Paragon's digital kilns use a 3-key Sentry Xpress or a 12-key Sentry digital programmer, developed by the Orton Ceramic Foundation and Paragon. Both are made as ramp-hold, or cone-fire and ramp-hold. Your kiln will come with an appropriate programmer, although you can upgrade from a ramp-hold to a cone-fire and ramp-hold, or from a 3-key to a 12-key.

Generally, the programmers on enamelling, glass, jewellery, and metal clay kilns have one firing mode: ramp-hold. And the programmers on ceramics, earthenware, porcelain, and stoneware kilns have two firing modes: cone-fire and ramp-hold. However, as many kilns can fire a wide range of materials, there's bound to be some cross-over.

Although it's convenient and time-saving to have an automatic digital programmer, remember that you should monitor the kiln occasionally during firing, especially near the expected shut-off.

To look at the pop-up photos, hold your mouse over the zoom buttons below: you don't need to click.

The Paragon Sentry Xpress 3-Key Programmer.

The Paragon Sentry 12-Key Programmer.

The programmer runs a programme that you have set, or one that is in its memory from a previous firing. It's a sequence of ramps and holds. Currently we fire Art Clay Silver using one ramp and one hold: it heats to 800°C at full speed then holds for 30 minutes. The sequence then ends, the kiln beeps, and cools in it's own time.

A ramp segment of a sequence controls the rate of heating or cooling. For example, the kiln can heat up at 200°C per hour from 200°C to 800°C, which would take three hours. Or, the kiln can cool down at 100°C per hour from 600°C to 200°C, which would take four hours.

The heating rate cannot exceed the rate at which the kiln would heat up full on. The cooling rate cannot exceed the rate at which the kiln would cool turned off. At full speed the elements are on all the time. During set ramps and holds they turn on and off repeatedly

Cone-fire is simple: just enter the speed, cone number, and hold time. Although they're a great time-saver, you'll learn more about firing if you use ramp-hold: each segment of a sequence can have a heating rate, target temperature, and hold time. It's easier to adjust sequences, add segments, experiment, and copy published sequences for materials that may need stepped heating or cooling.

Generally, this ramp-hold programmer is used on smaller kilns, such as the BlueBird and SC-2. You can set up, and re-use, four sequences of up to eight heating, holding, and cooling segments: and do something else whilst the sequence is running. Ramp-hold also allows you to programme slow cooling: useful, for example, for controlling the colours of ceramic glazes.

Paragon programmers do not have pre-set ramp-hold programmes: you can easily set up and re-use your own. Pre-set fixed programmes might seem to be an advantage. However, having experimented and diversified, many people fire materials, or combinations of materials, at different temperatures and for different times than are recommended. So pre-sets would soon become a serious limitation.

Some of its features are:

Skip Segment skips past a segment during Ramp-Hold firing.
Hold maintains the temperature for a set time.
Program Review lets you check that the program you are about to fire is correct.
Temperature Display throughout firing and cooling can be set to °F or °C.
Error Messages report problems such as a disconnected thermocouple, stuck relay, or broken element.
Delay starts a count-down timer which sets a delayed start time.
It stores four sequences.
Three LEDs show whether you are in programme, review, or firing mode.
The programmer beeps when the set firing sequence comes to an end.

Your kiln will come with a comprehensive instruction manual. Drying and firing Art Clay is consistently easy whereas, working with glass, you'll probably need to experiment.

Generally, this programmer is used on high-temperature kilns, such as the Caldera and Xpress. You can set up your own sequences using up to eight segments. There are two firing modes:

Ramp-Hold, generally used for Art Clay, glass fusing, and glass slumping, allows you to customize the firing using multiple times and temperatures in eight different segments.
Ramp-Hold also allows you to programme slow cooling: useful, for example, for controlling the colours of ceramic glazes. However, plainly, the kiln cannot cool any quicker than it would do if the power was turned off.

Cone-Fire, generally used for ceramics, pottery, stoneware, glazes, china painting, and decals, fires to a set pyrometric cone number listed in the Orton cone tables. It's not designed for Art Clay, heat treating, glass work, and enameling.
Cone-Fire will only be successful if you understand how cones and cone numbers work. Unlike a programmer, a cone is a visual indicator that your work has been fired for the correct combination of kiln temperature, kiln atmosphere, and time.

