Why you (probably) shouldn't buy a kiln

Please don't buy a kiln before considering these things! I am seeing lots of people get excited and rush into buying a kiln, and it's an exciting purchase for sure! But I want to warn you about a few things you definitely need to consider before buying your first kiln.

//MENTIONED IN THE VIDEO

//ONLINE CLASSES

//SHOP

//TOOLS & CLAY
Stuff I use and recommend:

//SAY HI!

0:00 - what I'll cover in this video
0:30 - how much does it cost?
1:45 - electrical wiring
2:25 - what if you rent?
4:45 - my insurance recommendations
5:55 - ventilation
8:10 - can you commit?
10:20 - alternative to buying a kiln #1
12:00 - alternative to buying a kiln #2
13:20 - alternative to buying a kiln #3

[peggydrawspictures]

I got very tired of driving my pieces to the studio an hour away, and then waiting weeks for them to be fired, so I started saving $50/wk until I had enough for my own kiln install last summer. it takes me a while to make enough pieces to run a bisque firing, but I'm having a lot of fun. no regrets. I think if I had done financing or paid through a credit card, I'd feel pressure to make and sell and pay it off/justify the purchase, but since I slowly saved up and thought about it for a few years before I finally bought it, I feel more comfortable slowly making at my own pace.

[Barthoization]

I bought a broken kiln ( broken bricks, broken elements, no control unit ), I repaired it, made my own ( bigger ) elements ( from 2400W to 6000W ), bought a control unit. Now I have a 60L kiln that cost me 500€ total.

[CretiveLifeJournal]

My husband built me a primitive kiln last year and we've fired it three times. But this is TOO ironic, I was given two kilns for free to just come pick them up yesterday. A small one and a huge one. The big one needs an element and the small one is fine. I'll have to learn how to use them properly. Thankfully we have an enormous woodshop to put them in away from the house and my husband is also an electrician.

[thunderhen]

Lol! My mom and I bought a wheel, and my partner wants to be supportive so he offered to buy a kiln but we hadn't even had our first pots from our home wheel fired at the community studio! Your video helped me feel much better about telling him no, that we're not ready for a kiln yet!

[laurenharrison]

As someone who literally just bought my kiln today is was worried for a second, but I know this is the best time as I move from a hobby to an artist. I have been doing ceramic for 2+years and I just want to do more. Thank you for your advice and I will be watching the rest of your videos when my kiln arrives

[lamardon]

I made my own gas fired kiln which I only use outside. It's implied that both the size and number of pieces are limited.
So my long haul isn't all that long, being in my 70s. And it keeps me busy and alert as a retired manufacturer. You stop, you die.
True to my past performance, I try to add useful information based on my experience. And who knows, I may make a dime every now and again. I'm not overly vested in the craft.
Thanks again! ❤

[allenflint]

several years ago when i had just started (and i mean JUST started) doing ceramics on my own, i was lucky enough to come across a used kiln for sale for only $500. i have no idea how old it is, the electric control panel is at least 25 years old and is much newer than the kiln itself. it was used in a school before switching to personal use, it's cracked everywhere and half falling apart and the outer metal parts rusted through and had to be replaced, the control panel's wire had been CUT OFF at the plug by the people who took it in, and i only have space to run it outdoors, and my shelves are all cracked or broken. and despite it being in comedically bad shape, i think it's pretty great and i have very few issues as a beginner/someone who doesn't use it much. i did not learn how to use a kiln until after i got it, too, and i'm still learning things... i think beat up kilns on their last legs like this are a good option for beginners and hobbyists!! you just have to keep an eye out until you see one cheap enough, if you really think you want a kiln. one will come along!

[soldomi]

I've been doing ceramics for 10 years now, and I still don't have a kiln, 😂😅 not only because of the price and my shared studio space with non-artist friends but also because a ceramics school is approximately 10 minutes walking from the studio, and the boss is super sweet and rents me the kiln when I need it. Thank you for the video!

