What to offer for a used glass/sword HT kiln?

Salem Straub

Salem Straub

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Oct 20, 2008
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A friend of mine has a wife that has ben into glass work for a long time... she built her own glass kiln. It's quite large, probably 48x 16x 30 inside in a horizontal shape, with doors at both ends and the ability to completely lift the box off the floor with counter weights. It's got a digital controller.

It's been used thoroughly, but the brick is all in good shape as far as I can tell. She's been thinking of selling it and getting out of large scale work.

I'm thinking swords! If I could use it for tempering as well, it would be ideal. I might snap temper with a torch until the kiln loses enough heat for a proper temper, I've read of this working out well.

He asked me what I thought I might offer for it... I really have no idea, of course I'm really poor so I don't know if i could offer what it's worth- but I'm not even sure of that.

Thoughts?
 
You could always add up the cost of the parts, that would give you an idea of what it would cost you to build one like it and go from there. Add some cause its already put together and works, or subtract cause the parts may be old. But it would give you a starting point.

Or could suggest she "store" it at your place, and could retain borrowing rights if she decides to do a big project now and then.
 
That's sound thinking. I really like that last idea.

I just remembered him saying the top lifted off because it was important for some of her work to be able to dump a lot of heat quickly. I'm thinking that could be an asset in getting down to a tempering heat faster.
 
If you start doing swords, and don't mind doing the occasional few for others, you could help defray the costs :) I'd be happy to send you some of mine, since Darrin's not doing sword-length blades any more :( although I understand his reasoning.
 
I'm not sure Barry, the coils looked good and are the original ones, having been used for at least ten years. I'll make sure to ask, though.

Crimson, that's an idea, although I don't know if I could go to the heroic measures of correcting warp that Darrin apparently sometimes does, especially in long blades. :eek:
 
Yep, that's why Darrin isn't doing it any more, I imagine. I guess those of us doing long blades will just have to learn not to suck at grinding, eh? Regardless, I'll be excited to see what sorts of swords you'll come up with.
 
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