The Ultra Lite kiln is a small tabletop unit that was designed for jewelers focusing on granulation, fusing and enamels. With the addition of the special ceramic firing discs, metal clay can be fired. The maximum temperature of this kiln is 1550ºF, but can be increased by 100ºF with the addition of the flat cover. There are Brass Covers that can be purchased which allows you to add gold foil (keum boo) to your work. This is a manual kiln with no temperature read-out or control. The unit is on when it's plugged in and goes to maximum temperature. There is an optional temperature controller that gives the user low, medium and high temperature settings. The Ultra Lite kiln is easily and safely portable. Cost to operate per hour: 2 cents**Based on US national electrical costs per kilowatt hour.

Digital Controller vs Manual Control

A digital controller is a special electronic microprocessor that controls the firing of your kiln from start to finish. A firing program is entered through the keypad and carried out automatically by the controller. All of the digital kilns we offer feature the reliable Orton Sentry Xpress digital controller. On kilns designed for ceramics, the controller fires to fahrenheit, centigrade or cone. On kilns designed for glass, the controller fires to fahrenheit and centigrade.

A manual control is like a knob that you turn on like an oven dial. The higher you turn it up, the higher the temperature. But, because it's manual, you have to watch the kiln as it heats and adjust the knob up or down every few minutes as the interior temperature rises and falls. It's important that you think this over before ordering a manual kiln. A manual kiln cannot be left to fire by itself. You must monitor the entire firing from beginning to end; adjusting the temperature every few minutes to maintain the correct interior temperature. You also have to use an external timer to time the firing or watch the clock and manually shut the kiln off when the firing is complete. A manual kiln is a tradeoff of money and convenience. It costs less, but requires more from you.

Interior: Brick vs Ceramic Fiber

There are 2 types of kiln interiors, and each has certain advantages. A brick interior is made with firebrick as the insulating material. Firebricks heat quickly and can handle very high temperatures. Not only can they fire metal clays, glass and enamels; they can also handle high-fire ceramic clays such as porcelain. The drawback to a brick kiln is the bricks themselves. They are heavy and fragile, so it's probably best to avoid moving a brick kiln. The vibration of travel creates brick dust, and the bricks themselves can be broken during transit if the unit is not well packed. When you do move a brick kiln, you'll want to vacuum the interior before firing again. Another thing to consider is that the heating elements are exposed in a brick kiln. The heating elements are pinned into grooves in the bricks. You'll need to be fastidious about keeping the interior clean since any foreign matter left on exposed heating elements can short them out. On the other hand, when the elements do go out they are easy to replace by the end user since they are exposed. The element wires cost about $50 each. The FireFly has 1 element, and the Caldera and Q11A have 2 elements.

A ceramic fiber interior, called a Muffle, is a one-piece shell with the elements molded and protected inside the walls. A muffle kiln has a top temperature of 2000ºF so you won't be able to fire porcelain or ceramics with it, but you can fire bisque ware. One drawback to a muffle kiln is that the entire ceramic interior must be replaced when the elements go out. Our discounted price for a replacement muffle for the SC kilns is a little over $200, depending on the kiln.

Heating Elements

The life of a kiln is based on the heating elements. Elements will burn out, just like a light bulb burns out after a certain number of hours. So, the harder you work your kiln, the sooner the elements will need to be replaced. If a kiln has a top temperature of 2000ºF and you always fire near this top temperature, the elements will burn out sooner than if you always fire below that temperature. It's a good idea to choose a kiln that is rated higher than the wares you wish to fire regularly so you don't always push it to it's limits. For most jewelry artists working with metal clay, the top temperature that you will fire at is 1650ºF, so any kiln we offer will not be overworked by firing metal clay.

Does your kiln need to be moved regularly?

If you are teaching classes or planning to teach classes, you may want to choose a kiln that is easily portable. A brick kiln is more easily damaged during transport than a ceramic fiber kiln. Brick kilns are also more bulky and heavier than ceramic interiors.

Do you want a top or front loading kiln?

