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Tips, Techniques, and Questions -- Technical questions or tips

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  #1  
Old 2010-01-06, 12:33am
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Default I have 700.00 to spend on a kiln help

I get order a kiln at the end of the month! Woo Hoo

I have 700.00 to spend. I want one that is digital (no babysitting), one that I can fuse as well as anneal...it must have a bead door.

any recommendations

Fast and reasonable delivery a MUST!!
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  #2  
Old 2010-01-06, 12:41am
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I was looking at this one: http://cgi.ebay.com/Glass-Fusing-Bea...item5d2768bad7

I can't speak for its quality as I have not yet decided myself but it fits your price range and requirements (bead door, Digital Programmable PID)
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  #3  
Old 2010-01-06, 1:00am
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This is the one I have and I really like it the only thing is that the bead door is smaller than I would have liked. If you don't mind making a few beads and moving them over and stacking them it is not bad. I have heard that the glass hive kilns are awesome and you can do some fusing in them but only pendant type things as they are a longer kiln but the jen-ken kiln you can easy do a plate in it
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  #4  
Old 2010-01-06, 1:42am
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Be sure to look at glass hive! Mike is the best and the kiln is great too! The customer service is so good its incredible. Highly recomended!!!!
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  #5  
Old 2010-01-06, 4:42am
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Glass Hive... hands down the best kilns around... look in the Sale Rack room... Mike will be there after the sale if you should ever need him...
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  #6  
Old 2010-01-06, 4:52am
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can mikes kilns fuse?

i have a bluebird xl that was about that price - i love it, but i've heard really good things about the glass hive kilns and mike was really helpful when i was looking, in the end it came down to availability
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  #7  
Old 2010-01-06, 5:48am
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Take a look at the Arrow Springs kilns.
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  #8  
Old 2010-01-06, 6:31am
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I love my JenKen, and have had excellent customer service. I have also heard great things about Mike's kilns
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  #9  
Old 2010-01-06, 6:33am
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I love the glasshive kiln I have. The programming is a lil tricky but follow the directions and keep the on hand and you will be fine.
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  #10  
Old 2010-01-06, 6:55am
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Check out the Skutt GM10. It has a bead door, is programmable and goes up to 1800 degrees. Also runs on 110V/15A (regular house current). I've had one for about 6 years - good kiln.

Robert
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  #11  
Old 2010-01-06, 6:59am
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It might be a little more expensive, but the Scutt GM10F with the optional bead door added has served me very well. I have never had any issue with it at all. The bead door is relatively narrow, but I stack the beads after they reach kiln temp with no trouble. You can do smaller fusing projects in it also. The interior is 9"x 9". I like that it comes with the digital controller attached, and it has its own built-in stand.
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  #12  
Old 2010-01-06, 6:59am
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Ha! Robert, great minds think alike! lol
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  #13  
Old 2010-01-06, 7:46am
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I have the one posted in the link above. I don't have anything to compare it to, cause it was my first one, but it's still going strong! I love it...the digital controller is the best part, so if you find another kiln with the same controller I highly recommend that...I think they're pretty standard on kilns that advertise digital pyrometers. The bead door is a little small, but it's fine for fusing small projects. Can't use it for anything real big though. Even small plates won't fit in there. But for a beadmaker who wants to try his/her hand at fusing it's a great kiln for the price.
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  #14  
Old 2010-01-06, 8:40am
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Mike Crowley - Glasshive. He's got the best customer service. I have a kiln by another manufacturer where I can't seem to find a customer service department when I have a question. Mike has come through for me on more than one occasion which assistance. That says a lot about a man who offers service to someone who doesn't own one of his kilns.

Buy from him and you won't regret it.
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  #15  
Old 2010-01-06, 8:44am
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I have a Paragon caldera w/ a bead door... fits all of your specifications It's a great kiln.
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  #16  
Old 2010-01-06, 9:59am
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I have a kenjen kiln with bead door that has never given me a problem in the 2 years I've owned it. I think I paid about $500 for it off ebay.
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  #17  
Old 2010-01-06, 10:44am
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It depends on the size of the pieces you want to fuse.

You can't beat a glasshive kiln from Mike Crowley but its interioir only 6.5" deep. Mike provides the best customer service and his kilns are excellent. . . and they are $100 off!

http://theglasshive.com/BEAD%20ANNEALLERS.html
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  #18  
Old 2010-01-06, 12:04pm
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I have worked with the Glasshive kilns.The biggest problem I have found if your making marbles is its to hard to set the marbles in because the doors are so small. I have to Paragons and I think they are great. If you have a problem they are there also. DanG
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  #19  
Old 2010-01-06, 6:46pm
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Perhaps Mike might be willing to customize a special interior size for you.
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  #20  
Old 2010-01-06, 7:11pm
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The only problem that I have found about fusing in the shorter annealing kilns is that the heat can be uneven over the whole fusing area. This is probably because the elements are close to the surface. We do a lot of fusing, in a larger kiln, and got the Bluebird xl for annealing and for test fusing before doing larger batches of fusing. While it does work I have found that you can put 20 of the same pieces in the bluebird, and you get about 3 or 4 different degrees of fusing....Love it for annealing, but for fusing and annealing I would suggest a kiln with more height than the annealing kilns ...ie more distance between the elements and the fusing surface.
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  #21  
Old 2010-01-06, 7:28pm
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Thanks everyone! I have looked at Mikes kilns for a few months now..I am counting the days till I can order one!

I will look at all of the ones you have suggested.
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  #22  
Old 2010-01-06, 7:57pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by silvergypsy View Post
Be sure to look at glass hive! Mike is the best and the kiln is great too! The customer service is so good its incredible. Highly recomended!!!!
This is where I would go if I had the $$$ for a second kiln.
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  #23  
Old 2010-01-07, 11:13pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Aleta View Post
Perhaps Mike might be willing to customize a special interior size for you.
Mike can do that.

Thanks you guys.
Mike
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  #24  
Old 2010-01-07, 11:31pm
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I got a customized kiln from Mike with an interior height of 9" (instead of 4.5") and hinged doors!
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Old 2010-01-08, 10:10am
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I love my new glasshive kiln. Just need to get it programmed in the second sequel for silverglasses.
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