The Paragon SC series are plug-in, table-top kilns, usually used for annealing beads, dichroics, enamels, firing metal clays, fusing glass, and making jewellery. They're 925°C to 1095°C, four-sided, front-opening, ceramic-fibre kilns, with ramp-hold Sentry Xpress 3-key digital programmers. In regular blue, or special-edition black, pink, purple, or turquoise.

You can make bangles, beads, bracelets, brooches, charms, earrings, figurines, fingerprints, glass art, jewellery, keepsakes, miniatures, model parts, necklaces, painted dolls, pendants, rings, seasonal decorations, souvenirs, thimbles, and tiaras.

You can try Art Clay metal clay, bronze clay, copper clay, PMC silver clay, glass clay, Accent Gold, Image Transfer Solution, Metal Clay Veneer, SilverEtch, bead annealing, china painting, dichroic glass, enamelling, glass art, glass fusing, sagging, and slumping, heat treating, laboratory testing, lampwork, lost-wax casting, low-fire ceramics, making jewellery, melting gold and silver, and staining glass. And work with many other materials and processes.

They're ideal for your arts centre, college, course venue, craft class, engineering workshop, glass works, home business, jewellery studio, medical laboratory, school, or technical facility.

For prices, use the shop link below the menu bar near the top-right of the page. The prices are for a UK voltage CE-marked kiln, with a professional shelf kit, UK VAT, and UK mainland delivery.

Cherry Heaven TV has made an on-line photo book featuring these popular kilns: click the Cherry Heaven TV player above. It starts with the Paragon SC1, and continues with the larger SC2, SC3, and SC4.

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

The Paragon SC1.

The Paragon SC1.

The Paragon SC1W: With A Window.

The Paragon SC2.

The Paragon SC2: In Black, Pink, Purple, Or Turquoise.

The Paragon SC2B: With A Bead Door.

The Paragon SC2W: With A Window.

The Paragon SC2BW: With A Bead Door And A Window.

The Paragon SC3.

The Paragon SC3B: With A Bead Door.

The Paragon SC3W: With A Window.

The Paragon SC3BW: With A Bead Door And A Window.

The Paragon SC4.

The Paragon Sentry Xpress 4.0 Programmer.

This comprehensive internet resource lets you research and compare kilns in your own time. There's a lot to read, but you'll make the right choice instead of an expensive mistake. The section about kiln furniture is very important.

Although there's cross-over, there are two broad groups: small plug-in table-top kilns and large wired-in floor-standing and work-top kilns. You can stay here, or transfer to the other group using the link above the menu bar near the top of the page.

The Paragon SC series are plug-in, table-top kilns, usually used for annealing beads, dichroics, enamels, firing metal clays, fusing glass, and making jewellery. They're 925°C to 1095°C, four-sided, front-opening, ceramic-fibre kilns, with ramp-hold Sentry Xpress 3-key digital programmers. In regular blue, or special-edition black, pink, purple, or turquoise.

There are eleven in the series: the small SC1 and SC1W, the medium SC2, SC2B, SC2W, and SC2BW, the larger SC3, SC3B, SC3W, and SC3BW, and the large SC4. The B versions have a bead-annealing door, the W versions have a heat-resistant glass viewing-window, and the BW have both. The SC2 is the most popular small kiln in the UK.

The 1095°C SC1, SC2, and SC3 are ideal for home or small-business jewellery-making. Although they're not large enough for glass bowls and plates, and not hot enough for ceramics or porcelain, they're still very versatile and will do most things for most people within their size and temperature limits.

The 925°C SC4, made for Cherry Heaven, is ideal for classrooms, course venues, schools, and commercial jewellery studios. It's over four times larger inside than the SC2 and holds four 305mm x 305mm shelves. Yet it still heats up quickly. You can fire lots of metal clay at one go, use jewellery moulds, cast glass, paint china figures, and make lampshades and tiaras.

Paragon's naming conventions aren't consistent. Although there was probably a useful plan many years ago, it's worth trying to understand where we are now:

The SC series were described as digital front-opening small-ceramic kilns. However, ceramic in this context meant they were made of ceramic fibre: not that they were hot enough to fire ceramics. As Art Clay and PMC became more popular, it was assumed that SC meant silver clay: a rather fortunate association.

