Paragon's F Series Lamp Working Kilns

Glass Blowing and Annealing Kilns

    The Paragon F-Series Glass Blowing and Annealing Kilns are common referred to as Lamp Working Kilns because their large internal volume is ideal for working with Glass Lamp Shades or figurines.  The primary purpose of the F-Series Kilns from Paragon is to readily accept hot glass and hold the glass through an annealing cycle.  To achieve this goal, all of the Paragon F-Series kilns are equipped with a guillotine door for ease of opening and closing as well as thicker insulating firebricks in the roof for better heat retention and controlled cooling. 

    How easy it to operate the guillotine door on the Paragon F-Series kilns?  Actually, pretty darn easy.  The cross bar at the top of the door operates against a set of levers and springs in such a way that the door mechanism can be operated with one hand while holding hot glass works in the other.  Oh, and because of the spring versus lever system, there is no heavy counter weight hanging around behind the kiln like some other brands of kilns.... which means a smaller foot print for the kiln in a space limited studio.

    Paragon's F-Series Kilns are hugely popular with Glass Blowers because of the ease of access to the kiln interior through the Guillotine Door.  That said, the complexity of the Guillotine Door design, as seen above on the F-500 with the door closed, increases the cost of the F-Series kilns versus a simple front loading box kiln with a swing door.  The Guillotine Door also increases the shipping costs of the kilns, especially the smallest F-Series kilns, as the what should be a simple, inexpensive kiln to ship via UPS suddenly requires oversized UPS box fees or even expensive truck shipping.  But when you just got to have a Glass Annealing Kiln equipped with a Guillotine Door.... and a lot of Glass Blowers need the ease of access with the Guillotine Door.... then the F-Series Kilns are the way to go.

     Please note:   The Paragon F-500 includes Paragon's Mercury Displacement Relays as standard equipment.  The Mercury Displacement Relays (MDR for short) are better suited for long annealing cycles with repeated on-off cycles of the elements and as an added benefit allow the high amperage kiln to operate quieter than mechanical relays.  MDRs are also available as an option on all of the other F-Series and are strongly recommended by Dogwood Ceramic Supply to prevent overheating mechanical relay issues common with long annealing cycles and glass studios located in garages and other areas with warm/hot ambient temperature.

2012 Paragon Common F Series Kiln Options

Paragon F-500 Lamp Working Kiln

The Annealing Beast

    The Paragon F-500 Lamp Working Kiln is an absolute Annealing Beast.  Mercury Relays (MDR) as standard equipment, painted black to emphasize the kiln's purpose as a professional Glass Blowing Kiln, the F-500 is finding its way into more and more glass studios across the country as a dedicated glass annealing kiln.  And annealing is what the kiln does.  Rated to a maximum of 1200F, the F-500 anneals and then it anneals some more.  The limited temperature rating of the kiln was necessary to achieve the large internal volume (5.5 cubic feet laid out in a 24" wide x 18" deep floor area combined with 22.5" height) while allowing the kiln to be operated in locations with limited power supply such as the typical garage studio.  Elements are in the roof and side walls with equal power distribution (50:50) between side wall and the roof.  Louvered base (better seen in the photos of other F-Series kilns) keeps the sensitive electronics cool and allows the kiln to placed upon virtually any work surface capable of supporting the massive 500 lb weight of the F-500.  Anybody figured out why the F-500 is named the F-500 ?  Yep, it be the weight.  Fortunately the kiln will seldom if ever need to be moved and there are 4 hand holds (2 on each side wall) for those few times it will ever be moved in it's life..... which might also explain why Paragon installed MDRs and heavy duty elements providing the same level of power as would be found in a moderate sized pottery kiln..... nobody wants to have to move this kiln on a regular basis to make minor repairs.... something the competition doesn't think about when they underpower their large kilns.

◊ 5.50 cubic foot interior: 24" wide x 18" deep x 22.5" tall

◊ 6,850 watts of power
◊ Requires #8 wire, 40 amp circuit breaker, NEMA 6-30R receptacle

◊ 1200°F maximum temperature

◊ Mercury Displacement Relays

◊ 2.5" Firebrick walls, door and floor

◊ 3" Firebrick in roof for increased insulation

◊ Pinless element grooves in the roof

◊ Coated firebricks in roof

◊ Dropped, recessed element grooves in the walls

◊ 3-key digital Sentry Xpress controller

◊ On-off safety switch
◊ 2 - 11” wide x 2” high punty rod doors
◊ Mandrel holder with 16 slots

◊ 2 lift handles on the side walls (4 total)

◊ Built-in louvered base, safe for most work tables.

