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latest and greatest kiln

Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2013 8:03 pm
by lorimendenhall
I've been heavily into fusing for about 6 months and have outgrown my very small kiln. I'd like recommendations for the latest and greatest. my only real constraint is space, but if I could fuse something 18" I'd be ecstatic. I need the smallest footprint and want lots of digital programs as well as the ability to have a bunch of my own custom programs. if you were me what would you buy? (price and electricity not an issue)

Re: latest and greatest kiln

Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2013 9:25 pm
by Brock
It's just a personal preference, here's mine:

http://www.skutt.com/glass/products/clam.php

Re: latest and greatest kiln

Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2013 11:54 pm
by HEIDI in Wa. state
I agree with Brock. Keep an eye on Craigslist for them. I just picked up two from two different people for $800 ea with about $500 worth of glass a supplies!
HEIDI

Re: latest and greatest kiln

Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2013 1:06 am
by S.TImmerman
Brock wrote:It's just a personal preference, here's mine:

http://www.skutt.com/glass/products/clam.php

This is one of my kilns too- I got it from a nice lady on this board for 500.00- 2 years old and very well maintained. Its great for raking glass and loading a prepared (deep kilns can be challenging) I have two shelfs for it and its SOO easy to program compared to my smaller skutt kilns.

Re: latest and greatest kiln

Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2013 2:24 pm
by Don Burt
I have a skutt clamshell too. You can find a thread somewhere on here about the way the elements behave over time. I do like the kiln and controller, and skutt service.

You want opinions that disregard cost? Those Nabertherms and Furnace Engineering kilns look sweet.

I'd probably have a bell kiln custom made. With my personal preferences of Harvest Gold or Avocado 1970's kitchen color enamel sheathing.

Re: latest and greatest kiln

Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2013 3:47 pm
by Brad Walker
If money is no object, get a Nabertherm. My kids will probably bury me in mine.

Re: latest and greatest kiln

Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2013 7:14 pm
by jim burchett
Brad Walker wrote:If money is no object, get a Nabertherm. My kids will probably bury me in mine.
No way, they will still be using it

Re: latest and greatest kiln

Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2013 10:09 pm
by Brad Walker
jim burchett wrote:
Brad Walker wrote:If money is no object, get a Nabertherm. My kids will probably bury me in mine.
No way, they will still be using it
Then I guess they'll just cremate me in the kiln and then keep it for themselves.

Re: latest and greatest kiln

Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 9:15 am
by David Jenkins
If price were no object, what would one expect to pay for a Nabertherm clamshell one-meter kiln? Just ballparking?

Re: latest and greatest kiln

Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 9:26 am
by jim burchett
Brad Walker wrote:
jim burchett wrote:
Brad Walker wrote:If money is no object, get a Nabertherm. My kids will probably bury me in mine.
No way, they will still be using it
Then I guess they'll just cremate me in the kiln and then keep it for themselves.
Memorial Glass.

Re: latest and greatest kiln

Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 1:35 pm
by Brad Walker
David Jenkins wrote:If price were no object, what would one expect to pay for a Nabertherm clamshell one-meter kiln? Just ballparking?
I think it's around $7000. GF190, roughly one meter by half meter.

I have the GF240, next size up, roughly one meter by 3/4 meter. It was $5000 delivered when I bought it around 5 years ago, probably around $8000 or $9000 now.

One thing all of the kiln manufacturers (US or foreign) have done is do a pretty good job of raising kiln prices faster than inflation.

Re: latest and greatest kiln

Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 1:42 pm
by JestersBaubles
I have found that Clay-King has competitive pricing on kilns. I bought two of mine there.

Dana W.

Re: latest and greatest kiln

Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 4:32 pm
by lorimendenhall
thanks for all the info. ha ha I guess I should not have said money is no object! I will check out the info you gave me.