The prefix Xpress, as in Xpress Q11A, meant that the kiln had a Sentry Xpress digital programmer, and the letter A meant it was painted. Neither were used for the SC series, but we could have had an Xpress SC2A?

The names Cherry Heaven uses have suffixes which describe the door options. For example: the SC2B has a bead-annealing door, the SC2W has a heat-resistant glass viewing-window, and the SC2BW has both.

Unfortunately, the factory sometimes uses different names which result in unsuccessful internet searches: the SC2 has been called the SC-2-1 and the SC-2. And the suffixes B, W, and BW weren't used, although they should have been?

Although the choice seems overwhelming, it's really quite simple. Choose the SC kiln that's the right size and temperature. Think about a bead door, a window, or both. Then think about any appropriate options, upgrades, and extra shelf kits.

If you want a hotter kiln for ceramics, earthenware, stoneware, and porcelain, look at the similarly-sized Caldera-A or the larger Xpress-E12A. I've included a specification table below and, further down the page, a comparison with other makes.

It's widely believed that the glass viewing-windows will cloud permanently or crack by about 925°C. Paragon kilns don't use regular glass: they use a transparent ceramic which has been time-tested at 1260°C.

If you're researching kilns that can use a regular mains socket, the Paragon SC2 is by far the most popular 1095°C jewellery making kiln. For glass look at the Fusion series, and for ceramics look at the Caldera and Xpress series.

An option is usually a cosmetic or practical variation, such as a pink respray, a right-hand hinge, a bead door, or an EU plug. An upgrade goes beyond the standard specifications, such as a higher temperature, a 12-key programmer, an electric kiln vent, or a USB interface. The photo shows a Paragon SC2 customised for an Art Clay and PMC studio: pink, with a RH hinge, and a maximum temperature of 925°C.

The kilns in this series are described in detail further down the page. It's important to read everything carefully so that you understand what they can and can't do, why some of the accessories, options, and upgrades might be useful, and how they compare with other kilns.

Not every option or upgrade applies to every kiln in this series. However, if they're appropriate, they're listed in the on-line shop, so just add up the ones you want: but order them with your kiln as they're often difficult, expensive, or impossible, to implement afterwards. It might help if you make a few notes of your own now? Mail or call if you need help deciding.

They use regular single-phase 230V mains so have 230V EU elements, not 120V US elements. They have UK 13A three-pin plugs: so they're ready to go. If you're not in the UK, use a plug adapter or cut off the UK plug and fit your own: it won't invalidate the guarantee. Alternatively, a special-order kiln can have an EU plug factory-fitted.

Most kilns can be re-engineered for 110V, 200V, 208V, or 240V, single phase or three phase, or 440V three phase. If you're interested, mail or call.

Although standard EU and US kilns have the same maximum temperature, set by the design and the programmer, some 1095°C firebrick kilns can be re-engineered to run at 1230°C, 1260°C, or 1290°C, making them versatile mixed-media kilns.

However, virtually everything can be done at less than 1260°C. At 1290°C, conventional kiln materials are nearing their limit so I suggest you only use 1290°C occasionally rather than full-on hour after hour.

Also, to maintain 1290°C, some upgraded kilns might need thicker firebricks, so they'll be slightly smaller inside: about 12mm on each side. Mail or call if you're interested, or need help deciding.

Kilns in the BlueBird, SC, and Xpress series are normally blue, but can be painted black, pink, purple, or turquoise. However, as they're made to order, they can't be returned if the colour isn't exactly the same as in the photo.

The door hinge is usually on the left. However, a right-hand hinge might be better if you're left-handed: unless the kiln will be in the left-hand corner of your studio or there's an obstacle that will make access difficult. Give this some thought.

Most of the medium-size kilns have a standard lift-up lid. Firebrick lids seem heavy to some people so, if you feel that a hydraulic-assisted or spring-assisted lid would be easier, mail or call.

If the kiln comes with a Sentry Xpress 3-Key ramp-hold programmer, you can upgrade to a Sentry Xpress 3-Key cone-fire and ramp-hold programmer, usually preferred for ceramics. Cone-fire is implemented in the programmer's software and is very easy to use: just set a cone number and start the firing sequence.

