Frequently Asked Questions

Before you purchase. Is this kiln better at annealing than an electric kiln, with a controller?
No. it is not.
It does not cost as much either.
Kilnwizz can anneal, but only in a limited way. I would not purchase this kiln to anneal only. For bead making, we would recommend only annealing 1 or 2 mandrels at at time, to place in the center of the kiln. If strict annealing at 573C is necessary, for three hours. Then this is not the kiln for you. Annealing for 30 minutes, when annealing is not critical is fine.
Can Kilnwizz do everything?
No it cannot. Electric kilns are better suited for certain tasks.

But Kilnwizz is:

* portable
* can produce reduction firings
* fire glass very quickly
* has some annealing capabilities
* cool quickly

This is what Kilnwizz is good at, and what it was designed for.

If you order, and are not happy, we will refund your payment to you. If on recieveing the kiln it has been damaged in transit, we will refund your payment. All we ask is you take pictures of the damaged kiln, within a few days of receiving it, and email them to us.

Yes, we provide a lifetime warrenty. We will replace your kiln, without question, if it is found to have a defect. All we ask is you provide a picture of the damaged kiln.

However we cannot guarantee a kiln which has been fired too past its recommended heat. We recommend the kiln does not get hotter than 850 degrees centigrade, or 1570 degrees Fahrenheit.

We cannot cover poor handling, or rough treatment. But properly cared for the kiln will last a life time.

Kilnwizz is a safe product to use.

Kilnwizz is manufactured in an expansion process called exfoliation. It is made from an alteration of Biotite.

Biotite is a sheet silicate. It is made from iron, magnesium, aluminum, silicon, oxygen, and hydrogen which form sheets that are weakly bonded together by potassium ions.

Kilnwizz does NOT contain any known toxic materials, and is therefore harmless.

Kilnwizz has No ceramic fibres, has non-dusting surfaces , is non-irritant, and is odorless.

You need a pair of oven gloves to handle the roof of the kiln. Full safety instructions will be included with the kiln, and its use.

DO NOT LEAVE UNATTENDED !

Being absent minded is forgivable. Everyone forgets things now and again.

But to consciously leave a gas kiln unattended is UNFORGIVABLE .

Keep a fire blanket, sand, and a fire extinguisher close by.

Kilnwizz is a very safe product. But when using gas, precautions must always be taken. The instruction manual that comes with kilnwizz, contains all the safety measures necessary for operation, and is very extensive.
These include:

* Insuring the flame is properly lit inside the kiln.
* Using heat resistant gloves eg: oven or welding gloves
* Spraying rockwoll with heat resistant paint, to prevent fibers being released into the air.
* Never leave your kiln alone! It is quiet, and can be forgotten about very easily.
* Ensure the blow torch is on a stable surface, and protect the body of the blowtorch from heat. This is best done usng a metal sheet, or thick aluminium foil. the kind used in the catering industry as a tray for food.

DO NOT LEAVE UNATTENDED !

As mentioned, the kiln should be placed on a piece of rockwool, or ceramic blanket. The rockwool should be sprayed with proper stove or barbecue paint. This paint should have a rating of 650C and preferably 800 degrees centigrade, or 1400 Fahrenheit.

When the rockwool is sprayed in this way, it prevents fibers being released into the air, and onto your skin. Gloves should be worn, when handling rockwool.
 

Of course !

Kilnwizz has a temperature limit of 1100C or 2012F.

Yes, the air intake on your hot head torch, should be covered with aluminum tape, which can stick to the torch. This can be purchased in double glazing suppliers, or D. I. Y. stores. Copper foil, used in stained glass tiffany work, can be used also, as the glue on the copper foil will resist temperature better.
Cover all the air intake holes with the foil, now get a small drill bit, and punch a hole in the copper foil, if this is too small, switch off the torch, let it cool, and make the hole a little bigger, or put a second hole in. What you are looking for is a long flame, that will reach the back of the kiln. But the flame from the hot head torch is quite long, and air reduction is probably not necessary.

To anneal beads etc, A thermocouple (kiln thermometer) must be used, in order to measure temperature.
Practice first, as not every torch outputs the same heat. Adjust the flame to maintain the temp. Lower the flame, and notice the effect on the temp, then higher the flame, and again, notice the effect. Practice several times, with experimental beads in the kiln.

When you are confident, you can then start work. First leave the back wall protruding from the back of the kiln, so you can remove it later with tongs, or gloves. Make sure you have plenty of gas!

Kilnwizz should now be brought to 600C or 1112F, the flame should be lowered, and temperature maintained at 1000F or 537C.

