Purchasing a Kiln for Glass Fusing

I have just been asked to help an art instructor at an area school.  The instructor would like to teach her undergraduates glass fusing.  I originally attended the school room to glimpse what materials they owned and what things they must purchase.  The instructor was enormously delighted because she had bought a kiln for roughly $800 and had also obtained other supplies for the group of students.  As a result, I was eager to glimpse what heating element the teacher was preparing to operate to educate these 200 plus students.  The oven the teacher had purchased was moderately hefty, except it was not suitable for teaching glass fusing.  You’d deem that any kiln would do, right?  Clearly, that’s what I had always thought until I obtained a glance at this brand new oven.  One of the lone key items you have to have while attempting the method of glass fusing is a pyrometer.  Why do you need a pyrometer?  A pyrometer advises you of the heat of the air in the interior of the oven.  Though it does not tell you the temperature of the glass, the air heat provides a general temperature of your project.  If you have no conception of what the heat is within, you don’t bear a hint as to what is occurring with your glass.  Every kiln is diverse and exclusive.  It might take one oven an hour to arrive at 1000 degrees Fahrenheit, while a different kiln could take forty-five minutes to arrive at this identical heat.  This oven did not come with a pyrometer, therefore how was she going to grasp what was carrying on inside that kiln?  What’s more, there was no viewing window.  A large amount of kilns don’t possess a viewing window, and that is alright for fusing.  If the oven does not have a pyrometer, then it is a necessity to have a window so you can at any rate witness what is occurring within the kiln. But, this kiln did have a peep hole, situated on top of the kiln.  I don’t desire opening the peep hole at 1000+ degrees Fahrenheit and have that blistering air striking me in my face.  Given that warm air rises, that is precisely what is going to occur through this peek hole.A kiln shelf was not given for this kiln.  A kiln shelf is not required to do glass fusing, however it is really helpful to have air moving around the glass pieces.  The circulating air helps to ensure that your glass is heating at an even temperature.  Yes, you can fuse on the kiln bottom, but try to situate your glass on posts so that you attain the wanted air passage all-around the piece.The kiln had a digital controller knob.  These are tremendous, but while using a digital knob, you need to be continuously watching the artwork to achieve the wanted product.  While instructing a room jammed-packed with students, there is certainly no time to be observing a kiln.  For teaching purposes, or even for personal use a kiln sitter is a desired and a sometimes required thing.  What’s more with a digital controller and no pyrometer or window, how can you interpret the temperature if you want to hold the temperature of the glass?It is essential when obtaining a kiln that you don’t throw away your money.  Do your research prior to placing an order for a kiln.  Kilns are one of the costliest objects you will purchase when doing glass fusing.  Check into the assorted kilns and note what objects are standard and what are added items.  Be certain that your kiln comes with a pyrometer if nothing else.  This is a key items when obtaining a kiln.