The most popular choices for firing small-scale ceramics, porcelain, pottery, and stoneware, are the Paragon Caldera and FireFly series kilns, and, for large-scale work, the Janus series kilns, although you can use any kiln that heats to 1290°C. Before looking at the choices in detail, here's a brief summary of the material:

Clay is formed naturally over millions of years as rocks break up into minute particles. It consists of hydrous aluminium silicates, and other compounds such as iron oxides, quartz, mica, and feldspar.

Clay is often divided into three main categories: earthenware, porcelain, and stoneware. Generally, it needs to be fired for several hours, although impurities affect the time, temperature, colour, and shrinkage.

EARTHENWARE, STONEWARE, AND PORCELAIN

Earthenware is normally red, beige, or white. It has the lowest firing temperature of the three, usually about 1150°C. It's slightly porous, and stains and chips easily, so it's often glazed to protect the surface. Its porosity means it's good for making planters and oven steamers, but not good for pitchers or vases.

Porcelain is composed of kaolin, known as china clay. Kaolin doesn't melt until 1800°C, so other compounds are usually added so it can be fired between 1250°C and 1400°C. For example, bone china is made by adding bone ash to the clay. It's known for its whiteness, hardness, smoothness, durability, and translucency. When tapped, it makes a distinctive ping: or ming.

Stoneware is normally red-brown, beige, or grey. It's usually fired between 1150°C and 1300°C. It's hard, durable, and resists thermal shock. Glazes bond well, so it can be made waterproof.

CHINA PAINTING

China painting involves applying mineral-based over-glazes to previously-glazed porcelain or ceramic. Each layer is fired to between about 650°C and 870°C, depending on its mineral composition.

The glazes come in a full range of colours, including black, white for over-painting colours, silver, gold, opalescents, and lustres. They're usually sold as powder, or powder mixed with oil. The low-fire glazes are less durable.

China painting needs the same attention to design and colour as any other form of painting. It's similar to water colour painting in that the white underlying surface provides the white in the design. However, unlike watercolours, the fired layers don't bleed into each other. The end appearance is usually more like a rich and deep oil painting.

PHOTOS

All the kilns described on this page have two diagrams: front and side views. However, there are also photos: use the photos link below the menu bar.

COMPARING AND CHOOSING

Whilst comparing kilns, there are important considerations: the kiln's versatility, the overall size and weight, the power supply, the maximum temperature, the firing chamber floor area and height, the firing chamber material, and the price.

As with any device you buy, a kiln is not designed to be run full-on all the time. So, if you need to fire at 925°C for a long time, buy a 1095°C kiln, not a 925°C kiln.

Any kiln that heats up to 925°C can be used for china paint: the only kilns that don't are the two dedicated glass-bead annealing kilns, the 650°C BlueBird and the 815°C EZ Beader. However, kilns that heat up above 1095°C are generally more expensive so, unless you think you'll need a higher maximum temperature, you won't need a Janus, TNF, or Q11A.

The 149SSP is a 925°C kiln. The Caldera, without a collar, is a 1290°C kiln with a firebrick firing chamber. The Home Artist is a 1095°C kiln with a ceramic-fibre firing chamber. The Janus and TNF series are all 1290°C kilns with firebrick firing chambers. The Xpress E14A ia a 1095°C kiln with a firebrick firing chamber. The Xpress Q11A is a 1260°C kiln with a firebrick firing chamber. The choice of ceramic fibre or firebricks will probably depend on the kiln's prime use.

The Home Artist is 150% wider and 178% higher inside than the Caldera. Although it's suitable for low-fire ceramics, it's not hot enough for normal ceramics, porcelain, pottery, and stoneware. The E10A has an inside floor area only slightly larger than that of the Caldera, but 220% larger than that of the Q11A. The E10A is hot enough for low-fire ceramics, but not quite high enough for normal ceramics, porcelain, pottery, and stoneware: you'd need a 1260°C or 1290°C kiln.

The Janus series and the TNF series, except the TNF Q-11A, are all 1290°C kilns. The Janus series is probably the most versatile of the Paragon range as they can all fire glass and pottery: for glass, use the top and middle-side elements; for pottery, use the side elements.

The TNF Q-11A and the Xpress Q-11A are both 1260°C kilns, and are the same internal size. However, the Xpress Q-11A needs less worktop space because the programmer is underneath, not at the side. Also, the Xpress Q-11A has a 3-key ramp-hold digital programmer, whereas the TNF Q-11A has a 12-key ramp-hold or cone-fire programmer.

You can't use the US model numbers as guides to the internal sizes of the kilns. They might have historical significance but now, often, don't mean anything useful.
The US model names used: A for painted finish; E for enamelling front-loading; GL for glass, Q for ceramic front-loading; SC for small ceramic-fibre, not silverclay; TNF for touch n fire; V for vista, or window; and Xpress for digital programmer.