Or, you can upgrade any Sentry Xpress 3-key programmer to a Sentry 12-Key ten segment ramp-hold, or cone-fire and ramp-hold, programmer, with advanced firing features and connection options. The 3-key has a 12-month guarantee and the 12-key has a 30-month guarantee.

The Sentry 12-key programmer can be connected to your computer through a factory-fitted USB interface. The Control Master software allows you to control and monitor the firing, and analyse, arrange, print out, and save the data. If you want this feature, make sure you order the USB interface.

Most kilns come with a standard long-lasting electro-mechanical relay. However, if long-life and reliability are vital, you can upgrade to a mercury relay which has a lifetime of several million on-off cycles. Remember that some of the larger kilns have two or more relays.

Some bronze and copper clays, and some metals, need to be fired in activated charcoal granules in a stainless steel container. The SC2 and SC3, the Caldera-A, and the Xpress E9A. E10A, and 1193 can hold a one-litre container: most other kilns can hold a three-litre.

Particulates represent a health risk if they're breathed in, so wear a HEPA mask when cleaning out your kiln, mixing kiln wash, and working with charcoals, ceramic-fibre blocks, cloths, and papers. And, ideally, use protective glasses.

If you want to touch anything hot or move your kiln before it's cooled off, it's important to wear heat-resistant gloves. And, if you want to look into a red-hot kiln, wear glare-resistant glasses which protect your eyes from IR and UV.

Paragon kilns, made in the US, have been re-engineered and comprehensively tested for the UK, the EU, and most other countries. They're CE Marked and comply with EU safety standards. They're guaranteed for a year, and Paragon has an international, informed, and supportive user-base, and spares and repair centres.

The digital programmer shows degrees Celsius, not degrees Fahrenheit as in the US. If you need to convert, this is how to do it. However, if you want to work in Fahrenheit, you can make a simple change to the programmer.

In the unlikely event that your kiln develops a fault, it's reassuring to know that home repairs are easy and need little more than a screwdriver and a pair of pliers. An engineer can guide you on the phone, and there are on-line repair videos.

Re-freshing the air in a kiln minimises surface blemishes when firing clays, ensures brighter colours when firing glasses, and prevents colour contamination when firing different glazes.

A factory-fitted Orton Vent Master removes airbourne pollutants straight away and redirects them to the outside. Most kilns can be factory-readied: the vent just needs on-site assembly. However, the construction of the SC series kilns doesn't allow a kiln vent to be fitted.

Every kiln comes with kiln furniture, included in the price, so that you can start work straight away. It's not an expensive collection that I've put together for you: one that you have to pay for but might never use.

What you get depends on which kiln you choose. For example: one full shelf, two half-shelves, several mixed shelves, a set of shelf posts, a bead-mandrel holder, glass separator, hot gloves, kiln wash, a knife-making rack, pyrometric cones, a tile holder, or other accessories. So, it's important to understand what's in the included furniture kit for the kiln you've chosen.

Usually, a shelf kit comprises one professional, durable, cordierite shelf and four 12mm high posts. It should stay on the floor of the firing chamber all the time in case you accidentally spill or melt anything: solidified glass is impossible to pick off without damaging the ceramic-fibre or firebrick. You don't get a soft, ceramic-fibre shelf, often described as free, that will gradually break up and need replacing.

During firing sequences with heating, holding, and cooling segments, the elements turn on and off repeatedly. In a small kiln, with little residual heat, the inevitable temperature changes can make glass crack as it expands and contracts. A thick heavy shelf stores heat and, because it's resting on posts, the air circulates, helping to even out any normal temperature fluctuations.

If you're buying your first kiln, you're probably interested in one material, such as silver clay, or one process, such as enamelling. However, after a few successes, and failures, most people want to try different materials, make larger pieces, experiment with combinations, fire more at a time, and soon become interested in something else: or everything else. Some start a business or run classes.

Depending on the material or process, and the sizes of your pieces, shelves can be stacked up on posts to make better use of the kiln space, your time, and the unit firing-cost: so you might want extra shelf kits.

If extra shelf kits are packed with the kiln, the delivery charge doesn't increase. Ordered later, not with the kiln, they need a box and protective packing and attract an extra delivery charge. Outside the UK mainland, this might be expensive. So, if you think you'll need them, order them with your kiln, along with any other accessories, materials, parts, or tools.

