Pottery kiln costs? (watch, buy, prices, cheap)

[harry chickpea]

What would I have to expect to pay for a used manual pottery kiln in good condition? I've looking at a Paragon A-99B or a Blue Diamond.
Also, what is a good place to get glazes?

[Dancingearth]

Originally Posted by harry chickpea

What would I have to expect to pay for a used manual pottery kiln in good condition? I've looking at a Paragon A-99B or a Blue Diamond.
Also, what is a good place to get glazes?

I saw an electric Cone 10 computerized for $1,000. Have you researched on the Internet? Are you looking for ready made glazes? Seems best to be buy local so you're not paying shipping. Do you have a studio or college that offers ceramic classes in your area that you can ask? How long have you been doing ceramics?

[harry chickpea]

There are a couple of places within 30 miles that have classes. I'm more or less just starting out. I did some in high school and college many years ago, but have forgotten a lot. I'm more interested in slab and freeform work than wheel work, so classes aren't as important as they might be for others.

I asked on CD first because the folks here tend to be more independent and give a more balanced view. The prices I've seen on the net for kilns are all over the place from $150 to $800 for kilns like the ones I mentioned. I'd be inclined to think the cheaper ones have some sort of problem, and the most expensive be someone trying to make back initial investment costs.

[Dancingearth]

Originally Posted by harry chickpea

There are a couple of places within 30 miles that have classes. I'm more or less just starting out. I did some in high school and college many years ago, but have forgotten a lot. I'm more interested in slab and freeform work than wheel work, so classes aren't as important as they might be for others.

I asked on CD first because the folks here tend to be more independent and give a more balanced view. The prices I've seen on the net for kilns are all over the place from $150 to $800 for kilns like the ones I mentioned. I'd be inclined to think the cheaper ones have some sort of problem, and the most expensive be someone trying to make back initial investment costs.

If you're looking for a balanced view here's my input--not just the kiln question. I've taken many classes both hand built and wheel over the last few years. I bought a wheel a few years ago because where I was living didn't have reasonably priced classes and I knew I wanted to work in clay--both handbult and wheel. Since moving to Santa Fe I found the community college's credit classes (which I audit.) Now I wouldn't have made the investment in a wheel until I was certain I wanted to do this as a business. It's not only kiln cost but the space to put it, electrical requirements, cost to run it, glazes, and then all the time it takes to load and maintain it. The labor is shared at the college, their staff maintains the kilns, and my low fees pay for everything including clay! Even more valuable is how much I learn and the techniques I'm exposed to from other students that if I worked only at home I would not learn. One of the reasons I love working with clay is that there is always something to learn. It is also a very good social outlet for meeting people who have similar interests--I'm having a game night/potluck with students from the studio this week.

Are you intent in starting a business? If you are really inclined to buy a kiln you need to know what you want to use it for (cone ?), how much time you have to watch it (manual vs computerized), what size pieces you want to make. As you see the prices are all over the place probably due to all of the above. Look at the new ones that you want and go from there.

My advice would be to gain more experience using someone else's kilns because you might find you really wanted a different type. Tonight I'm firing in a Raku kiln for the first time! I'm excited. And the soda kiln will be working this summer--something else I haven't experienced. I will be doing handbuilding this summer--going to make garden sculptures and a waterfall.

[harry chickpea]

Thanks! Good thoughts.