The most popular choices for enamelling are the Paragon SC and Xpress series kilns, although you can use any kiln that heats to 1000°C. Before looking at the choices in detail, here's a brief summary of the process:

Enamelling is one of the popular techniques used to make jewellery. Finely powdered coloured glass is applied to a base material, such as copper, and the combination heated in a kiln. As the glass melts, its thermal expansion and contraction broadly match those of the base material, allowing it to fuse to it without splitting, and remain attached when it cools.

ENAMELLING

The main component of glass is silicon dioxide, often called silica: found naturally and plentifully as sand. When it melts, at around 1700°C, it's like syrup on a cold day. When it cools, it forms a rigid and brittle glass called quartz glass.

To lower the melting point, and the cost of melting, chemicals are added: typically sodium carbonate and calcium oxide. Other chemicals, and different heating and cooling processes, can produce a range of mechanical properties and colours.

Enamelling can only be done on base materials that have higher melting points than enamels: generally, metals such as copper, gold, silver, and steel. Brass and tin have lower melting points than enamels.

FIRING ENAMELS

Enamel suppliers usually recommend temperature-time combinations and suggest techniques, but a temperature range of 800°C to 1000°C is typical. Here are the melting points for a few common materials:

material	°C
aluminium	659
copper	1083
glass	1700
gold	1063
lead	163
nickel	1452
platinum	1772
silver	951
steel	1371
tungsten	3399

Different coloured enamels have their own specific firing characteristics, so keeping a kiln log will help you to learn how they melt, change colour, blend, and bond.
Over-firing sometimes burns out the colour or makes it transparent. Lighter colours don't show on darker colours unless they're opaque. And some colours don't fuse: for example, blue and yellow don't make green, they stay as they are.

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. Also, some enamel artists prefer a glass viewing-window.

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 enamelling and glazing: 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, enamelling artists usually prefer small front-loading fast-heating kilns, such as the SC series, described below. Other kilns are more appropriate if you want a higher maximum temperature, top heating elements, a larger interior, or a firebrick firing-chamber, or want to work with ceramics, glass, porcelain, pottery, or stoneware.

Small ceramic-fibre kilns, such as those in the SC series, heat and cool more quickly than similar small firebrick kilns, such as those in the Xpress series, although you can use the programmer to control the rate.

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 SC SERIES

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

SC series front-loading kilns come in two sizes, as the SC-2 and the taller SC-3. They're square, ceramic-fibre kilns, with easy-to-use, ramp-hold, Sentry Xpress 3-key digital programmers.

The 1095°C 1745W SC-2, and the 1095°C 2000W SC-3, are good first-kilns for your home, school, craft workshop, or jewellery studio: they're compact and easy to move, they use a regular mains socket, they're fully programmable, they heat and cool quickly, and they're inexpensive to run.

Both are available with bead-annealing doors, as the SC2B and SC3B; with glass viewing-windows, as the SC2W and SC3W; and with bead-annealing doors and glass viewing-windows, as the more versatile SC2BW and SC3BW.

The SC3 costs more than the SC2, but the firing chamber is 1.34 times higher inside, so will accommodate taller pieces of work or two extra shelves, making five in all.

The SC elements are embedded in ceramic fibre, an important safety feature if you like to open the door whilst the kiln is on. However, never get careless: kilns are hot and connected to the mains.

Ceramic-fibre kilns heat and cool more quickly than firebrick kilns, such as the Xpress series, although you can use the programmer to control the rate.

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.

THE SC-2

ART CLAY, PMC, LOW-FIRE CERAMICS, 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 Paragon SC2 is a good first-kiln for your home, school, craft workshop, or jewellery studio: it's compact and easy to move, it uses a regular mains socket, it stays cool on the outside, it's fully programmable, it heats and cools quickly, and it's inexpensive to run. It's popular with silverclay artists, particularly those also making glass and enamel jewellery.

Apart from its internal size, the only minor 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-2W: WINDOW

ART CLAY, PMC, DICHROICS, ENAMELS, AND GLASS

The Paragon SC-2W door includes a heat-resistant glass viewing-window, 50mm x 50mm. Otherwise, it's the same as the SC2.

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-2BW: BEAD DOOR AND WINDOW

ART CLAY, PMC, BEADS, DICHROICS, ENAMELS, AND GLASS

The Paragon SC-2BW door includes a bead-anealing letter-box style door, 165mm x 64mm, a bead-mandrel holder, and a heat-resistant glass viewing-window, 75mm x 25mm. Otherwise, it's the same as the SC2.

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, LOW-FIRE CERAMICS, DICHROICS, ENAMELS, AND GLASS

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 Paragon SC3 is a good first-kiln for your home, school, craft workshop, or jewellery studio: it's compact and easy to move, it uses a regular mains socket, it stays cool on the outside, it's fully programmable, it heats and cools quickly, and it's inexpensive to run. It's popular with silverclay artists, particularly those also making glass and enamel jewellery.

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.

Apart from its internal size, the only other 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-3W: WINDOW

ART CLAY, PMC, DICHROICS, ENAMELS, AND GLASS

The Paragon SC-3W door includes a heat-resistant glass viewing-window, 50mm x 50mm. Otherwise, it's the same as the SC3.

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-3BW: BEAD DOOR AND WINDOW

ART CLAY, PMC, BEADS, DICHROICS, ENAMELS, AND GLASS

The Paragon SC-3BW door includes a bead-anealing letter-box style door, 165mm x 64mm, a bead-mandrel holder, and a heat-resistant glass viewing-window, 75mm x 25mm. Otherwise, it's the same as the SC3.