Although they look tough, most ceramics break if they're dropped, so it's a good idea to have spare shelves, especially if your business depends on your kiln or you're running courses.

Shelf kits usually include 25mm x 25mm x 12mm shelf posts, When flat, they're 12mm high: on their sides, they're 25mm. Other sizes, up to 150mm high, are available, so you can choose the shelf spacing that suits your kiln and your work.

For dichroics, enamelling, and glass fusing, put kiln paper on the shelf to stop the glass sticking: it's simpler and cleaner to use than glass separator. Bullseye Thinfire shelf paper, probably the most popular, ensures easy separation between your glass and the kiln shelf. One side feels slightly smoother than the other: that's the glass side.

Generally, glasswork needs radiant heat and will fuse, sag, or slump better on one shelf than between closely stacked shelves, although experienced glass artists often use several shelves succesfully.

Delicate pieces can be fired on a puffed-up ceramic-fibre cloth: on a shelf. Round pieces, that could roll to one side, can be fired on a hollowed-out ceramic-fibre block.

Particulates represent a health risk if they're breathed in, so wear a HEPA mask when cleaning out your kiln, mixing kiln wash, and working with ceramic-fibre blocks, cloths, and papers. And, ideally, use protective glasses.

If you want to touch anything hot, or move your kiln before it's cooled off, it's important to wear heat-resistant gloves. And, if you want to look into a red-hot kiln, even briefly, wear glare-resistant glasses to protect your eyes from IR and UV.

If your day-to-day work depends on your kiln and down-time will be disruptive or expensive, it's a good idea to have spares: extra shelves, a selection of posts, elements, a relay, and a thermocouple.

You can learn about ceramic blocks and cloths, charcoal, dust masks, glare-resistant glasses, glass separator, heat-resistant gloves, kiln vents, kiln wash, programmers, protective glasses, USB interfaces, shelf paper, tools, and other accessories, using the accessories link below the menu bar near the top of the page. And they're all in the on-line shop.

The Paragon SC-1 is a plug in, table-top kiln, usually used for annealing beads, dichroics, enamels, firing metal clays, fusing glass, making jewellery, and painting china. It's a 1095°C, four-sided, front-opening, ceramic-fibre kiln, with a ramp-hold, Sentry Xpress 3-key digital programmer. In regular blue, or special-edition black, pink, purple, or turquoise.

You can make bangles, beads, bracelets, brooches, charms, earrings, figurines, fingerprints, glass art, jewellery, keepsakes, miniatures, model parts, necklaces, painted dolls, pendants, rings, seasonal decorations, souvenirs, and thimbles.

You can try Art Clay metal clay, bronze clay, copper clay, PMC silver clay, glass clay, Accent Gold, Image Transfer Solution, Metal Clay Veneer, SilverEtch, bead annealing, china paints, dichroic glass, enamels, glass fusing, sagging, and slumping, heat treating, laboratory tests, lampwork, lost-wax casting, low-fire ceramics, making jewellery, melting gold and silver, and staining glass. And work with many other materials and processes.

The UK kiln is rated at 230V 600W, so it can use a regular mains socket. It's ideal for occasional use at home or in a start-up business: it heats up quickly, it's fully programmable, and it's small enough to get out, use, and put away.

The outer steel case measures 279mm x 254mm x 311mm high, and is slotted for air circulation: so it keeps cool. The door opens 170°, so you won't burn your hand taking your work out. The shipping weight is about 7kg.

A more expensive lever door-catch replaces the standard US ball catch. The ball catch was often too tight or too loose, whereas the lever catch can easily be adjusted to allow for use and preference.

The ceramic-fibre firing chamber, enclosed in a separate steel case, measures 152mm x 95mm x 76mm high, and heats from both sides, with the fast-firing elements safely embedded in the fibre: an important and legally-necessary safety feature. However, never get careless: kilns are very hot and connected to the mains.

A more expensive sheathed thermocouple replaces the standard US bead-style. It minimises the risk of corrosion and subsequent failure of the bi-metallic tip: sometimes caused by gases produced whilst heating some types of glass.

The programmer's digital display prompts for heating rates, target temperatures, and hold times, making it easy to set up and re-use accurate drying, heating, holding, and cooling sequences.

