Monday, February 13, 2012

Playing with the SpeedFire ElectricMini Kiln

I got the SpeedFire ElectricMini Kiln a while ago and I wanted to play with it and see how this mini kiln works.


As the name says, it is very small, I was surprised to see how light and small the kiln is. The firing chamber is 3 1/2" high, 4 5/8" wide and 4 5/8" deep.


I was very eager to try Sterling PMC and FastFire Bronzclay. My first pieces were sterling pmc.
ALCATRAZ
©2012 Lorena Angulo
Sterling PMC

BIRD NEST
©2012 Lorena Angulo
Sterling PMC
CRUZ CORAZON
©2012 Lorena Angulo
Sterling PMC
MILAGROS
©2012 Lorena Angulo
Sterling PMC


I was more than happy to see this mini kiln is able to fire FastFire Bronzclay !
Here is what I have fired in the SpeedFire ElectricMini Kiln:


CROWN HEART
©2012 Lorena Angulo
FastFire Bronzclay
©2011 Lorena Angulo
FastFire Bronzclay
Can you see how I bend one of the pieces?
It did not broke !


I am happy with how this kiln works, if you are on a budget or have limited space on your studio; this can be the perfect match for you.
You are limited with the space in how many pieces you will be able to fire but if you do not produce lots of pieces at once, this is a great kiln to have.
You can find all the instructions for this kiln in this link:
http://www.spcimages.com/MCS/SFEM-Instructions.pdf

Keep playing, keep creating !!


Love,
Lorena

12 comments:

  1. Thanks so much, Lorena. I have been looking at this kiln as a portable one to take in our RV. I am happy you like it and as usual, your work is beautiful!! Cheers, Sally

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks so much for posting this, this is so on time. I am eager to get started with some Bronzclay, but am on a budget. This looks like it would be perfect especially since I have a small creative space. One question, are their any good sourcebooks that you would recommend for a beginner? Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks for the review, Lorena! I've been considering this small kiln. Did you also use any of the optional pieces like the pyrometer or the controller?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Good morning!
    Thanks so much for this review! I'm interested in starting with both glass fusing jewelry and PMC, and both money and space are TIGHT! I live in a one-bedroom apartment, so this seems like the perfect fit for me, at least as a starter kiln. I have the same question as Leslie Todd above - did you get any of the add-ons? If you have any suggestions for a complete beginner to kilns starting on this model, I'd be very grateful!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I am glad my post has been of any help.
    I recommend a book by Sherri Haab called "The Art of Metal Clay" revised and expanded edition. She covers a lot of information and has great projects.

    I had the pyrometer and the controller but I only used the pyrometer. I think if you are planing in fusing glass you will need to have the controller too.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Lorena, have you fired copper clay or any of Hadar's metal clays in this kiln yet?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No, it seems this kiln ONLY fires PMC3, Sterling PMC and FastFire Bronzclay.
      ♥Lorena

      Delete
  7. Hi Lorena
    I am so thrilled to have "stumbled upon" your site! I love your work and so happy to read your review of the kiln which I have been considering. So you can fire the silver and bronzclay in the same kiln? You don't need different kilns? All the best, Linda Mikkelsen, Seattle

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hola Linda,
      I am glad my post was helpful for you. Yes, you can fire PMC3, Sterling PMC and FastFire Bronzclay. It is a great kiln.
      Thanks for visiting !!! ♥

      Delete
  8. Dear Lorena, I purchased the kiln and pyrometer. I am looking forward to starting it up. The instructions suggest one burn it off for an hour. I wanted to hook up the pyrometer but I do not see where to insert it into the kiln. Could you post a photo of where the pyrometer goes on your kiln? Thank you! Linda

    ReplyDelete
  9. Dear Lorena

    I found where the pyrometer fits in. I thought it would be some complicated attachment but there is a whole pre-drilled in the top and you insert the probe through the styrofoam. It's easy. I am hoping the hole doesn't get too big when it gets jostled taking the lid on and off. Many thanks, Linda

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Happy you found the hole on top. Yes you insert the probe and I suggest you wait until the kiln is cool to open it. You take the pyrometer out and then you open the kiln.

      ;o)

      Delete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...