Electric Kilns for beginners: If you are just venturing into pottery and ceramic work as a hobby or even as an income generating occupation,you will find an electric kiln indispensable for your work. The ideal electric kiln should be small and portable and ideal to connect to a standard domestic power outlet. Before we take a look at our top 5 electric kilns for a beginner,a few words about what to look for in such an electric kiln are called for.

What to Look for in an Electric Kiln as a Beginner in Pottery

These are the most important factors to consider as you shop around for a beginner's pottery electric kiln:

1. Temperature

While pottery and ceramic objects do not require as high temperatures as porcelain or stoneware,it is important to look for a kiln which can fire your work to high enough temperatures. A good beginner's kiln should have a temperature rating of at least 2,200oF cone 6. But it is prudent to buy a kiln capable of firing to higher temperature than you will normally need for your projects. For instance,if your ceramics usually need to be fired to cone 6,buy a cone 10 kiln. Why? Because the higher the temperature rating of a kiln,the longer its element lasts. Even as the heating element of your kiln begins to wear off due to use,it will still be able to draw enough power to fire your ware to the desired degree.

2. Firing Chamber Size and Shape

As a beginner you may not need an electric kiln with a high volume for firing multiple items. The ideal size will depend on the kind of pottery you are making of course. The shape of a kin is also a factor to consider as you shop for an ideal electric kiln. 4 sided or hexagonal kilns are considered more versatile than round shaped ones.

3. Temperature Control

Today's electric kilns come with a plethora of temperature control mechanisms ranging from the basic manual ones to the completely automated electronic ones. As a beginner,we would recommend going for a blend of both such as an infinite switch with limit timer. This offers you the leeway to learn the art even as you guard against over or under firing your pottery.

Top 5 Kilns

With the above factors taken into mind,these are our top 5 compact electric pottery kilns for beginners. All of these kilns are small enough to run off your home power supply - which means you don't have to get an electrician in to change your wires. They are also quite small - but if you are just starting off,they are perfect for firing a couple of pieces quickly at home. If you do decide to keep on with pottery,you can keep the kilns and use them for small batches or for testing purposes.

1. Cress BT511KT Kiln - 399

http://www.bigceramicstore.com/cress-bt511kt-kiln-1353.html

The Cress BT511KT Kiln is a budget priced hexagonal kiln capable of firing to 2350 F (1288 C),cone 10. Its hexagonal sides measure 11 inches and it has a depth of 4.5 inches for an interior volume of 0.28 cubic feet. This is still roomy enough for small and medium sized pottery items such as sushi plates,mugs,saucers and candle holders. The top loading kiln has an extra strong locking lid brace and hinge and its 3 inch thick firebrick gives it versatility for a wide variety of firing applications.

For temperature monitoring and control,the Cress BT511KT is fitted with a Dawson Kiln Sitter with a limit timer. This is the standard control for all B -series manual Cress Kilns. While this is not as versatile as an automated electronic controller,a kiln sitter with timer is as good as it gets in manual kilns. You only have to set the desired temperature,turn on the power and the kiln will switch itself off when the firing is completed.

Features at a Glance

-Temperature rating: 2350 F (1288 C),cone 10

- Power: 115 volts,15 amperes; 1,700 watts

-Interior Dimensions: 11" hexagonal sides,4.5" deep

- Volume: 0.28 cu ft.

- Firebrick: 3"

- Temperature control: Dawson Kiln Sitter with limit timer

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Pros

i. Made to use regular household 115 volt current. No need to have your mains connections customized

ii. Very affordable price tag

iii. The kiln's 2350 F cone 10 rating renders it useful for firing virtually any type of ceramic work

iv. Sold clean-air ready

vi. Includes a kiln stand

v. Backed by a 3 year manufacturer's warranty

Cons

i. Lacks temperature readout,making it inadequate for firing glass and precious metal clay objects

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Overall Impression: This Cress B series kiln wins the pride of place at the top of this ranking owing to its value for money pricing and versatile features. It is amazing to see it features a standard Dawson Kiln Sitter with a limit timer which makes it very easy for a beginner to fire up professional quality ceramics right from day 1.