SC kilns leave the factory with one small economy ceramic-fibre shelf. We've replaced it with a more expensive professional kit: a full-size tough shelf and four posts, sold elsewhere as an expensive accessory. So:

There's a recommended kit, included in the price: one durable 125mm x 75mm x 15mm cordierite shelf and four 12mm shelf posts.

There's an extra recommended kit, not included in the price: one 125mm x 75mm x 15mm shelf and four posts.

Depending on the material or process, and the sizes of your pieces, stacked shelves will hold more work, free up your time, and reduce the unit firing cost: so you might want more kits. This kiln has room for two.

The door includes a 75mm x 25mm heat-resistant glass viewing-window. The window allows you to take a quick peep at china paintings, enamels, glass, and glazes to check on their progress. And you might find it interesting or reassuring to watch what happens during the firing sequence. Otherwise, the kiln is exactly the same as the SC1.

If you look into a red-hot kiln, even very briefly, it's important to wear glare-resistant glasses to protect your eyes from IR and UV radiation.

The Paragon SC-2 is a plug in, table top kiln, usually used for annealing beads, dichroics, enamels, firing metal clays, fusing glass, making jewellery, and painting china. It's a 1095°C, four sided, front opening, ceramic-fibre kiln, with ramp-hold Sentry Xpress 3-key digital programmer. In regular blue, or special-edition black, pink, purple, or turquoise.

You can make bangles, beads, bracelets, brooches, charms, earrings, figurines, fingerprints, glass art, jewellery, keepsakes, miniatures, model parts, necklaces, painted dolls, pendants, rings, seasonal decorations, souvenirs, thimbles, and tiaras.

You can try Art Clay metal clay, bronze clay, copper clay, PMC silver clay, glass clay, Accent Gold, Image Transfer Solution, Metal Clay Veneer, SilverEtch, bead annealing, china paints, dichroic glass, enamels, glass fusing, sagging, and slumping, heat treating, laboratory tests, lampwork, lost-wax casting, low-fire ceramics, making jewellery, melting gold and silver, and staining glass. And work with many other materials and processes.

The UK kiln is rated at 230V 1680W, so it can use a regular mains socket. It's ideal for use at home or in a small business: it heats up quickly, it's fully programmable, and it's large enough to hold three shelves of work. It's the most popular small kiln in the UK.

The outer steel case measures 336mm x 311mm x 400mm high, and is slotted for air circulation: so it keeps cool. The door opens 170°, so you won't burn your hand taking your work out. And there's a removable stopper in the top vent for lost-wax casting and other processes that might release fumes. The shipping weight is about 16kg.

A more expensive lever door-catch replaces the standard US ball catch. The ball catch was often too tight or too loose, whereas the lever catch can easily be adjusted to allow for use and preference.

The ceramic-fibre firing chamber, enclosed in an inner steel case, measures 199mm x 204mm x 145mm high, and heats from both sides, with the fast-firing elements safely embedded in the fibre: an important and legally-necessary safety feature. However, never get careless: kilns are very hot and connected to the mains.

A more expensive sheathed thermocouple replaces the standard US bead-style. It minimises the risk of corrosion and subsequent failure of the bi-metallic tip: sometimes caused by gases produced whilst heating some types of glass.

The programmer's digital display prompts for heating rates, target temperatures, and hold times, making it easy to set up and re-use accurate drying, heating, holding, and cooling sequences.

SC kilns leave the factory with one small economy ceramic-fibre shelf. We've replaced it with a more expensive professional kit: a full-size tough shelf and four posts, sold elsewhere as an expensive accessory. So:

There's a recommended kit, included in the price: one durable 178mm x 178mm x 15mm cordierite shelf and four 12mm shelf posts.

There's an extra recommended kit, not included in the price: one 178mm x 178mm x 15mm shelf and four posts. You can choose 12mm, 25mm, or 50mm posts.

Depending on the material or process, and the sizes of your pieces, stacked shelves will hold more work, free up your time, and reduce the unit firing cost: so you might want more kits. This kiln has room for three.

The Paragon SC-2B door includes a 165mm x 64mm letter-box style bead-anealing door and a bead-mandrel holder. Otherwise, it's the same as the SC2.

The bead door is hinged at the top and opens outwards. Normally, glass beads on bead mandrels, or rods, are pushed through the bead door and rest on the mandrel holder, so that an annealing programme can toughen the glass.

