lampworking

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(go to glass art) You don't HAVE to use a kiln when starting out....make small (less than 1/2") beads and you can use a ceramic fiber blanket that will generally keep your beads intact. However, they are NOT annealed, as they would be in a kiln. But when you're just starting out, learning about the basics, I don't believe a kiln is absolutely essential. You can use a ceramic kiln, but you will need a controller and pyrometer (a kiln thermometer) that will give you readings that make sense for hot glass. Soft glass is annealed in the 950 F range. A lot of ceramic kilns just give you a "cone temp". I know there's somewhere out there on the Web that can give you correlations but don't know them off the top of my head.

The best kilns (IMO) are made from kiln brick, although ceramic blanket-lined kilns are available. They heat faster but also cool faster. Spend your beginner time learning to make beads and worry about the kiln later (again my own opinion ). It's NOT an easy hobby...to quote my favorite T-shirt, you will get cut, you will get burned. But glass (and fire) is so seductive, it's all worth it! I started with polyclay beads, too, but glass won out pretty quickly. I made my first glass bead in December 1996, and haven't gone back.

Come on over to the forums and start reading and asking questions!

KarenS Desert Dreamer Designs (new auctions)