Paragon X14J- Not Sure If It Fires High Enough

[spring]

I have a wheel at home, from which I throw pieces and take them to school for firing. I live about 60 miles away from school so breakage is always a problem. I found a paragon x14j kiln on craigslist and checked the specs online. It states that it goes to 1700 F but that it could handle cone 1. That didn't make sense to me. Is anyone familiar with this kiln. I just want to bisque the pieces for easier transport. Thanks

[bciskepottery]

From a look at the Paragon website info, the kiln can reach 2000F with the addition of an expansion collar (which also requires a separate outlet), otherwise, it is only rated to 1700F:

 

Paragon X-14J

 

We introduced the Paragon X-14J, a classic china painting kiln, in 1965. China painters all know friends who still fire the X-14J. With the separate lid and bottom, the kiln is easy to carry to seminars. Take it with you on vacation. The infinite control switch includes a safety pilot light. The X-14J fires to 1700°F on a common household outlet, making it ideal for apartment living.

 

Inquire about the XX-4 add-on collar, which gives the X-14J 6½†of extra depth. The XX-4 collar requires a separate 120 volt, 5-15R circuit. The XX-4 collar raises maximum temperature to 2000ºF.

 

http://www.paragonweb.com/X14J.cfm

 

[Lucille Oka]

I have a wheel at home, from which I throw pieces and take them to school for firing. I live about 60 miles away from school so breakage is always a problem. I found a paragon x14j kiln on craigslist and checked the specs online. It states that it goes to 1700 F but that it could handle cone 1. That didn't make sense to me. Is anyone familiar with this kiln. I just want to bisque the pieces for easier transport. Thanks

 

 

 

Until you get a kiln I may be able to help you more safely transport greenware. I have transported greenware for miles on a public bus from school, to home for decorating, and then back to school again for firing. And recently I transported 38 greenware pieces by car. I am happy to say I have never lost a piece, ever. How are you transporting them?

 

 

[Arnold Howard]

I have a wheel at home, from which I throw pieces and take them to school for firing. I live about 60 miles away from school so breakage is always a problem. I found a paragon x14j kiln on craigslist and checked the specs online. It states that it goes to 1700 F but that it could handle cone 1. That didn't make sense to me. Is anyone familiar with this kiln. I just want to bisque the pieces for easier transport. Thanks

 

 

The X-14J is a 120 volt china painting kiln, so it won't fire hotter than 1700F. The kiln is very simple to maintain, so if you need it for only low fire, it may be a good kiln for you.

 

Sincerely,

 

Arnold Howard

Paragon Industries, L.P., Mesquite, Texas USA

ahoward@paragonweb.com / www.paragonweb.com

[Guest HerbNorris]

Clay is funny stuff, isn't it? When you don't want a piece of greenware to break, there it goes, but if you want to break it, say, for reclaim, it can be tough as can be!

I too transported greenware from studio to home and back again, mostly without incident, but that's not the issue here.

That kiln would certainly help you, almost any bisque will increase the durability for transport. I fire some burnished pieces for raku and smoking only to cone 012, and they are suprisingly durable, so as long as you go hot enough, it will help. But if you could continue to transport them without needing to bisque, you could avoid all the fuss of the kiln.

[lynny]

This certainly doesnt answer your kiln question, but I have been travelling 120 miles to school and then the same return trip each week for 2 years carrying un fired work in my car (with my dog in the car as well!).

I use polystyrene boxes with lids, so they are light to carry and I can stack them on top of one another (the lids stop the dog jumping on the work). Scrunched up balls of newspaper seperate the work and stop it rubbing together.

A kiln that can give you even a 'light' bisque would harden the work up to make them less fragile if thats what you would prefer to do and it sounds like this one does that, but being a china painters style kiln it will limit your size of pieces.