Some of its features are:

Skip Segment skips past a segment during Ramp-Hold firing.
Hold maintains the temperature for a set time.
Program Review lets you check that the program you are about to fire is correct.
Temperature Display throughout firing and cooling can be set to °F or °C.
Error Messages report problems such as a disconnected thermocouple, stuck relay, or broken element.
Delay starts a count-down timer which sets a delayed start time.
It stores four sequences.
Three LEDs show whether you are in programme, review, or firing mode.
The programmer beeps when the set firing sequence comes to an end.

Your kiln will come with a comprehensive instruction manual. Drying and firing Art Clay is consistently easy whereas, working with glass, you'll probably need to experiment.

Generally, this programmer is used on the larger kilns, such as the Janus. There are two firing modes:

Ramp-Hold, generally used for enamelling, glass work and metal clays allows you to customize the firing using multiple times and temperatures in up to twenty different segments.
Ramp-Hold also allows you to programme slow cooling: useful, for example, for controlling the colours of ceramic glazes. However, plainly, the kiln cannot cool any quicker than it would do if the power was turned off.

Cone-Fire, generally used for ceramics, pottery, stoneware, glazes, china painting, and decals, fires to a set pyrometric cone number listed in the Orton cone tables.
Cone-Fire will only be successful if you understand how cones and cone numbers work. Unlike a programmer, a cone is a visual indicator that your work has been fired for the correct combination of kiln temperature, kiln atmosphere, and time. To learn more about cone numbers and cone-firing, go to cone-fire using the link below the menu bar.

Some of its features are:

Nine ramp-hold programmes, one with twenty segments, the others with ten.
Stop/Back goes back one step at a time to correct programming errors.
Add Time adds five minutes to a hold.
Delay starts a count-down timer which sets a delayed start time.
Present Status shows the segment that is currently running.
Program Review lets you check that the programme you are about to fire is correct.
Temperature Display throughout firing and cooling can be set to °F or °C.
Options to set up aspects of the sequence.
Error Messages report problems such as a disconnected thermocouple, stuck relay, or broken element.
Three LEDs show whether you are in programme, review, or firing mode.
The programmer beeps when the set firing sequence comes to an end.
It connects to a computer to monitor the sequence and produce grahical data.

Your kiln will come with a comprehensive instruction manual. Drying and firing Art Clay is consistently easy whereas, working with ceramics, you'll probably need to experiment.

If you've been working with Art Clay, PMC, enamels, or glass, you'll probably understand how the Orton ramp-hold programmer works. However, if you want to work with ceramics, you'll need to understand pyrometric cones.

Pyrometric cones are slender pyramids, made from about 100 carefully controlled compositions, that measure the effect of time and temperature. As the cone nears its maturing range, it softens and the tip begins to bend down under it's own weight. Ceramics are usually sold with instructions, which include the cone number.

Cone-Fire, generally used for ceramics, pottery, stoneware, glazes, china painting, and decals, fires to a set pyrometric cone number listed in the Orton cone tables. It's not designed for Art Clay, heat treating, glass work, and enameling.
Cone-Fire will only be successful if you understand how cones and cone numbers work. Unlike a programmer, a cone is a visual indicator that your work has been fired for the correct combination of kiln temperature, kiln atmosphere, and time.

If you bought a ceramics kiln with a cone-fire programmer, you can fire using cones because the programmer is set up to use cone numbers. If you have a ramp-hold programmer, you'll need to be able to convert cone numbers to temperature and time. Of course, you can't use a cone that matures at a higher temperature than your kiln can maintain.

Cone numbers were originally set from 1 to 10, 1 being the coolest. However, cooler cones were introduced from 022 to 01. To fire faster or slower than the segments listed, change the rates by 10 - 20%. However, the last segment should always be 108. The list below starts with the coolest.

