The Paragon TnF 1613-3 has a listed chamber size of 1.75 cubic feet with 16.5" width and 13.25" depth.  Many customers will "assume" that the measurements listed are the maximum size object that the kiln the kiln can handle.  That assumption is entirely incorrect.  The measurements are the biggest/best size of the kiln.  For a top loading "round" kiln with 6 or more side walls the width will be measured at the narrowest point, what Dogwood Ceramic Supply refers to as side wall to side wall.  For a multi-side kiln, there is a little extra space that can be found in the corners where the kiln bricks join together.
    Objects fired in a kiln will expand.  Every type of clay, glass, metal etc has a different expansion rate which is affected by the temperature achieved in the kiln.  Traditionally clay artists will allow up to 1" of expansion.
    Using the 1" allowance for expansion the largest piece that should be placed within the Paragon TnF 1613-3 is approximately 15.5" wide and 12" high, IF the piece is fired directly on the kiln bottom and the piece does not require stilting or has the potential for glaze dripping.
    After allowing space for stilts, kiln shelf false bottom and expansion of the item to be fired, a kiln with a chamber of 8" by 8" might be unable to fire a large coffee cup.
    Yes size really can be important.

    Each of these was built for a very specific purpose.  The goal of the Fusion 7 was to achieve the largest volume glass kiln that could be fired using a common household outlet.  The Fusion 7 meets that goal extremely well as increasing the chamber size is not possible unless more than 20 amps of power was available.  The Xpress 1193 was specifically designed to be the largest kiln possible to reach temperatures above Cone 6 while operating from a common household outlet.  The Xpress 1193 fails to reach part of the design goal in that the kiln requires a dedicated circuit breaker for proper operation.  Paragon could have designed the Xpress 1193 to work off a regular household outlet, but then either the max temperature requirement would not have been met, OR the kiln would have had to shrink in size.

    Dogwood Ceramic Supply looks at every small from a critical perspective.  When we evaluate each of these kilns we always remember that the kiln was designed for a very specific function and that some compromises, such as the dedicated electrical circuit for the Xpress 1193, may be required to meet the greater goals of the kiln.

    Paragon produces a wide range of small kilns.  Let's look at several different models that can reach a minimum of 2200°F

    There are specific design goals with each of the kilns.  The Xpress-E-10A and Xpress-Q-11A are FRONT loading kilns that allows the user safer access to the hot kiln chamber during firing.  The Caldera's design goal was a kiln that did not need a dedicated 120v circuit breaker and could reach Cone 10 to test fire glaze samples for customers using large gas or wood fired kilns.  As previously mentioned, the Xpress 1193 was designed to be a high fire kiln with the largest possible chamber size.

    Obviously each kiln has design limitations and there are alternative kilns that may be better suited for the customer.  A customer choosing the Xpress 1193 specifically to fire glass would be well advised to purchase the larger width Fusion 7 instead.  The Xpress-E-10A is a great kiln for customers that require a front loading kiln, however the SC-3 (to be mentioned below) is far less expensive and will fire to 2000°F.  The Caldera is great for firing glaze samples to Cone 10, but customers find the chamber size limiting for all but the smallest glaze samples.  The Xpress-Q-11A, like the Caldera, may reach Cone 10, but the chamber size is inadequate for all but the smallest wares.

2000°F Temperature Small Kilns

    Let's look at several different models that can reach a minimum of 2000°F and compare those kilns to the Xpress 1193.

    Like the Xpress-E-10A listed previously, the Xpress-E-9A and the SC-3 are front loading kilns.  Of the three kilns, the Xpress-E-9A seems to be the poorest value as the SC-3 has a similar width but a much taller chamber and costs about the same amount of money.  But looks can be deceiving.  The SC-3 is a great kiln, but it has a serious design limitation in that the kiln uses a ceramic fiber muffle with an embedded element rather than traditional IFB (insulating firebrick) with element grooves and easy to replace elements.  Ceramic fiber is light weight, but relatively expensive to maintain as the element muffle sells for upwards of $250.  The SC kilns are popular with silver clay artists that will seldom need to change the element, while the Xpress-E-9A is popular with artists that know they will need to frequently change elements.  For active customers needing to change elements on a regular basis the Xpress-E-9A is a better value than the SC-3.

    The Home Artist has nice chamber size of 12" in diameter and 12" deep.   The kiln is rated to 2000°F, so while it will not fire stoneware and porcelain, the kiln is quite adequate for small low fire ceramic objects.  And then we get to the price.  The kiln's typical selling price is 20% more than the Xpress 1193 while the kiln will not reach the same high temperature.  And the replacement element is $440.  Yes, $440.