◊ Mar-proof plastic feet

◊ Doorway clearance required is 29"
◊ Shipping weight 601 lbs
◊ Shipping crate is approximately 42"w x 42"d x 65"h

2012 Paragon F-500 Lamp Working Kiln Prices

Paragon F-240 Top/Side Lamp Working Kiln

Top and Sidewall Elements

    The Paragon F-240 TS is a scaled down version of the F-500 with an 18" floor (18" wide x 18" deep) and 13" height and includes the elements in the roof and side walls with equal power distribution (50:50) between side wall and the roof.  The louvered base (better seen in the photo of other F-Series kilns) keeps the sensitive electronics cool and allows the kiln to placed upon virtually any work surface capable of supporting the 225 lb weight of the F-240 TS.

    Unlike the F-500, the F-240 TS is rated to 1700F to allow the kiln to be for purposes other than glass annealing, such as fusing glass projects.  The additional of side wall elements allow this kiln to be used for sagging and slumping projects.  This increased firing range and even heat distribution allow the F-240 TS to be the center piece of a single kiln, multiple function glass studio.

    Conventional mechanical relays, backed by a simple toggle on-off switch to control run away elements in the event of relay failure, are used in the design to maintain the low selling price, but Mercury Relays are available and recommended for the active studio.

    An optional Furniture kit is available for the Paragon F-240 TS for customers who may be using this kiln for purposes other than glass annealing.

    Customers needing a dedicated annealing kiln who are considering the F-240 TS would be better suited with the standard F-240 (without the side wall elements) as the standard F-240 is mechanically less complicated and slightly less expensive in price.

    Please note, molten glass is capable of conducting electricity.  Customers purchasing a kiln with sidewall elements who intend on playing with the molten glass, such as raking the glass with a metal tool, are required to purchase the optional door safety switch that cuts power to the elements whenever the door is opened.

◊ 2.40 cubic foot interior: 18.0" wide x 18.0" deep x 13.0" tall

◊ 4,800 watts of power
◊ Requires #12 wire, 20 amp circuit breaker, NEMA 6-20R receptacle

◊ 1700°F maximum temperature

◊ Mechanical relays, optional Mercury Displacement Relays

◊ 2.5" Firebrick walls, door and floor

◊ 3" Firebrick in roof for increased insulation

◊ Pinless element grooves in the roof

◊ Coated firebricks in roof

◊ Dropped, recessed element grooves in the walls

◊ 3-key digital Sentry Xpress controller

◊ On-off safety switch
◊ 2 - 8” wide x 2” high punty rod doors
◊ Mandrel holder with 11 slots

◊ 2 lift handles on the side walls (4 total)

◊ Built-in louvered base, safe for most work tables.

◊ Mar-proof plastic feet

◊ Doorway clearance required is 29"
◊ Shipping weight 288 lbs
◊ Shipping crate is approximately 36"w x 37.5"d x 36.5"h

2012 Paragon F-240 Top/Side Lamp Working Kiln Prices

Paragon F-240 Lamp Working Kiln

Top ONLY Elements

Top ONLY Elements

    The Paragon F-240 Top ONLY Elements Lamp Working Kiln, what we call the standard configuration of the F-240 is identical to the previously shown F-240 TS except for the side wall elements.  Pretty simple, huh? 

    While the F-240 Top ONLY Elements is rated to the same 1700F as the F-240 TS, the lack of sidewall elements limits the flexibility of the kiln design.  Obviously the kiln is an annealing kiln because that is it's primary purpose in life.  But the ability to handle other forms of glass work is essentially limited to simple fusing projects due to the lack of sidewall heat.

    Who should buy the F-240 Top ONLY Elements versus the F-240 TS ?  Glass Annealers !  And Annealers who might do the occasional fusing project and lack a dedicated fusing kiln.  The F-240 TS is the kiln for the multiple purpose users.

    As with the F-240 TS, there is an optional Furniture Kit ... which is obviously not needed for dedicated Glass Annealers.  And the optional Mercury Relay, which we recommend to everybody regardless of usage. 

◊ 2.40 cubic foot interior: 18.0" wide x 18.0" deep x 13.0" tall

◊ 4,800 watts of power
◊ Requires #12 wire, 20 amp circuit breaker, NEMA 6-20R receptacle

◊ 1700°F maximum temperature

◊ Mechanical relays, optional Mercury Displacement Relays

◊ 2.5" Firebrick walls, door and floor

◊ 3" Firebrick in roof for increased insulation

◊ Pinless element grooves in the roof

◊ Coated firebricks in roof

◊ 3-key digital Sentry Xpress controller

◊ On-off safety switch
◊ 2 - 8” wide x 2” high punty rod doors
◊ Mandrel holder with 11 slots

◊ 2 lift handles on the side walls (4 total)

◊ Built-in louvered base, safe for most work tables.