Cone 022
Segment 1   Rate: 396   Temperature: 0979
Segment 2   Rate: 108   Temperature: 1087

Cone 021
Segment 1   Rate: 396   Temperature: 1004
Segment 2   Rate: 108   Temperature: 1112

Cone 020
Segment 1   Rate: 396   Temperature: 1051
Segment 2   Rate: 108   Temperature: 1159

Cone 019
Segment 1   Rate: 396   Temperature: 1144
Segment 2   Rate: 108   Temperature: 1252

Cone 018
Segment 1   Rate: 396   Temperature: 1211
Segment 2   Rate: 108   Temperature: 1319

Cone 017
Segment 1   Rate: 396   Temperature: 1252
Segment 2   Rate: 108   Temperature: 1360

Cone 016
Segment 1   Rate: 396   Temperature: 1314
Segment 2   Rate: 108   Temperature: 1422

Cone 015
Segment 1   Rate: 396   Temperature: 1348
Segment 2   Rate: 108   Temperature: 1456

Cone 014
Segment 1   Rate: 396   Temperature: 1377
Segment 2   Rate: 108   Temperature: 1485

Cone 013
Segment 1   Rate: 396   Temperature: 1431
Segment 2   Rate: 108   Temperature: 1539

Cone 012
Segment 1   Rate: 396   Temperature: 1474
Segment 2   Rate: 108   Temperature: 1582

Cone 011
Segment 1   Rate: 396   Temperature: 1499
Segment 2   Rate: 108   Temperature: 1607

Cone 010
Segment 1   Rate: 324   Temperature: 1022
Segment 2   Rate: 153   Temperature: 1112
Segment 3   Rate: 180   Temperature: 1549
Segment 4   Rate: 108   Temperature: 1657

Cone 09
Segment 1   Rate: 324   Temperature: 1022
Segment 2   Rate: 153   Temperature: 1112
Segment 3   Rate: 180   Temperature: 1580
Segment 4   Rate: 108   Temperature: 1688

Cone 08
Segment 1   Rate: 324   Temperature: 1022
Segment 2   Rate: 153   Temperature: 1112
Segment 3   Rate: 180   Temperature: 1620
Segment 4   Rate: 108   Temperature: 1728

Cone 07
Segment 1   Rate: 324   Temperature: 1022
Segment 2   Rate: 153   Temperature: 1112
Segment 3   Rate: 180   Temperature: 1681
Segment 4   Rate: 108   Temperature: 1789

Cone 06
Segment 1   Rate: 324   Temperature: 1022
Segment 2   Rate: 153   Temperature: 1112
Segment 3   Rate: 180   Temperature: 1720
Segment 4   Rate: 108   Temperature: 1828

Cone 05
Segment 1   Rate: 324   Temperature: 1022
Segment 2   Rate: 153   Temperature: 1112
Segment 3   Rate: 180   Temperature: 1780
Segment 4   Rate: 108   Temperature: 1888

Cone 04
Segment 1   Rate: 324   Temperature: 1022
Segment 2   Rate: 153   Temperature: 1112
Segment 3   Rate: 180   Temperature: 1837
Segment 4   Rate: 108   Temperature: 1945

Cone 03
Segment 1   Rate: 324   Temperature: 1022
Segment 2   Rate: 153   Temperature: 1112
Segment 3   Rate: 180   Temperature: 1879
Segment 4   Rate: 108   Temperature: 1987

Cone 02
Segment 1   Rate: 324   Temperature: 1022
Segment 2   Rate: 153   Temperature: 1112
Segment 3   Rate: 180   Temperature: 1908
Segment 4   Rate: 108   Temperature: 2016

Cone 01
Segment 1   Rate: 324   Temperature: 1022
Segment 2   Rate: 153   Temperature: 1112
Segment 3   Rate: 180   Temperature: 1938
Segment 4   Rate: 108   Temperature: 2046

Cone 1        
Segment 1   Rate: 324   Temperature: 1022
Segment 2   Rate: 153   Temperature: 1112
Segment 3   Rate: 162   Temperature: 1863
Segment 4   Rate: 108   Temperature: 2079

Cone 2
Segment 1   Rate: 324   Temperature: 1022
Segment 2   Rate: 153   Temperature: 1112
Segment 3   Rate: 162   Temperature: 1872
Segment 4   Rate: 108   Temperature: 2088

