Kiln info

Long story short, use the right tools for the job. If you want to set yourself up for success, finding a kiln you can use that fits the requirements or buying the right one from the beginning can save you a lot of frustration and possibly change the hobby for you. Trying to "save" money and use what you can find will set you up for failure, and make using PMC much harder than it really is. This is not a highly technical process. Go by the numbers and remember, these things can BURN you at these temperatures literally without a thought. Be smarter than that and enjoy the new hobby! That said...

My first attempt with PMC was thwarted by my lack of knowledge about kilns. I used a microwave kiln for glass beads because I had one and thought it could work. After turning about $20 worth of PMC into slag, I didn't try it again for a couple of years, even though I had another unused sheet. Much time was lost because I didn't bother to listen to the little I knew.

Next I tried a PMC kit that basically had a ceramic column with Sterno fuel. It worked better, but the end result was on the fragile side. It worked, but the resulting model was not strong enough to be useful for anything.If you want to get started for under $150, this is a great way to get started without a large up front investment, but you do get what you pay for. Plan to upgrade if you want sturdy pieces.

My next attempt used a dental kiln from the 1930's. It was awesome in a steampunk way, still worked, and was under $100 on eBay. It struggled to hold the right temperature and eventually gave out on me, but I started to learn how temperature really affects the final product. I made enough pieces with enough variation to start to recognize how the firing affected the final model.

I currently use an Evenheat Studio Pro 8 that I got on Craigslist for $200. It will hold temperature well for hours, and has been great except that it is has to get pieces in and out while hot. If I don't mind working in batches, it is great. Just about everything I have made in this kiln has been successful, but there are two problems. No front loading so I can't rotate pieces while it is hot, and I can't set different ramping speeds and timing of temperatures for different metals, like bronze or sterling silver.

Aside from the PMC ceramic kiln set, the basics you will need out of a kiln is that it can hold at least 1550 degrees F for a half hour. Anything less will definitely disappoint.

Please feel free to let me know your experiences!