The UK naming convention has been tidied up, and uses B for a bead-annealing door, W for a glass viewing-window, and BW for both. However, to help internet searches, we've had to include occasional minor variations. For example, the SC-2B is sometimes called an SC2B.

Paragon programmers do not have pre-set programmes: you can easily set up and re-use your own. Although pre-sets might seem useful, you won't be able to experiment, or try or use other materials, combinations, or firing sequences.

The prices include the recommended shelf kit and the legally-necessary lid or door safety switch, where appropriate, and UK mainland delivery. To look at the prices, use the shop link below the menu bar.

THE 14-9SSP

CHINA PAINTING, DECALS, DOLLS, ENAMELS, GLASS

The Paragon 14-9SSP kiln is ideal for Art Clay and PMC silverclays, china painting, decals, dichroics, glass fusing, sagging, and slumping. It's a 925°C cone 09, seven-sided, round-ish, top-opening kiln, with an easy-to-use, ramp-hold cone-fire, Sentry Xpress 3-key digital programmer.

The UK kiln is rated at 230V 2400W, so can use a regular mains socket. To comply with EU regulations, it's fitted with an additional switch that cuts off the power when the lid is opened. It needs floor space, as it weighs about 46Kg.

The stainless steel body stands on four legs, the top has a stay-open support for access with a two-stage just-open support for venting any fumes, and there's a wide-view peephole in one of the sides. The electrical components, located on the front, stay cool, even at extended hold times.

The outer steel case measures 559mm x 648mm x 344mm, including the programmer housing and other hardware, but excluding the 241mm high legs. The base accepts an Orton VentMaster kiln vent: to learn more, use the start link below the menu bar, then choose accessories, then scroll down.

The firebrick firing chamber measures 368mm x 229mm internally, and heats from all sides, with the fast-firing elements lying in grooves in the 76mm thick bricks.

The electronic display prompts for heating rate, target temperature, and hold time, making it easy to set up and re-use accurate drying, heating, holding, and cooling sequences. To learn more about the programmer, use the start link below the menu bar, then choose programmers.

The recommended furniture kit for the 149SSP, included in the price, consists of one round 330mm x 12mm cordierite shelf, one half-shelf, three sets of assorted shelf posts, and a bag of glass separator. Kiln shelf paper is simpler and more convenient to use than glass separator for stopping enamels and glass sticking to the shelf.
Cordierite is a magnesium aluminium silicate that resists thermal distortion and fracture. A thick shelf, on posts, heats and cools evenly: particularly important for glass work.
Depending on the sizes of your pieces and the number of pieces you want to fire, five shelves can be stacked to make better use of your time: so you may want more than one furniture kit. An extra kit consists of one round 330mm x 12mm cordierite shelf, one half-shelf, and eight 25mm x 25mm x 50mm posts.

The 925°C 2400W 149SSP looks similar to the 925°C 1800W Fusion 7 glass kiln. However, it's 1.38 times higher inside, and heats from all the sides, not the top, making it more appropriate for china painting and glass on stacked shelves.

THE CALDERA

CERAMICS, CHINA PAINTING, DOLLS, ENAMELS, GLASS, PORCELAIN, POTTERY, AND STONEWARE

The Paragon Caldera is ideal for Art Clay, PMC, Accent Gold, Metal Clay Veneer, Fimo Polymer Clay, china paint, dichroics, enamelling, jewellery, and small-scale glass fusing, sagging, slumping, ceramics, porcelain, pottery, and stoneware. It's a 1290°C cone 10, four-sided, square, top-opening kiln, with an easy-to-use, ramp-hold cone-fire, Sentry Xpress 3-key digital programmer.

The Caldera is a versatile kiln for small-scale everything in your craft workshop or ceramics studio: it's compact and easy to move, it uses a regular mains socket, it's fully programmable, it heats and cools quickly, and it's inexpensive to run. However, generally, china paint artists prefer a larger firing chamber.

The Caldera is available with a separate bead-door collar, as the Caldera-B, or a separate plain collar, as the Caldera-C. The collars increase the internal height from 171mm to 281mm but, as they don't have heating elements, the maximum temperature is reduced to 1095°C.
The only limitation is that, although 1095°C is hot enough for low-fire ceramics, it's not hot enough for normal ceramics, porcelain, pottery, and stoneware: they need a 1260°C or 1290°C kiln.

To learn more about the Caldera series, use the kilns link below the menu bar, then choose ceramics, then scroll down.

