DonMcClennen wrote:With your budget I don't think you have to settle (as the previous poster suggests) for a used or a kiln not properly set up for glass. You can get a 15" to 18" new with controller using 110V (regular plug in). This will give you a proper learning tool and give you enough flexibility to last you for a few years. It then can become your smaller test kiln when you progress. Look at all the various kiln manufacturers and you'll see you have a choice in that range. There are people on this board using all the various makes with good service and results!..... Good luck!!
Well said, Don. There are so many things to learn and so many variations in what glass will do in response to your efforts that not having standard, reliable equipment enabling you to talk to others about what's happening with your efforts is a major negative. That said, beyond the basic kiln furniture, mold(s), and refractories, go slowly in buying 'stuff.' This is indeed the voice of experience; I'm storing molds and glass that I've never used. It is well worth the money to buy books to see what others are doing and look for your fusing muse. There's no better book to start with than Brad Walker's
Contemporary Fused Glass http://www.warmglass.com/cfg/. Another of my favorite books is
Joy of Fusing by Randy & Carole Wardell; beautiful book with lots of ideas and tips. One tip well worth noting is the use of non-tested glass; can save lots of money while learning techniques and acquiring skills but this glass does not react exactly as tested glass does so some 'relearning' is required when using tested glass.
and.......I have been very happy with my Skutt Pro but would also consider the FIREBOX 14; the Pro has a round 15" shelf where the FIREBOX 14 has a square 14" shelf. The 14" shelf has more area and accommodates more and larger squares/rectangles than the 15" round shelf; conversely, the 14" square marginally limits the size of rounds pieces you can make (14" vs 15"). I'd tend to prefer the FIREBOX 14 because of the greater over-all shelf area.