[vkumra]

Community is so important in the creative world. Totally agree! I bought a small kiln (Skutt 714) for home as I don't like to wait in line at the studio when I want to make a gifts or things, but for the large pieces, and creating in general, there is SO MUCH benefit to joining community spaces. Great video!

[valecbcb]

I'm from Uruguay and pottery supplies are in general very expensive, so buying a kiln for me wasn't an option because of the price but also because for me, pottery it's a hobbie... So, I made my own gas kiln with an oil drum and ceramic fiber. They are usually used for raku but I use it as a regular kiln and works just fine. And the whole process of making it was really fun and educational! I learned a lot :)

[quinntech]

I made a small gas fired Raku Kiln using some bricks, chicken wire, ceramic fiber blankets, propane forge burner and a digital heat gauge. Through trial and error, I have been able to brisk fire small pieces, but I still have yet to try glaze firing. There has been a learning curve but works out so far.

[javdestiny]

I took classes at our community pottery center for two years. I started making things as gifts for my family. Traveling to visit in July i spent 6 months making things. Down to the glaze firing of the last platter i asked what the odds were of it getting fired before our trip. I was told very good, and in fact it was done a full week before i left. But when i came back there was a new sign about not expecting things to get fired in time to be gifts. That really upset me. At that point my wonderful husband bought me a kiln, which is installed in the garage. Sometimes i fire twice a week. Other times (when it's hot out) once every couple of months. I certainly won't make money, but i love the flexibility, and will continue to make gifts. Maybe I'll even try selling something.😊

[Nathalie-jqfu]

Thank you, Mia, for this really helpful summary of things to be considered! And hey, I'm in the video twice ;-)) What an honor. I miss you and your studio here in Berlin! And Peanuts of course ;)

[Ope-Possumm]

This video came out during the worst week yet with my kiln. I do kiln share (potters rent my kiln)- but am still at 0 income in a year just due to the cost of replacement and maintenance!

[d.jensen]

After a lifetime of mostly rolling my own kilns, I bought an L&L Plug-n-Fire kiln last month. Love it to death! So well executed, and the perfect size for a hobbyist who makes ware for his own use and to give away.

[JLSwanson]

I got a little 110 kiln a couple years before I retired as a ceramics teacher and a wheel
I already had a kick wheel so I guess I was already set up
Been working with clay since 1976 😜

[adamrak]

I play with geopolymers instead. The options are more limited, but it does not need firing. It is way more robust than polymer clay, it actually uses pottery clay.
But you can't touch it with bare hands when it is wet because of the alkalinity.

[stickyfox]

Craigslist usually has a damaged or unneeded kiln for $200-$300 US. I was able to pick up a TnF82 (93L) with furniture for $300. I needed to replace two elements and do some minor repairs but ended up with everything for about $500. The system retails for over $2000.

I'm an engineer so I've been given the proper training to fix all the problems with the kiln and install my own electrical line. Get to know an electrician or engineer and you'll save a ton of money on your kiln/install.

Before the electric, I was firing in a homemade updraft kiln in my backyard. This is *orders of magnitude* safer, from my insurance company's perspective.

(btw when it comes to pottery I definitely am a beginner. I've got years of experience repairing machines that make things hot, just not much using them. I started in ceramics about two years ago.)

[makestuffwithjohn]

Skutt's KM818 single phase will run off almost anyone's existing 220v household circuit, and it's pretty roomy. 18" x 18" interior dimensions. Alternatively, Olympic makes a cone 10 Doll E/Test kiln that will run off a standard 120v outlet (dedicated circuit with 20 amp breaker). It's not huge, but probably big enough for most hobby potters.

[ThoughtFission]

Such a useful video, thgank you. You answered some questions I've had a for a long time. Moved to France and haven't been sure if I should take a leap with regard to buying a kiln.