The bead door is often used to take a quick peep at china paints, enamels, glass, and glazes to check on their progress, or to adjust or move pieces of work. It gives you a wider view than a window, but the kiln will heat unevenly if you keep it open for too long: although not as much as opening the main door.
Purists might tell you not to leave the bead door open but remember, when you're using bead mandrels it's slightly open all the time. As always, it's important to experiment and find the simplest or most successful way of working.

The door includes a 50mm x 50mm heat-resistant glass viewing-window. The window allows you to take a quick peep at china paintings, enamels, glass, and glazes to check on their progress. And you might find it interesting or reassuring to watch what happens during the firing sequence. Otherwise, the kiln is exactly the same as the SC2.

If you look into a red-hot kiln, even very briefly, it's important to wear glare-resistant glasses to protect your eyes from IR and UV radiation.

The Paragon SC-2BW door includes a 165mm x 64mm bead-anealing letter-box style door, a bead-mandrel holder, and a 75mm x 25mm heat-resistant glass viewing-window. Otherwise, it's the same as the SC2.

The bead-door and window version make the SC-2BW the most versatile of the series, combining the advantages of the SC2B and the SC2W described above. It's a good choice if you're buying your first kiln and you're not sure what you might want to do with it in the future.

Even if you don't use the bead door and window very often as you gain experience, they do make learning easier and you might find it interesting or reassuring to watch what happens during the firing sequence.

If you look into a red-hot kiln, even very briefly, it's important to wear glare-resistant glasses to protect your eyes from IR and UV radiation.

The Paragon SC-3 is a plug in, table top kiln, usually used for annealing beads, dichroics, enamels, firing metal clays, fusing glass, making jewellery, and painting china. It's a 1095°C, four-sided, front-opening, ceramic-fibre kiln, with ramp-hold Sentry Xpress 3-key digital programmer. In regular blue, or special-edition black, pink, purple, or turquoise.

You can make bangles, beads, bracelets, brooches, charms, earrings, figurines, fingerprints, glass art, jewellery, keepsakes, miniatures, model parts, necklaces, painted dolls, pendants, rings, seasonal decorations, souvenirs, thimbles, and tiaras.

You can try Art Clay metal clay, bronze clay, copper clay, PMC silver clay, glass clay, Accent Gold, Image Transfer Solution, Metal Clay Veneer, SilverEtch, bead annealing, china paints, dichroic glass, enamels, glass fusing, sagging, and slumping, heat treating, laboratory tests, lampwork, lost-wax casting, low-fire ceramics, making jewellery, melting gold and silver, and staining glass. And work with many other materials and processes.

The UK kiln is rated at 230V 2000W, so it can use a regular mains socket. It's ideal for use at home or in a small business: it heats up quickly, it's fully programmable, and it's large enough to hold four shelves of work.

The outer steel case measures 336mm x 311mm x 432mm high, and is slotted for air circulation: so it keeps cool. The door opens 170°, so you won't burn your hand taking your work out. And there's a removable stopper in the top vent for lost-wax casting and other processes that might release fumes. The shipping weight is about 18kg.

A more expensive lever door-catch replaces the standard US ball catch. The ball catch was often too tight or too loose, whereas the lever catch can easily be adjusted to allow for use and preference.

The ceramic-fibre firing chamber, enclosed in an inner steel case, measures 199mm x 204mm x 195mm high, and heats from both sides, with the fast-firing elements safely embedded in the fibre: an important and legally-necessary safety feature. However, never get careless: kilns are very hot and connected to the mains.

A more expensive sheathed thermocouple replaces the standard US bead-style. It minimises the risk of corrosion and subsequent failure of the bi-metallic tip: sometimes caused by gases produced whilst heating some types of glass.

The programmer's digital display prompts for heating rates, target temperatures, and hold times, making it easy to set up and re-use accurate drying, heating, holding, and cooling sequences.

SC kilns leave the factory with one small economy ceramic-fibre shelf. We've replaced it with a more expensive professional kit: a full-size tough shelf and four posts, sold elsewhere as an expensive accessory. So:

There's a recommended kit, included in the price: one durable 178mm x 178mm x 15mm cordierite shelf and four 12mm shelf posts.

