreams are waiting for you to come true."
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2013-01-18, 8:24pm
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KitseyBelle
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Join Date: Sep 03, 2005
Location: Central Point, OR
Posts: 137
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I bought a used Glass Hive Regular Guy a few weeks ago. Ran it for the first time last weekend.....I love it!
My one piece of advice is to make sure you get one with a digitial controller. I batch annealed in a kiln without a digitial controller while I was saving money and it sucked!
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Jennefer
Just moved up to a Minor on a concentrator.....so much to discover!
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2013-01-19, 9:55am
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Nov 22, 2012
Location: Eastern Shore Maryland
Posts: 958
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jennefer
I bought a used Glass Hive Regular Guy a few weeks ago. Ran it for the first time last weekend.....I love it!
My one piece of advice is to make sure you get one with a digitial controller. I batch annealed in a kiln without a digitial controller while I was saving money and it sucked!
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Jennefer-I'm learning a lot about kilns, without even using one yet! lol Digital Controller, seems pretty essential. I guess you had to really babysit your kiln. the Glass Hives, they come standard don't they? Is the regular guy a good size?
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Happy Torching! Julie
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2013-01-19, 10:13am
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jul 19, 2011
Location: New Orleans, LA
Posts: 624
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I have a regular guy and love it! I can get a massive amount of beads in the regular guy.
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Autumn
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2013-01-19, 10:16am
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Nov 22, 2012
Location: Eastern Shore Maryland
Posts: 958
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Quote:
Originally Posted by purpledragonfly
I have a regular guy and love it! I can get a massive amount of beads in the regular guy.
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Thanks!!
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Happy Torching! Julie
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2013-01-19, 11:03am
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Mar 07, 2011
Location: Northern California
Posts: 2,023
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Quote:
Originally Posted by spixton
I love Arrowsprings kilns. They have great customer service too. Craig is very patient and will walk you through programing. I think they are comparable to Glasshive, you might check out size and features and price to help make up your mind.
If you get a brick kiln, you can just turn it off 30-1 hour after you are done making beads and let it "ramp down" without a program. That might help you get a less expensive controller. But I'm not sure.
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wow...been following this thread for a while but just noticed this. This is not solid advice. The beads may survive this but that does not mean they are properly annealed and stress free. You should always do a slow controlled ramp down from the anneal temp past the strain point.
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