An almost successful glass kilnforming experiment...

[Earth_First]

Had a chance to get into the studio this afternoon to test fire a newly acquired kiln that I've been dying to use.

There are a few pings in the piece due to a short annealing soak and stuck to the form because I did not use a mold release (too anxious to wait until tommorrow till I get to the studio supplier)

I've got at least two or three variables that can drastically increase my success. Tommrrow I'll get to the supplier for material.

I'm mostly happy with it for a first go at it...

[antiquie]

1. Cool art glass.

[Earth_First]

2. Thanks.

It's just a piece of 'float glass' i.e. window or picture frame glass so there's nothing really interesting to look at aside from it's form.

Adding colors and variety in form will come with experience.

Thanks for looking...

[eppur_se_muova]

3. JOOC, how much does it cost to get started with a kiln ?

I've been looking at some small kilns but have no experience to go by.

[Earth_First]

5. It's such a wide variable, honestly...

A small 'test kiln' with an analog controller (much more difficult to fuse glass with) can be had in the 4-500 range.

Fully digital kilns with ramp/soak cycles start at the 500 range and sky is the limit.

The kiln I own is an analog cone-fired kiln that I monitor with an external digital pyrometer to maintain temperatures.

In the next few weeks I will probably convert it with a digital PID controller to take a lot of guess work out of the equation.

If you have any more questions, feel free to ask.

I'm very well read recently on the topic, and I'd encourage you to do the same. The online ceramics/stoneware/glass community is extremely helpful and knowledgeable. A lot of working professionals helped me get into the hobby.

Good luck!

[eppur_se_muova]

7. Can you point me to a good Web page for that online community ?

For some reason Googling 'kiln' produces a flood of irrelevant hits.

[Earth_First]

8. I assume your interest is in glass...

If so, this is where I started:

http://www.warmglass.com/phpBB/index.php

Also there is a ton of tutorial information here:

http://www.delphiglass.com/

[eppur_se_muova]

10. Thanks, at least that got me a mfgr's site where I could check specs. nt

[Solly Mack]

4. I think it pretty.

Very cool.

[Earth_First]

6. Thanks, SM!

My wife rolled her eyes in disbelief when told her I was getting into a new hobby.

Especially when there's still trim work to be done in the kitchen, and the season is rapidly changing...

[Solly Mack]

9. Now you're making me feel guilty about the things I neglect.

I'm getting into rug making and my husband pretty much has the same reaction as your wife.

I love glass. You'll have to combine hobbies and get some photos of the process.