How to Convert a Ceramic Kiln to a Glass Kiln
Ceramic kilns and glass kilns are made of the same materials. The use for the two kilns, however, is different because of the firing temperatures required for glass versus ceramic. You can convert a ceramic kiln to a glass kiln by taking a couple of different steps. The modifications are temporary so you can still fire ceramic in the ceramic kiln, and with the modifications, you can also fire glass in the kiln.
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Instructions
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Install shelves that can sustain the high temperatures of the kiln. You need to know the measurements of your ceramic kiln, so you can find a shelf or shelves that will fit into the kiln. Sliding or placing these special shelves in the ceramic kiln allow you to place glass pieces on the shelves so that you can fire the glass. Generally, these shelves are made out of a vermiculite material.
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Install a programmable thermostat to control the temperature. Ceramic kilns reach higher temperatures than glass kilns. To fire glass in a ceramic kiln, you should install a programmable thermostat with a glass temperature setting. This thermostat ensures that when you are firing glass in the ceramic kiln you can set and maintain a lower temperature than that required for firing ceramics.
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Load the glass pieces evenly on the shelves. Ceramic pieces require much higher temperatures than glass pieces. This also means that the heat distribution in a ceramic kiln is different from that of a glass kiln. You can still fire glass pieces in a ceramic kiln, but you need to place the glass pieces in the kiln so that the heat hits the pieces evenly through the layers of glass.
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Tips & Warnings
You can buy a programmable kiln thermostat and specialty shelving at any pottery store and some craft stores. You can also find these items on Internet auction sites or mail order retailers such as Skutt Kilns and Wheels.
Ceramic kilns also come with heat sources that include gas and wood rather than electricity. It is harder to regulate the temperature in these types of ceramic kilns because you cannot install, set and use a programmable thermostat to control the temperature inside the kiln from exceeding temperatures necessary for firing glass. You can install a thermometer in a gas- or wood-fueled ceramic kiln and closely monitor the temperature inside of the kiln when you are firing glass pieces.
References
- Photo Credit red glass green glass image by Roman Kyrychenko from Fotolia.com