Cone 3
Segment 1   Rate: 324   Temperature: 1022
Segment 2   Rate: 153   Temperature: 1112
Segment 3   Rate: 162   Temperature: 1890
Segment 4   Rate: 108   Temperature: 2106

Cone 4
Segment 1   Rate: 324   Temperature: 1022
Segment 2   Rate: 153   Temperature: 1112
Segment 3   Rate: 162   Temperature: 1908
Segment 4   Rate: 108   Temperature: 2124

Cone 5
Segment 1   Rate: 324   Temperature: 1022
Segment 2   Rate: 153   Temperature: 1112
Segment 3   Rate: 162   Temperature: 1951
Segment 4   Rate: 108   Temperature: 2167

Cone 6
Segment 1   Rate: 324   Temperature: 1022
Segment 2   Rate: 153   Temperature: 1112
Segment 3   Rate: 162   Temperature: 2016
Segment 4   Rate: 108   Temperature: 2232

Cone 7
Segment 1   Rate: 324   Temperature: 1022
Segment 2   Rate: 153   Temperature: 1112
Segment 3   Rate: 162   Temperature: 2046
Segment 4   Rate: 108   Temperature: 2262

Cone 8
Segment 1   Rate: 324   Temperature: 1022
Segment 2   Rate: 153   Temperature: 1112
Segment 3   Rate: 162   Temperature: 2064
Segment 4   Rate: 108   Temperature: 2280

Cone 9
Segment 1   Rate: 324   Temperature: 1022
Segment 2   Rate: 153   Temperature: 1112
Segment 3   Rate: 162   Temperature: 2084
Segment 4   Rate: 108   Temperature: 2300

Cone 10
Segment 1   Rate: 324   Temperature: 1022
Segment 2   Rate: 153   Temperature: 1112
Segment 3   Rate: 162   Temperature: 2129
Segment 4   Rate: 108   Temperature: 2345

As with so many things, there isn't a set of definitive rules about how to fire materials. Although you can be guided by friends, teachers, books, and the internet, part of the enjoyment and satisfaction comes from experiment.

This internet resource is provided by Cherry Heaven, an international distributor, on-line shop, and support centre for electric kilns. It's not a bead, ceramics, crafts, glass, or metal-clay home-business, selling a few kilns to a market niche.

As it's on-line, there isn't a paper catalogue or a price list. However, you can mail or call a technician about kilns, power supplies, public area safety, a special project, business ideas, home diagnostics, repairs, or reselling opportunities.

Cherry Heaven is a shop in Corfe Castle village, in Dorset, South-West England. The surrounding countryside includes green farmland, dramatic cliffs, pretty cottages, historic buildings, sandy beaches, protected coves, open heathland, hill-top panoramic views, and peaceful villages. And lively seaside resorts. To look at some photos, use the dorset link.

Cherry Heaven is an EU distributor for Paragon Kilns, and has been commended for an outstanding performance as one of Paragon's top-selling distributors over 2007 to : a pleasing outcome since the UK is only one third the area of Texas and one fortieth the area of the US.

Paragon Industries started as a family business in 1948. It's now the world's leading manufacturer of electric kilns and furnaces, and has built over 420,000. The 4,800 square metre site, in Mesquite, Texas, USA, has over 70 full-time staff.

During manufacture, every kiln is checked at every stage by a technician and signed-off before shipping. They're simply but robustly engineered, and you're buying a comprehensive, versatile, safe, low-cost kiln: a kiln with a future.

Paragon kilns conform to the demanding UL 499 standard in the US, and are CE Marked for the EU. Paragon is Greek for Model Of Perfection.

The Kitiki Studio provides a comprehensive Art Clay educational programme, as classes, masterclasses, workshops, and Art Clay Level 1 and Level 2 certification courses. If you're interested, mail or call.

The on-line shop link is below the menu bar near the top of the page, on the right: you won't have to create an account, register, log on, look up your membership number, remember a password, sign up, join a club, or agree to be emailed. And the total won't be more than you expected because VAT and UK-mainland delivery are included.