With a front loading kiln you can move things in and out more easily. Tongs, kiln forks, or gloves can be used to remove shelves from a front loading kiln even during firing. Since a kiln shelf is usually either 6" square or 7 square, placing the shelf in the proper position in the kiln is foolproof. You'll have either a ½" or 1" space between the kiln walls and the kiln shelf. If you plan to do enameling, a front loading kiln is a better choice since enameled pieces need to be removed from the kiln while they are very hot. In a top loading kiln, the lid either has to be removed (Caldera) or lifted (FireFly) while its red hot inside to remove enameled pieces or metal clay pieces that you want to get out of the kiln fast. This may or may not be a problem depending on how it's done. You can make a special lifting tool by altering a pair of copper tongs for the purpose.

Bead Doors & Viewports

Glass bead makers can order an optional Bead Door with the SC or Caldera kilns. A Bead Door allows mandrels to be inserted through the door for annealing. If you do not make glass beads, you do not need the Bead Door option.

A Viewport can be ordered for the door on the SC models and for the lid of the Caldera and FireFly models. Enamelists and glassworkers can use the Viewport to keep an eye on the progress of their firings. The size of the window varies with the model and options of the kiln ordered. See the details on the various models to compare the sizes.

Kiln Furniture & Accessories

Kiln furniture is the props and shelves you use to support your work during firing. There are several options for kiln shelves. You can use a ceramic fiberboard, ceramic board, soldering surface or firebrick. The major difference between the various shelves is their useful life. A fiberboard will give you a couple of dozen firings before it breaks down and becomes crumbly. A soldering board, such as a Solderite or magnesia surface can be used, but you'll need to let the kiln cool down just a bit before removing them to avoid thermal shock breakage. Paragon recommends a hard fiber Cordierite shelf for firing metal clay, and includes one of these kiln shelves with each SC model. These are very thin shelves made of compressed fibers that have added ridges for strength. The most durable surface for firing is a hard ceramic shelf. The 7" x 7" hard ceramic shelf can be used with metal clay, glass and ceramics and will last a lifetime.

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Bead Firing Dish

To support rounded, domed or dimension metal clay objects that might slump during firing, you'll want a bead firing dish and either vermiculite or alumina hydrate as a supporting media. Our bead firing dish is made of high-temperature alumina and lasts a lifetime, so the media can be fired again and again.

Fiber Blanket

A fiber blanket can also be used for support and works very well. A fiber blanket is like a thick sheet of cotton that can be used as a blanket or pieces can be pulled off to support odd shaped items. A fiber blanket will last just a few firings before you will notice it start to break down.

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Kiln Shelf

For working with glass, you'll need either a hard ceramic shelf coated with kiln wash or simply place fiber paper beneath your glass to keep it from fusing to the kiln shelf surface.

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Table Top Jewelry Kiln Care & Maintenance

Small jewelry kilns are easy to care for but they do require regular maintenance to keep them in top condition and assure a long life. Follow this easy maintenance schedule to keep your kiln in good health.

Always vacuum the inside of your kiln with a soft brush nozzle before firing glass, enamels and ceramic glazes. Dust inside the kiln can react with the coloring elements in glass, glazes and enamels and result in smoky, hazy or burnt looking colors. Vacuum once a month if you are firing only metal clay.

The thermocouple should be cleaned regularly with a damp rag and always before firing glass, enamels or ceramic glazes. Check that the thermocouple is protruding between ½" to ¾" into the firing chamber of the kiln. If the thermocouple does not protrude the proper amount into the chamber, the kiln will read a lower temperature and overheat your chamber. If you transport your kiln regularly, be certain to check the position of the thermocouple each time you set it up.

Do not place objects to be fired directly on a kiln floor. Place wares on a kiln shelf, and place the kiln shelf on the bottom of the kiln or on ½" to 1" kiln posts. Kiln posts make it easier to remove the shelves from the kiln and allow for air circulation and even firing.

Keep all packaging when you receive your kiln. Transporting will be much easier when the kiln can be packed back in its original container. All kilns have fitted foam packing, which makes for a safe and snug ride. If you do not have your boxes, transport the kiln on its back and place a thin sheet of foam cushioning between the door and chamber to prevent rubbing.