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Basic Paragon Kiln Designs:
Front Loader versus Top Loader. Simple, simple choice. Either Front Loader or Top Loader:
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Front Loader versus Top Loader
The Janus 23 (on the left) and Janus 24 (on the right) are both Janus Kilns by Paragon. Dual purpose, with the ability to fire ceramics/pottery as well as glass, the Janus kilns are popular in the hobby market with customers desiring to do a little bit of glass in their ceramic kiln.
The kilns are nearly equal in volume (4.68 cu ft for the Janus 24 and 5.1 cu ft for the Janus 23), but there is one huge difference between the kilns... one is a front loader while the other is a top loader.
Which kiln is better? Neither. Each of the kiln designs have different purposes. The key purpose of the Front Loading Kiln design is offering the user the ability to open the hot chamber while the kiln is operating for access to the molten glass without risking extreme danger as compared to opening the lid of a top loader. As an added benefit, the front loading kiln will retain much more of the heat in the chamber (when the door is opened) versus the top loading kiln design.
Front loaders are also often easier to load than top loaders as you can load objects at eye level rather than looking down upon the object. Loading sculpture in a front loading kiln is usually much easier than a top loader. And because the front loading kiln can be placed on a stand or table, front loaders are often easier to load for the handicap or those who have other aliments.
The downside to front loaders? For comparable sized kilns, a front loading kiln is anywhere from 25 to 80% more expensive than a top loader. Much of the cost difference is due to added labor costs (front loaders take a LOT longer to assemble at the factory) and the extra steel required to support the heavy door and create a support structure for the kiln. Because of the price premium, customers should only buy a front loader when they truly need a front loading kiln.
Top loading kilns (be they from Paragon or another kiln manufacturer) can be purchased for as little as half the price of a comparable volume front loading kiln. Obviously price is the major design feature for a top loading kiln. Top loading kilns almost always weigh less than a comparable size front loading kiln because the external frame is a simpler design. Sometimes those few pounds can make a difference on shipping costs.
Clam Shell Kilns for Glass.
Actually there is a choice other than Top Loading or Front Loading for kilns. In recent years there have been a wave of hybrid top-loaders for glass. The Pearl series of kilns from Paragon are one such hybrid top-loading kiln. Technically these calls are referred to as clam-shell kilns. The clam-shell kilns (such as the Pearl-44 shown below) combine the best features of top loading and front loading kilns into a single, affordable kiln design.
Clam shell kilns utilize a small bottom chamber with a large top chamber that is hinged such that it can swing out of the way for ease of loading glass wares for firing. Because the kiln shelf can be raised above the lip of the bottom chamber, the kiln operator can inspect their loading both horizontally AND vertically prior to firing. Clam shell kilns are great for glass artists who need to assemble their work in the kiln. More importantly, when the clam shell is opened during firing, a large portion of the heat in the kiln will be retained in upper chamber, thus allowing rapid resumption of the firing. Clam shell designs are best for glass as the complexity of the design would not typically benefit ceramic or pottery artists.
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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
Front loader versus top loading kiln, which kiln is better? Neither, each of the kiln designs have different purposes. The key purpose of the Front Loading Kiln design is offering the user the ability to open the hot chamber while the kiln is operating for access to the molten glass without risking extreme danger as compared to opening the lid of a top loader.