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 SERIES

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

Xpress series kilns come in four sizes, as the Q-11A, E-9A, E-10A, and E-14A, in ascending order of internal size. They're square, front-opening, firebrick kilns, with easy-to-use, ramp-hold, Sentry Xpress 3-key digital programmers.

The E9A is a 1095°C kiln; the E10A is a 1230°C kiln; the E14A is a 1095°C kiln; and the Q11A is a 1260°C kiln. The E9A has an inside floor area 1.22 times larger than that of the SC2; the E10A is 1.94 times higher inside than the E9A; and the E14A has an inside floor area 1.40 times larger than that of the E10A.

The Xpress E10A and Xpress E14A are available with bead-annealing doors and glass viewing-windows, as the more versatile Xpress E10ABW and Xpress E14ABW.

The compact 1260°C 1440W Q11A is the smallest of the Paragon kilns, and has an inside floor area 1.39 times smaller than that of the 1095°C 1745W SC2. 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.

The Xpress series elements lie in grooves in the firebricks. To comply with EU safety regulations, all kilns with exposed elements are fitted with an additional switch, included in the price, that cuts off the power whenever the door or lid is opened. However, never get careless: kilns are hot and connected to the mains.

Firebrick kilns heat and cool more slowly than ceramic-fibre kilns, such as those in the SC series, although you can use the programmer to control the rate. Elements are inexpensive and easy to replace, in the unlikely event that they fail.

THE XPRESS E-9A

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

The Paragon Xpress E-9A is ideal for Art Clay, PMC, Accent Gold, Metal Clay Veneer, Fimo Polymer Clay, china painting, dichroics, enamelling, jewellery, 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 Paragon Xpress E9A is ideal for your home, school, craft workshop, or jewellery studio: it's compact and easy to move, it uses a regular mains socket, it stays cool on the outside, it's fully programmable, it heats and cools quickly, and it's inexpensive to run. It's popular with enamel artists, particularly those also making silver and glass jewellery.

Firebrick kilns are better suited to continual high temperatures than ceramic-fibre kilns, such as the SC2. Elements are inexpensive and easy to replace, in the unlikely event that they fail.

The 1095°C 1100W E9A has an inside floor area 1.22 times larger than that of the 1095°C 1745W SC2 and the 1095°C 2000W SC3.

Apart from its internal size, the only minor 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 E-10A

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

The Paragon Xpress E-10A is ideal for Art Clay, PMC, Accent Gold, Metal Clay Veneer, Fimo Polymer Clay, china painting, dichroics, enamelling, jewellery, low-fire ceramics, and small-scale glass fusing, sagging, and slumping. It's a 1230°C, four-sided, square, front-loading kiln, with an easy-to-use, ramp-hold, Sentry Xpress 3-key digital programmer.

The Paragon Xpress E10A is ideal for your home, school, craft workshop, or jewellery studio: it's compact and easy to move, it uses a regular mains socket, it stays cool on the outside, it's fully programmable, it heats and cools quickly, and it's inexpensive to run. It's popular with glass-fusing artists, particularly those also making silver and enamel jewellery.

Firebrick kilns are better suited to continual high temperatures than ceramic-fibre kilns, such as the SC2. Elements are inexpensive and easy to replace, in the unlikely event that they fail.

The 1230°C 1800W E10A is 1.94 times higher inside than the 1095°C 1100W E9A, and has an inside floor area 1.22 times larger than that of the 1095°C 1745W SC2 and the 1095°C 2000W SC3.

Apart from its internal size, the only minor limitation is that, although 1230°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 E-10ABW

ART CLAY, PMC, BEADS, DICHROICS, ENAMELS, AND GLASS

The Paragon Xpress E-10ABW door includes a bead-anealing letter-box style door, 165mm x 64mm, a bead-mandrel holder, and a heat-resistant glass viewing-window, 75mm x 25mm. Otherwise, it's the same as the E-10A.

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 E-14A

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

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 Paragon Xpress E14A is ideal for your home, school, craft workshop, or jewellery studio. It's popular with silverclay artists, particularly those also making glass and enamel jewellery as part of a small business.

Firebrick kilns are better suited to continual high temperatures than ceramic-fibre kilns, such as the SC2. Elements are inexpensive and easy to replace, in the unlikely event that they fail.

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 E-14ABW: BEAD DOOR AND WINDOW

ART CLAY, PMC, BEADS, DICHROICS, ENAMELS, AND GLASS

The Paragon Xpress E-14ABW door includes a bead-anealing letter-box style door, 165mm x 64mm, a bead-mandrel holder, and a heat-resistant glass viewing-window, 75mm x 25mm. Otherwise, it's the same as the E-14A.

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 Paragon Xpress Q11A is ideal for your home, school, craft workshop, or jewellery studio: it's compact and easy to move, it uses a regular mains socket, it stays cool on the outside, it's fully programmable, it heats and cools quickly, and it's inexpensive to run.

Firebrick kilns are better suited to continual high temperatures than ceramic-fibre kilns, such as the SC2. Elements are inexpensive and easy to replace, in the unlikely event that they fail.

The compact 1260°C 1440W Q11A is the smallest of the Paragon kilns, and has an inside floor area 1.39 times smaller than that of the 1095°C 1745W SC2. 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