Let the beads cool a bit, so they do not flatten on one side. Using gloves, remove the back wall of the kiln. Now place the bead mandrels loaded with hot beads into the back of the kiln. Replace the back wall (the roof is raised with kilnwizz, for flame distribution purposes, and this doubles up as space for the mandrels to protrude).
Now cover Kilnwizz with ceramic blanket, or rockwool, but allow the flame to enter. Beads need to be kept at around 1000F or 537C for about three hours. Then Kilnwizz should be completely covered with rockwool, or ceramic blanket, and is left to cool without opening Kilnwizz until it reaches room temperature.

Glass when it is at melting point, is like gum, and will stick to anything. Normally ceramic paper is used to prevent this. But when the glass is red hot, and up to temperature, create a place to put the roof. Lift the roof off, and move the pieces of glass inside a little. They will cool just enough that they will not stick to the floor again. If going to higher temperatures for instance over 660C, ceramic paper will need to be used.

Replace the roof, and allow Kilnwizz to cool.

This is NOT snake oil lol!

• The kiln
• Painting medium
• Detailed Instructions on using kilnwizz
• Artwork using a step by step guide on shading, tracing
• Ceramic paint by Reuche
• Online help in using kilnwizz, and painting on glass
• Access to the forums

Yes- quite easily !! An ordinary blow torch outputs around 2 kw of heat. This is actually  too much. The kiln does not need this amount, as volume is very low. Most electric kilns, use 2 - 2 1/2 kw of heat output, but they are 15 - 20 times bigger than Kilwizz. So Kilnwizz uses the same power in an electric kiln, to fire one fifteenth of the volume. That is why it fires rapidly

Our kiln was developed using the same type of aero dynamics used on air distribution on the wings to an airplane. This is the secret behind why our kiln works so well. Even heat distribution is the bane of kiln design. Some areas on the inside of kilns get much hotter than others- melting some parts of the glass, and not firing other parts. Kilnwizz achieves even heat distribution in a low volume design- from a single flame.

The kiln can fire a piece of glass 20 sq inches. This means the glass is 4.5 inches, by 4.5 inches square. It is important to read the instructions on firing larger pieces of glass. The actual firing chamber is 30 sq inches, but we recommend smaller pieces.

From a camping gas cylinder, about 7-10 firings. From a domestic as bottle used for instance for cookers, or moblie homes, You will get hundreds of firings.

A normal gas blow torch can be used.

However we recommend using a gas blow torch, which can be connected to a domestic gas bottle. This is the cheapest, most low cost way of firing your kiln.

Suitable blow torches would be a gas soldering iron, with the tip removed. A regulator should be used on the gas bottle, to increase the flow or gas if needed.

Rockwool is a type of insulation used in the attic space of buildings. It is fire proof. It is made from stone, melted to very high temperatures, and spun into a type of wool, hence the name !

The kiln should be placed on a piece of Rockwool, about 2 feet, by 2 feet. This will insulate it from below, and protect work space. The kiln does not need to be insulated on top.

The rockwool should be placed on a metal table, or on a concrete slab. The rockwool does not get particularly hot, but may be hot enough to damage work surfaces.

Woks surfaces need to be protected from heat. This is why we recommend using a square piece of rockwool 2 feet, by 2 feet.

The roof of the kiln gets hot in the center. But can be picked up with your fingers, by the corners. However, please use oven gloves, just in case.

The kiln is made from advaced light material, which has excellent insulation properties.

Mainly to save people any extra expense, as many people already possess a blow torch.

The manual contains detailed instruction on every aspect of using your kiln. These included:

• The principles behind flame distribution within the kiln.
• Safety guidlines.
• Firing glass.
• Tips, and methods.
• Using the 'flame spreader'
• What to look for, when your kiln needs a lower flame
• Blow torches section, and the most desirable setup.
• Reduction firing.
• Damping options
• Adjusting the setting of the kiln through placement of roof holder, and other methods

DO NOT LEAVE UNATTENDED !

We recommend using the kiln in a concrete building, for instance, a garage. The kiln should not be used in a private house. The kiln if used incorrectly can produce gases. But these gases have a distinct smell. The Doors and windows need to be open to allow proper ventilation of the kiln. This is the same with any gas kiln.

DO NOT PLACE THE KILN ON WOOD OR ANY OTHER SURFACE, WITHOUT ROCKWOOL. The surace will be badly burned, and this is dangerous. Please do not do this.

Rockwool is used as insulation for attics, and roofs. It is made from stone melted to very high temperatures, and spun into a fine wool. It will not go on fire. Do not spill anything on the rockwool, eg: oil.

Although you will find Kilnwizz very benign, it is not a toy. It is easy to forget this fact.

DO NOT LEAVE UNATTENDED !

It is so easy to leave the kiln work away on its own, but so easy to forget it is on too. It is quiet, and safe. Please do not be lulled into leaving it unattended.

We will give you a tracking number, and you can track your purchase online.

We take privacy very seriously. We do not give any details to anyone under any circumstances. Simple !