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2. Paragon Caldera-S Kiln - 430

http://www.bigceramicstore.com/paragon-caldera-with-infinite-switches-and-pyrometer-kiln.html

Designed for easy portability,this manual kiln is an ideal choice for teaching,seminars and exhibitions. While it comes with a manual infinite control switch,the complementary 4.5" wide pyrometer makes it easy to monitor the kiln temperatures and therefore add to the kiln's functional use to firing glassware,jewels and precious metal clay objects. If you want,you can request for an optional expansion collar such as the special BC collar with a 7.5" x 2" door on the side for annealing glass beads.

The kiln has a maximum firing temperature rating of 2350F,cone 10. It requires the standard domestic 120 volt electric connection; adding to its impressive versatility. It is also fitted with a very functional thermocouple,a device for sensing the temperature in the kiln. For longevity the thermocouple is protected by a high-nickel stainless steel sheath.

Features at a Glance

- Temperature rating: 2350F (1288C),cone 10

- Power: 120 volts,14 amperes; 1,680 watts

- Interior Dimensions: 4-sided,8" x 8" x 6.75"

- Volume: 0.25 cu ft.

- Firebrick: 2.5"

- Temperature control: Manual infinite control switch and pyrometer

Pros

i. Stackable 2-piece design makes it very portable

ii. Inclusion of a pyrometer makes it possible to fire glass and precious metal clay objects though the operator has to monitor and control the process

iii. Optional expansion collars available for increasing the kiln's volume and versatility of use

iv. Pilot light for easy monitoring of the firing process

v. Expandable design makes it easier to add more functionality to the kiln as your needs change over time

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Cons

i. Relatively tiny firing space limits the size of objects you can fire

iii. Does not have mechanism for automatically switching off the kiln after firing is over

Overall Impression: With its affordable price tag,impressive performance features and expandable design,this kiln scores highly in my estimation. It is an ideal choice for a pottery beginner and also for teaching purposes.

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3. Paragon FireFly Kiln - 429

http://www.bigceramicstore.com/paragon-firefly.html

The FireFly is an all-round workhorse of a kiln. With its digital pyrometer as well as manual infinite control switch you can set your ideal firing temperatures and monitor the process with ease. While perfect for the needs of a beginner,the FireFly is also beloved of many commercial level potters,especially those who like to experiment with different designs. Its compact size and versatile functionality makes it easy to test glass and glazes as well as experimenting with different ceramic hues. Experimenting with the FireFly makes sense before transitioning to the larger kilns for production loads.

The kiln's digital Sentry Xpress pyrometer is exactly the feature you need to set the precise firing rate for your small projects. Its handy display will conspicuously show you the kiln temperatures throughout the firing process. You can replicate the firing schedule of your larger production scale kiln on the FireFly,a valuable function for class demonstrations.

Features at a Glance

- Temperature rating: 2,350F (1288C),cone 10

- Power: 120 volts,13 amperes; 11,560 watts

- Interior Dimensions: 4-sided,8 x 4.5 x 8"

- Volume: 0.16 cu ft.

- Firebrick: 2.5"

- Temperature control: Manual infinite control switch and digital pyrometer

Pros

i. Digital pyrometer makes monitoring and firing control easy

ii. Conspicuous display makes it easy to follow the temperature transitions throughout the firing process

iii. Allows you to program up to 8 firing steps per cycle

iii. Premium and durable materials for essential components like thermocouple and

iv. Sold with a built-in stand

v. Can be upgraded full automatic standard by replacing digital pyrometer with the Sentry 3-key electronic controller.

vi. Made in the USA to exacting industry standards

Cons

i. The 0.16 cubic feet interior is a bit restrictive

ii. The standard model does not come with a glass window for monitoring glassware

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Overall Impression: This top loading kiln from Paragon is great value for money. While the relatively more restrictive interior volume will limit the size of the pottery you can fire,it is nonetheless admirably robust. While it is still a great choice for a beginner,I consider it more suitable for someone who already owns a higher capacity kiln and needs something for demonstrations and experimenting

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4. Cress BT711H Kiln

http://www.bigceramicstore.com/cress-bt711h-kiln.html

This is yet another excellent choice beginner kiln from the B-series of Cress electric kilns. It is also spacious enough to offer you more flexibility in the size and shape of the pottery work you can fire inside it. As is the case with other B-series top loading kilns,the BT711H has a polygonal shape and a detachable stand.