THE HOME ARTIST PORTABLE

ART CLAY, PMC, CERAMICS, CHINA PAINTING, GLASS, AND RAKU

The Paragon Home Artist is ideal for Art Clay, PMC, Accent Gold, Metal Clay Veneer, Fimo Polymer Clay, china painting, dichroics, enamelling, jewellery, and medium-scale low-fire ceramics, glass fusing, sagging, slumping, and raku. It's a 1095°C cone 03, cylindrical, top-opening kiln, with an easy-to-use, ramp-hold, Sentry Xpress 3-key digital programmer.

The Home Artist is a popular kiln: it's compact and easy to move, it uses a regular mains socket, it's fully programmable, it heats and cools quickly, and it's inexpensive to run. And it will accommodate seven 250mm plates.

To learn more about this kiln, use the kilns link below the menu bar, then choose ceramics, then scroll down.

THE JANUS SERIES

CERAMICS, CHINA PAINT, DOLLS, GLASS, GOLD, PORCELAIN, POTTERY, AND STONEWARE

The Janus series kilns are all 1290°C cone 10 firebrick kilns, with easy-to-use, ramp-hold cone-fire, Sentry 12-key digital programmers. 1290°C is the highest temperature that standard kilns reach: above that, the materials and construction change, and the cost increases dramatically.

The Janus 1613 has eight sides, the Janus 23 has ten sides, and the Janus 27 has twelve sides: they're all round-ish and top-opening. The Janus Ovation has ten sides: it's oval and top-opening. The Janus 24 has four sides: it's square and front-opening.

Janus kilns are the most versatile of the Paragon range as they can fire glass and pottery: for glass, use the top and middle-side elements; for pottery, use all the side elements. They're popular with commercial studios and ceramic cafes.

To learn more about the Janus series, use the kilns link below the menu bar, then choose ceramics, then scroll down.

THE SC-2

ART CLAY, PMC, DICHROICS, ENAMELS, AND GLASS

The Paragon SC-2 is ideal for Art Clay, PMC, Accent Gold, Metal Clay Veneer, Fimo Polymer Clay, china painting, dichroics, enamelling, jewellery, lost-wax casting, low-fire ceramics, and small-scale glass fusing, sagging, and slumping. It's a 1095°C, four-sided, square, front-loading kiln, with an easy-to-use, ramp-hold, Sentry Xpress 3-key digital programmer.

The SC-2 is a good first-kiln for your home, school, craft workshop, or jewellery studio: it's compact, inexpensive to run, and heats and cools quickly.

The only limitation is that, although 1095°C is hot enough for low-fire ceramics, it's not hot enough for normal ceramics, porcelain, pottery, and stoneware: they need a 1260°C or 1290°C kiln.

To learn more about this kiln, and other complementary kilns in the series, use the kilns link below the menu bar, then choose artclay, then scroll down.

THE SC-3

ART CLAY, PMC, ENAMELS, AND SMALL-SCALE GLASS WORK

The Paragon SC-3 is ideal for Art Clay, PMC, Accent Gold, Metal Clay Veneer, Fimo Polymer Clay, china painting, dichroics, enamelling, jewellery, lost-wax casting, low-fire ceramics, and small-scale glass fusing, sagging, and slumping. It's a 1095°C, four-sided, square, front-loading kiln, with an easy-to-use, ramp-hold, Sentry Xpress 3-key digital programmer.

The SC-3 is ideal for your home, school, craft workshop, or jewellery studio: it's compact, inexpensive to run, and heats and cools quickly. The firing chamber is 1.34 times higher inside than that of the SC2, so will accommodate taller pieces of work: or two extra shelves, making five in all.

The only limitation is that, although 1095°C is hot enough for low-fire ceramics, it's not hot enough for normal ceramics, porcelain, pottery, and stoneware: they need a 1260°C or 1290°C kiln.

To learn more about this kiln, and other complementary kilns in the series, use the kilns link below the menu bar, then choose artclay, then scroll down.

THE TNF 1613-3

CERAMICS, CHINA PAINTING, DOLLS, PORCELAIN, POTTERY, AND STONEWARE

The Paragon TNF-1613-3 is ideal for ceramics, porcelain, pottery, and stoneware. It's a 1290°C cone 10, eight-sided, round-ish, top-opening kiln, with an easy-to-use, ramp-hold and cone-fire, Sentry 12-key digital programmer.

The TNF-1613-3 looks the same as the Janus 1613, described above. It's not recommended for glass as there are no top elements. However, to compensate, it's rated at 6400W, not 4800W, so heats up faster.

To learn more about the TNF-1613-3, use the kilns link below the menu bar, then choose ceramics, then scroll down.