◊ Mar-proof plastic feet

◊ Doorway clearance required is 29"
◊ Shipping weight 278 lbs
◊ Shipping crate is approximately 36"w x 37.5"d x 36.5"h

2012 Paragon F-240 Top ONLY Elements Kiln Prices

Paragon F-130 Lamp Working Kiln

The Elite

     Welcome to the F-130 Elite.  The biggest, baddest Lamp Working / Glass Annealing Kiln from Paragon capable of being operated from 120v household circuits.

    The F-130 Elite is huge for an 120v kiln with an 11" x 11" floor and 13" of height.

    The F-130 Elite also has a significant problem..... the kiln is pushing the practical limits of most household 120v electrical systems because the kiln nearly draws 20 amps of power.

    Most people are going to be happier with the performance of the F-130 Elite if they order the 240v version (with the more expensive electrical installation requirements) rather than the 120v version.

    And since the kiln has to be shipped via truck rather than UPS, the slightly more expensive F-240 Top Only Element should be considered as a viable option simply because the F-240 Top Only Element is a much better value on a cost per cubic foot of volume basis than the F-130 Elite.

    If one is a pure hobbyist, the F-120, which readily operates from standard 120v household electrical circuits, may be better value than the F-130 Elite.

    But if need the vertical height of the F-130 Elite versus the F-120 and can't swing the F-240 Top Only Element because of cost, then follow our suggestion and order the F-130 Elite in the 240v configuration.... you will be much happier if you do.

◊ 0.90 cubic foot interior: 11.0" wide x 11.0" deep x 13.0" tall

◊ 2,400 watts of power
◊ Requires #12 wire, 20 amp circuit breaker, NEMA 5-20R receptacle

◊ 1700°F maximum temperature

◊ Mechanical relays, optional Mercury Displacement Relays

◊ 2.5" Firebrick walls, door and floor

◊ 3" Firebrick in roof for increased insulation

◊ Pinless element grooves in the roof

◊ Coated firebricks in roof

◊ 3-key digital Sentry Xpress controller

◊ On-off safety switch
◊ 1 punty rod door
◊ Built-in louvered base, safe for most work tables.

◊ Mar-proof plastic feet

◊ Shipping weight 173 lbs
◊ Shipping crate is approximately 28.5"w x 28.5"d x 32.5"h

2012 Paragon F-130 Elite Lamp Working Kiln Prices

Paragon F-120 Lamp Working Kiln

The Entry Kiln

    The smallest of the F-Series Kilns, the F-120 is also the friendliest kiln in the series as the kiln can be plugged into just about any household 120v outlet.  But being friendly with the electricity does come at a price and in this case the size is really compromised.  The F-120 is 0.47 cubic foot of kiln volume arranged with 10.75" width by 11.00" floor and 7.00 of height.  Basically the kiln is an F-130 that has been shrunken in height.  From a practical and safety perspective (allowing for expansion of the ware, minimizing contact with the brick walls during entry and exit and set back requirements from the roof element to prevent over heating the ware) the F-120 can readily accommodate a glass object no taller than 5".

◊ 0.47 cubic foot interior: 10.75" wide x 11.0" deep x 7.00" tall

◊ 1,680 watts of power (14 amps)
◊ Requires #12 wire, 20 amp circuit breaker, NEMA 5-15R receptacle

◊ 1700°F maximum temperature

◊ Mechanical relays, optional Mercury Displacement Relays

◊ 2.5" Firebrick walls, door and floor

◊ 3" Firebrick in roof for increased insulation

◊ Pinless element grooves in the roof

◊ Coated firebricks in roof

◊ 3-key digital Sentry Xpress controller

◊ On-off safety switch
◊ 1 punty rod door
◊ Built-in louvered base, safe for most work tables.

◊ Mar-proof plastic feet

◊ Shipping weight 125 lbs
◊ Shipping crate is approximately 28.5"w x 28.5"d x 32.5"h

2012 Paragon F-120 Lamp Working Kiln Prices

Notes:

    All options have the appropriate discounts applied from the MSRP.

   Freight charges are based upon the weight of the kiln, services required and the customer's location. Please refer to Paragon freight information for complete information including special rates and any adjustments to the basic freight charges for your specific location or delivery situation.

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Paragon Information

12590 Dedeaux Road
Gulfport Mississippi, 39503
Telephone (228) 831-4848        Fax (228) 831-3111

Showroom Business Hours:

Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday 10AM to 5PM
Thursday 1PM to 6PM

Closed Wednesday and Sunday

The Paragon F-Series Glass Blowing and Annealing Kilns are common referred to as Lamp Working Kilns because their large internal volume is ideal for working with Glass Lamp Shades or figurines.  The primary purpose of the F-Series Kilns from Paragon is to readily accept hot glass and hold the glass through an annealing cycle.