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Paragon Kiln Furniture
Kiln Furniture is the trade name for the shelves and posts (risers) that are utilized in a kiln to create layers of wares and/or to separate goods from one another. Even when layers of wares are not desired (such as in a glass kiln), the kiln shelves are placed in the kiln to protect the kiln bottom from molten glass or glaze drips.
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Most pottery/ceramic customers will purchase the Furniture Kit, as without the kit the user would be limited to firing ware just on the kiln bottom. The furniture kit for each kiln consists of kiln shelves, posts and kiln wash, with the number of shelves and posts varying according to the size of the kiln. The kiln shelves allow ware to be stacked in the kiln, and to fully utilize the interior of the kiln, will be as large as possible but still allow the fingers of the person loading the kiln to avoid contacting the wall bricks. The kiln shelves will be either full shapes, or half shapes, or a combination of both. |
| The 22" deep kilns, such as the TnF 27-3, will typically accommodate 3 horizontal layers (a combination of 3 full or 6 halves) of shelves. The 29" deep kilns, such as the Viking 28, will accommodate 4 layers of half shelves (8 total). Please note that in large volume kilns, the shelves will typically be half shelves for ease of loading and better heat distribution and cooling within the kiln. The kiln posts provided in the furniture kit will be sufficient for the number of kiln shelves, and will typically be a mix of sizes from 1" up to 6" in length with 8" posts added to the kit for some large kilns. Additional length posts, up to 12" in length, are available. Kiln wash is used to coat the shelves and prevent drips of glaze from binding to the shelf. |
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Kiln shelves are relatively heavy and, because of their size, can be very difficult (or even impossible) to pack for UPS shipments. Local customers may purchase additional kiln furniture at any time from Dogwood Ceramic Supply's inventory of kiln furniture, but customers who need furniture to be shipped to their location are advised to purchase the desired furniture at the same time as you purchase the kiln.
| Why aren't kiln shelves or furniture kits standard with kilns? Primarily because kiln furniture is not needed by every kiln customer. The customer may be firing tile (and therefore only desires tile racks rather than kiln shelves). Or the customer may be firing sculptural pieces as large the kiln itself. Either way, blindly adding kiln furniture to the kiln doesn't make much sense. Secondarily, kiln shelves are considered a consumable product. But some customers (or customer types) may not consume their shelves as fast as other customers. For example, kiln shelves often last the life time of glass customers. Bottom line, customers may or may not need shelves and therefore kiln shelves (or furniture kits) are not typically standard with the kiln. |
| Are Furniture Kits Standardized between suppliers? No. This lack of standardization means that a furniture kit assembled by one manufacturer may be completely different than a furniture kit from another manufacturer. Worse, this lack of standardization also allows kiln vendors to create their own "customized" furniture kits. The customized furniture kit may be missing a shelf (or 6), but what the heck, who will ever know. When comparison shopping always evaluate the itemized furniture kit description. |
Tile Racks
Tile Racks, as the name implies, are used to stack unglazed bisque tiles in racks for glaze firing. Tile Racks are commonly available in 4" or 6" sizes to accommodate the most popular sizes of tile. Using a Tile Rack with or in the place of the normal kiln shelves will make better use of the kiln space, allow for more even firing and quicker cool down times. In addition, you can load far more tile into a kiln utilizing racks than if the tiles were just placed on kiln shelves.
| The Paragon TnF 27-3 (shown to right) can hold 16 units of the 6" Tile Racks. With each of the 6" Tile Racks holding 9 tiles, the TnF 27-3 can fire 144 tiles per kiln load. The TnF 27-3 is the most efficient kiln for firing tile as the tile racks are approximately 10" in height and it is impossible to stack 3 racks high in any standard kiln. |
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Plate Racks
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To fire large numbers of plates in a kiln, use a Plate Rack. Plate Racks are designed to be stacked together in the place of standard kiln shelves to maximize the space and efficiency of your kiln. Because Plate Racks weigh much less than standard kiln shelves your kiln will fire more evenly and cool much faster while you can get more plates per kiln load! Because of their cost per unit, Plate Racks are suitable only for customers attempting to maximize multiple kiln loads of plates. 36 Plate Racks can used in the Paragon TnF 27-3 per kiln load, 44 Plate Racks can be used in the Viking 28 per kiln load. |
See also: Paragon Kiln Shelves for a complete selection of options
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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
Kiln Furniture is the trade name for the shelves and posts (risers) that are utilized in a kiln to create layers of wares and/or to separate goods from one another. Even when layers of wares are not desired (such as in a glass kiln), the kiln shelves are placed in the kiln to protect the kiln bottom from molten glass or glaze drips.