THE TNF 66-3

CERAMICS, CHINA PAINTING, AND DOLLS

The Paragon TNF 66-3 is ideal for low-fire ceramics, china paint, dolls, gold, porcelain, and stoneware. It's a 1260°C cone 6, seven-sided, round-ish, top-opening kiln, with an easy-to-use, ramp-hold and cone-fire, Sentry 12-key digital programmer.

To learn more about the TNF-66, use the kilns link below the menu bar, then choose ceramics, then scroll down.

THE TNF Q-11A

ART CLAY, PMC, CHINA PAINTING, ENAMELS, GLASS, PORCELAIN, AND STONEWARE

The TNF-Q-11A is ideal for Art Clay, PMC, Accent Gold, Metal Clay Veneer, Fimo Polymer Clay, china painting, dichroics, enamelling, glass fusing, and small-scale ceramics, porcelain, pottery, and stoneware. It's a 1260°C, four-sided, square, front-loading kiln, with an easy-to-use, ramp-hold cone-fire, Sentry Xpress 12-key digital programmer.

To learn more about the TNF-66, use the kilns link below the menu bar, then choose ceramics, then scroll down.

THE XPRESS E-14A

ART CLAY, PMC, ENAMELS, GLASS, AND LOW-FIRE CERAMICS

The Paragon Xpress E-14A is ideal for Art Clay, PMC, Accent Gold, Metal Clay Veneer, Fimo Polymer Clay, china painting, dichroics, enamelling, jewellery, low-fire ceramics, glass fusing, sagging, and slumping. It's a 1095°C, four-sided, square, front-loading kiln, with an easy-to-use, ramp-hold, Sentry Xpress 3-key digital programmer.

The 1095°C 3120W E14A has an inside floor area 2.79 times larger than that of the 1095°C 1745W SC2. It's the largest kiln, internally, that can use a regular mains socket.

The only limitation is that, although 1095°C is hot enough for low-fire ceramics, it's not hot enough for normal ceramics, porcelain, pottery, and stoneware: they need a 1260°C or 1290°C kiln.

To learn more about this kiln, and other complementary kilns in the series, use the kilns link below the menu bar, then choose artclay, then scroll down.

THE XPRESS Q-11A

ART CLAY, PMC, CERAMICS, ENAMELS, GLASS, PORCELAIN, AND STONEWARE

The Paragon Xpress Q-11A is ideal for Art Clay, PMC, Accent Gold, Metal Clay Veneer, Fimo Polymer Clay, china painting, decals, dichroics, enamelling, jewellery, and small-scale glass fusing, porcelain, pottery, and stoneware. It's a 1260°C, four-sided, square, front-loading kiln, with an easy-to-use, ramp-hold cone-fire, Sentry Xpress 3-key digital programmer.

The compact 1260°C 1440W Q11A is ideal for making jewellery at home. It's large enough for dichroics and glass fusing, but not for sagging and slumping. However, to compensate, it's hot enough for small-scale ceramics, porcelain, pottery, and stoneware, allowing you to experiment with different materials, combinations, and processes.

To learn more about this kiln, and other complementary kilns in the series, use the kilns link below the menu bar at the top of the page, then choose artclay, then scroll down.

RESOURCES

To learn more about Art Clay metal clays, Accent Gold, Metal Clay Veneer, buying and using kilns and tools, choosing a course, or discovering more at The Art Clay Club, use the Art Clay Club link above the menu bar at the top of the page.

The Art Clay Club is an information resource, not a shop, providing free on-line help, 24 7 52: you don't have to register, log on, or remember a password.

SHOPPING

The kiln prices include the recommended shelf kit, and the legally-necessary lid or door safety switch where appropriate.

The on-line shop includes Paragon Kilns, BullsEye ThinFire kiln paper, ceramic blocks, ceramic cloths, digital pyrometers, reminder-timers, fire extinguishers, glare-resistant glasses, heat-resistant gloves, kiln shelves, kiln tables, and other tools and accessories. Alternatively, visit the Cherry Heaven Shop in Corfe Castle village.

CHERRY HEAVEN

Cherry Heaven, through Electric Kilns, is an EU distributor for Paragon Kilns made by Paragon Industries in the US, and the Prometheus Pro kilns made by Odak Sanat in Turkey.

Cherry Heaven, through Advance Kilns, is the EU distributor for Advance Kiklns made by Advance Kilns in Canada, and, through The UltraLite Kiln, an EU distributor for the Ultra Lite Kiln made by JEC Products in the US.

Cherry Heaven, through The Kitiki Studio, is a UK distributor for Art Clay made by Aida Chemical Industries in Japan, and an EU distributor for AccentGold For Silver paint and Metal Clay Veneer, both made in the US.

EDUCATIONAL DISCOUNTS AND RESALE