ARMADILLO CLAY & SUPPLIES

Ok, so you are already hooked on clay or fusing glass and for the past several months you have been either begging your friends for kiln time or paying someone else to fire your pieces.  Wouldn't it be great to have the freedom to fire whenever you want?  No more waiting on other people, no more packing fragile ware and hoping it does not break on the drive across town.

So why buy a kiln?  For the freedom!  The freedom to fire when you want, how you want and what you want.  The freedom to express yourself.

Ok, so why buy a Skutt kiln?  Well, not only is it the number one selling kiln in America, it's also designed to be the most durable, reliable and efficient kiln on the market.  Add to that the best technical support staff, a wide network of trained distributors and designs that are easy and affordable to maintain and repair yourself.  In all, you are getting the best investment in the ceramic field.

Few things are more frustrating than making the wrong decision on a capital expenditure.  So take your time, start from the beginning and let us walk you through the process of finding the perfect kiln for your needs.

1)  DETERMINE AVAILABLE SPACE:
     * Minimum of 18" clearance from objects on all sides
     * The first set of numbers in the kiln model number indicate the number of
        sides in the kiln (Ex: KM 1227-3 = 12 sides,  KS 818 = 8 sides). The chart
        below shows the outside width of Skutt kilns.

*  Remember that certain models where 3" brick is an option (not standard) the width of the chamber will decrease
   by 1" if you choose to go with the 3" brick upgrade.

3)  DETERMINE YOUR AVAILABLE POWER SUPPLY:
     The next step is to find a kiln that will operate on the electrical service of your building. Ordering a kiln that does
     not match your electrical service can be very frustrating and expensive to correct.

     Most people will need to have an electrician install the wire from the circuit breaker panel to the wall receptacle
     as well as the receptacle. It is also wise to have the electrician verify voltage, amperage and phase when he visits
     on-site to estimate the job.

4)  DETERMINE THE FIRING TEMPERATURE NEEDED:
     Now we need to find a kiln that will fire to a temperature that meets, and preferably exceeds, the temperature
     requirement of the materials you will be working with. Materials such as porcelain and stoneware require the
     kiln to reach temperatures up to cone 10 or 2350° F. Materials such as glass require the kiln to reach
     temperatures at or below 1600° F. Whenever possible you should choose a kiln that exceeds your temperature
     needs. The use of 3" brick, the voltage and the phase of a kiln model may affect its maximum rating.

5)  CHOOSE A CONTROLLER:
     The next step is picking a control device for your kiln. There are two choices, the automatic KilnMaster (KM)
     and the manual KilnSitter (KS)

6)  ACCESSORIES AND UPGRADES:
     With these questions answered you should now be able to make a well informed decision on the particular
     model of kiln that will fit your needs. All that's left now is picking any upgrades and accessories you would
     like on the kiln. Most items listed below can be added to your kiln at any time while other must be factory
     installed.  Click on the name of the feature to get more detailed information and call or e-mail us for
     information on which features must be factory installed.

I've been told that I can fire glass in my ceramic kiln, so why should I buy a glass kiln?

Yes, the general rule of thumb is it's ok to fire glass in a ceramic kiln, but you should never fire clay in a glass kiln.  Ceramic kilns can work very well for small scale glass work (items 6" in size or smaller) but they do not apply heat evenly enough for large surface area pieces or for slumping and combing techniques.  Glass kilns have elements in the lid that allow for even and consistent heating of the glass surface.

Glass firing cycles require a greater degree of temperature control than ceramic firings making the kiln controller a very important tool in the glass fusing process.  The Skutt GlassMaster kiln controller was designed with the input of glass artists and is the only control system to offer the GlassFire Mode.  These factory stored programs allow beginners to fuse with professional results on their first firing.  The GlassMaster system also comes with Ramp/Hold programming, the ability to adjust programs while the kiln is firing, Delay Start, Temperature Alarm, Current sensing and so much more.

Add to this the quality, durability and dependability of the number one selling kiln in America and you have a professional grade glass kiln well suited for glass artists of all levels.

The process of selecting a glass kiln will be the same as the steps listed above for a ceramic kiln. The chart below has the basic information on each model and by clicking on the model number you can view the kiln in more detail.