With the kiln's Dawson Kiln Sitter with Limit Timer,you do not have to monitor your project through the firing process as the system will shut down when the cone temperatures are attained. The cone is sold with a Cress three year factory warranty covering defects and workmanship.

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Features at a Glance

- Temperature rating: 2,250F,(1,232C),cone 6

- Power: 115 volts,15 amperes; 1,700 watts

- Interior Dimensions: hexagonal,11" sides x 6.5" deep

- Volume: 0.4 cu ft.

- Firebrick: 3"

- Temperature control: Dawson Kiln Sitter with Limit Timer

Pros

i. Relatively spacious interior

ii. Fitted with a limit timer for auto shutoff

iii. Works with normal domestic electricity connection

iv. Sale backed by 3 year manufacturer's warranty

Cons

i. The maximum firing rating of 2,250F,6 cone limits the type of ceramic firing work you can do

Overall Impression: For a beginner,this electric kiln will prove adequate for most of your projects. It is spacious and has adequate controls to ensure you quickly get the hang of it when it comes to the firing process. However,the kiln will at best heat up to 2,250F,6 cone which is at the lower limit for professional grade ceramic work and glazing. As you get more proficient and venture to porcelain and stonework,this kiln will prove insufficient to your needs.

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5. Olympic HB64 Kiln

http://www.bigceramicstore.com/olympic-hb64-with-electronic-controller.html

The most impressive feature of this kiln is of course the 3K-CF Bartlett electronic controller. As part of the Olympic HotBox series,the kiln is designed to fire up to 2,350F (1288C),cone 10; pretty much the best you can expect of an electric kiln which plugs in to a standard electric outlet.

The four sided,top loading electric kiln only offers slightly more than a tenth of a cubic foot of firing space which may limit you in the size or number of ceramic pieces you can fire at a time. However,the design is versatile enough and you may opt for a blank collar or bead collar to increase your kiln's depth and therefore more space. However,you should note that increasing the volume will have the effect of lowering the maximum firing temperature possible.

Features at a Glance

- Temperature rating: 2,350F (1288C),cone 10

- Power: 120 volts,15 amperes; 1,800 watts

- Interior Dimensions: 4-sided,6.5" x 4.5" x 6.5"

- Volume: 0.11 cu ft.

- Firebrick: 2.5"

- Temperature control: Manual infinite control switch and pyrometer

Pros

i. Comes standard with the 3K-CF electronic controller for flawless automated functionality

ii. Functions with normal domestic electric circuitry

iii. Versatile enough to use for PMC and glassware firing

iv. A number of optional features such as expansion collars and furniture kits available

v. Comprehensive one year manufacturer's warranty

Cons

i. The lid lifts off the kiln entirely. This is more cumbersome than hinged kiln lids

ii. Only offers 0.11 cubic feet of kiln space

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Overall Impression: In terms of sheer convenience,this automatic electric kiln ticks all the boxes. It is a great bargain considering the bundled 3-key electronic controller. So why have we not ranked this as the best electric kiln for a beginner? Firstly,the firing chamber is relatively small. In addition,we believe that working with a manual control system is more helpful than using a totally automated system for someone still learning the ropes about pottery and ceramics. So why include this kiln at all? Because there are some beginners and hobbyists whose focus is mainly the final product,not necessarily the nitty-gritty which gets you there. This kiln also appeals to us because it offers you options to increase its performance and versatility by buying compatible options later on as your needs change.

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Top 5 Electric Kilns for Beginners

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Top 5 Electric Kilns for Beginners

Top 5 Electric Kilns for Beginners

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