    What is going on?  Simple.  The Home Artist was designed to meet ONE specific need.... a traveling kiln.  The requirements for the kiln were quite simple, decent volume kiln of a light weight design that can be plugged into any residential (or hotel room) outlet.  The kiln exceeds all goals.  And that is the start of the problem.  To keep the weight low, the kiln does not use traditional fire brick, rather the kiln uses the same ceramic fiber with an embedded element found in the SC Series of kilns.  Ceramic fiber can be expensive.  The bigger the kiln, the more ceramic fiber that is used.  And relatively speaking the Home Artist is a big kiln.

    Customers really like the interior volume of the Home Artist.  The Home Artist is the largest 120v kiln that will reach ceramic temperatures using a regular household outlet.  And the kiln really meets the goals of the design.  But for most customers this kiln is a poor value due to the high element replacement costs and limited firing temperature.

    The Caldera that was previously listed is back again.  This time a blank collar has been added to the kiln.  The depth becomes more usable than before but the maximum temperature drops from 2350°F to 2000°F.  In a manner of speaking the blank collar is just flogging a dead horse as the collar really adds very little to the kiln and for $35 more the Xpress 1193 has greater volume and is capable of reaching Cone 8.

1700°F Temperature Small Kilns

    The Fusion 7 is the standard by which all low temperature kilns should be measured, so lets look at several different models that can reach a minimum of 1700°F and compare those kilns to the Fusion 7.

   The F-120 is another FRONT loading kiln, but unlike the other front loading kilns previously mention, the F-120 has a very specific purpose in life.  The door design is unique and uses a spring loaded vertical drop down door to allow frequent access to the hot kiln chamber.  Overall the F-120 kiln was designed for glass figurines, annealing and is popular with glass blowers.

    The TnF-J-14-1 is a FRONT loading kiln with a large interior volume.  The kiln was specifically designed for enameling and has additional insulation to hold the temperature within the chamber.  Like several other kilns, the TnF-J-14-1 uses the rather expensive one-piece ceramic fiber shell (muffle) with embedded elements.

The Perfect Kiln ?

    Is there a perfect kiln?  For glass artists wanting a kiln for glass fusing and slumping the Paragon Fusion 7 may be the perfect small kiln.  The Fusion 7 kiln is the largest glass kiln that can plug into a regular household receptacle.  The smaller Paragon Fusion 6 is 3% less expensive, 40% smaller and requires the same electrical service as the Fusion 7 so there is no logical reason to choose the Fusion 6 over the Fusion 7.  And both the Fusion 6 and 7 can be shipped via UPS and there is only marginal differences in shipping costs.

    For clay artists the question of the perfect kiln is more difficult to answer.  Size, temperature rating and electrical service are all factors to consider.  The Paragon Xpress 1193 may be the closest to the perfect small ceramic kiln.  But the Xpress 1193 requires a dedicated electrical service and the chamber size really isn't all that big, in fact the chamber may not be big enough to handle a basic dinner plate.  The Paragon Home Artist is larger than the Xpress 1193 and could easily handle the elusive dinner plate, but the Home Artist is limited to 2000°F so the kiln will not handle stoneware or porcelain and then there is the issue of the cost of the replacement element with the Home Artist.  Purchasing a smaller kiln than either the Home Artist or Xpress 1193 for hobby ceramics is just about a complete waste of money as the chambers are seldom big enough to fire a large coffee cup.

    The Front Loading kilns serve specialty and diverse markets quite well.  But, with the exception of the SC series, the front loading kilns are much more expensive than their top loading counterparts so purchasing a Front Loading kiln should be made only by customers truly needing the front loading design. 

Dogwood's Conclusion

    Glass and jewelry artists and are usually quite happy with their purchase of a small kiln.   At the same time, with rare exceptions, few customers working with clay will be happy with a small kiln.
    Dogwood Ceramic Supply is quite experienced with small kilns.  We have owned a kiln that identical in size to the Xpress 1193 since the 1980's.  The kiln is great.  For what it can do.  We have used the kiln in our business as an overflow kiln or to handle firings of a single piece at oddball temperatures.  The kiln really meets our needs.  One of our local customers has used the Xpress 1193 to fire ornaments for her Sunday School class to paint.  The Xpress 1193 can be a great kiln for some people.  While there are some people who are happy with their small kiln purchase, Dogwood Ceramic Supply meets way too many people that regret purchasing a small kiln for use with clay.
    If you are considering the purchase of a small kiln take a deep breath and consider all the factors.  Always remember: an informed customer can be a happy customer. 

Copyright 2008

Dogwood Ceramic Supply