kiln question

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paintman

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May 6, 2013
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Newbie here.trying to kill 2 birds with one oven:) my wife does fused glass and I'm starting to build knives.any suggestions on a kiln that will do both.thanks
 
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I know my single 3/4" propane forge will melt a coke bottle... dunno anything else about glass...
Probably not much help.
 
paintman said:
Newbie here.trying to kill 2 birds with one oven:) my wife does fused glass and I'm starting to build knives.any suggestions on a kiln that will do both.thanks
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Don't know what temps you need with fused glass but I'm sure you guys will be able to share a Kiln no prob.. Lucky guy really. Hard to justify a kiln to the wife. But in your case works out well.
 
Call up the folks at Paragon, or one of the other Kiln makers. Talk to them about you and your wife's needs, and see what they recommend. After all, they make them, they ought to know which should be the best for combo work.
 
paintman said:
Newbie here.trying to kill 2 birds with one oven:) my wife does fused glass and I'm starting to build knives.any suggestions on a kiln that will do both.thanks
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What size of fused glass pieces would your wife make with the oven?

How many knives do you plan to heat treat every month?

What is the longest blade that you plan on making?

Sincerely,

Arnold Howard
Paragon Industries, L.P., Mesquite, Texas USA
ahoward@paragonweb.com / www.paragonweb.com
 
dont want to go too small,knives wont be huge and really not sure on the glass,maybe 15 x 15 x12
 
I would recommend a front loading kiln versus a top loader for tempering. Trying to pick up a piece of steel from a 1500 degree top loader is a bitch. The heat naturally rises and you are blasted by the heat from the lid as well. A front loader, while still hot, let's you avoid quite a lot of the blast in the face heat. For glass fusing however, a top loader that has elements in the lid as well as the sides will be superior because you can look straight down on your work as you set it up and you can avoid the cold spot that is the door in a front loader. You will REALLY NOT ENJOY opening a hot top loader. One kiln WILL work for both functions but there are serious tradeoffs. Also, do as I say,not as I do and kill the power before going into a kiln, especially if it is a top loader. 'Ol Ready Kilowatt will surely tickle yer innards!
 
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Your situation is like a farmer with a wife and five kids. He wants a vehicle that he can work the farm with, haul manure, and also take the family to town on Sundays. While he could put the kids in the back of a pick-up truck, or get an SUV and put the manure in the back....... it would really be smarter to get an 4X4 truck and a min-van. His wife will thank him ... as I am sure yours will.
 
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bladsmth said:
Your situation is like a farmer with a wife and five kids. He wants a vehicle that he can work the farm with, haul manure, and also take the family to town on Sundays. While he could put the kids in the back of a pick-up truck, or get an SUV and put the manure in the back....... it would really be smarter to get an 4X4 truck and a min-van. His wife will thank him ... as I am sure your will.
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The voice of reason. Use the right tool for the job. You will be much happier than compromising.
 
glassguy said:
I would recommend a front loading kiln versus a top loader for tempering. Trying to pick up a piece of steel from a 1500 degree top loader is a bitch. The heat naturally rises and you are blasted by the heat from the lid as well. A front loader, while still hot, let's you avoid quite a lot of the blast in the face heat. For glass fusing however, a top loader that has elements in the lid as well as the sides will be superior because you can look straight down on your work as you set it up and you can avoid the cold spot that is the door in a front loader. You will REALLY NOT ENJOY opening a hot top loader. One kiln WILL work for both functions but there are serious tradeoffs. Also, do as I say,not as I do and kill the power before going into a kiln, especially if it is a top loader. 'Ol Ready Kilowatt will surely tickle yer innards!
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All the points you've raised have merit. They are some of the reasons for so many kiln/furnace/oven designs.

One possible furnace, though, for both glass fusing and knife making would be the GL-18ADTSD. The interior is 13" high, 18" wide, and 18" deep. The maximum temperature is only 1700F, but we could probably raise that to 2200F with additional amperage.

http://www.paragonweb.com/GL18ADTSD.cfm

By the way, I rarely post links to our products on discussion forums. I've made an exception here because of the fascinating question about a single furnace for glass and heat treating.

Sincerely,

Arnold Howard
Paragon Industries, L.P., Mesquite, Texas USA
ahoward@paragonweb.com / www.paragonweb.com
 
I wish to thank Arnold for aiding the folks in Shop Talk. He is just one more reason Paragon is a great HT oven company to choose.
 
Now that's what I call a kiln! Front loading door WITH elements in it, the usual elements on the other three sides, and elements in the roof!
 
Good to see Arnold from Paragon posting here. Although I have a kiln by (shall we just say) another company, it is always comforting to get some facts straight from the manufacturers.

Wish more representatives from companies that we, as makers buy from, would participate.

Welcome Mr. Howard.

Robert
 
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