There's an extra recommended kit, not included in the price: one 178mm x 178mm x 15mm shelf and four posts. You can choose 12mm, 25mm, or 50mm posts.

Depending on the material or process, and the sizes of your pieces, stacked shelves will hold more work, free up your time, and reduce the unit firing cost: so you might want more kits. This kiln has room for four.

The Paragon SC-3B door includes a 165mm x 64mm letter-box style bead-anealing door and a bead-mandrel holder. Otherwise, it's the same as the SC3.

The bead door is hinged at the top and opens outwards. Normally, glass beads on bead mandrels, or rods, are pushed through the bead door and rest on the mandrel holder, so that an annealing programme can toughen the glass.

The bead door is often used to take a quick peep at china paints, enamels, glass, and glazes to check on their progress, or to adjust or move pieces of work. It gives you a wider view than a window, but the kiln will heat unevenly if you keep it open for too long: although not as much as opening the main door.
Purists might tell you not to leave the bead door open but remember, when you're using bead mandrels it's slightly open all the time. As always, it's important to experiment and find the simplest or most successful way of working.

The door includes a 50mm x 50mm heat-resistant glass viewing-window. The window allows you to take a quick peep at china paintings, enamels, glass, and glazes to check on their progress. And you might find it interesting or reassuring to watch what happens during the firing sequence. Otherwise, the kiln is exactly the same as the SC3.

If you look into a red-hot kiln, even very briefly, it's important to wear glare-resistant glasses to protect your eyes from IR and UV radiation.

The Paragon SC-3BW door includes a 165mm x 64mm bead-anealing letter-box style door, a bead-mandrel holder, and a 75mm x 25mm heat-resistant glass viewing-window. Otherwise, it's the same as the SC3.

The bead-door and window version make the SC-3BW the most versatile of the series, combining the advantages of the SC2B and the SC2W described above. It's a good choice if you're buying your first kiln and you're not sure what you might want to do with it in the future.

Even if you don't use the bead door and window very often as you gain experience, they do make learning easier and you might find it interesting or reassuring to watch what happens during the firing sequence.

If you look into a red-hot kiln, even very briefly, it's important to wear glare-resistant glasses to protect your eyes from IR and UV radiation.

The Paragon SC-4 is a plug in, table-top kiln, usually used for annealing beads, dichroics, enamels, firing metal clays, fusing glass, making jewellery, and painting china. It's a 925°C, four-sided, front-opening, ceramic-fibre kiln, with a ramp-hold Sentry Xpress 3-key digital programmer. In regular blue, or special-edition black, pink, purple, or turquoise.

The SC4 is made for Cherry Heaven. It's ideal for classrooms, course venues, schools, and commercial jewellery studios: it's over four times larger inside than the SC2 and will hold four 305mm x 305mm shelves, yet it still heats up quickly. You can fire lots of metal clay at one go, use jewellery moulds, cast glass, paint china figures, and make lampshades and tiaras.

You can make bangles, beads, bracelets, brooches, charms, earrings, figurines, fingerprints, glass art, jewellery, keepsakes, miniatures, model parts, necklaces, painted dolls, pendants, plates, rings, seasonal decorations, souvenirs, thimbles, tiaras, and tiles.

You can try Art Clay metal clay, bronze clay, copper clay, PMC silver clay, glass clay, Accent Gold, Image Transfer Solution, Metal Clay Veneer, SilverEtch, bead annealing, china painting, dichroic glass, enamelling, glass art, glass fusing, sagging and slumping, heat-treating, laboratory testing, lampwork, lost-wax casting, making jewellery, and staining glass. And work with many other materials and processes.

The UK kiln is rated at 230V 2400W, so it can use a regular mains socket. It's ideal for commercial glass-fusing studios and course venues: it heats up quickly, it's fully programmable, and it's large enough to hold four shelves of work.

The outer steel case measures 457mm x 546mm x 521mm high, and is slotted for air circulation: so it keeps cool. And there's a removable stopper in the top vent for lost-wax casting and other processes that might release fumes. The shipping weight is about 41kg.

The ceramic-fibre firing chamber, enclosed in an inner steel case, measures 330mm x 330mm x 229mm high, and heats from both sides and the back, with the fast-firing elements safely embedded in the fibre: an important and legally-necessary safety feature. However, never get careless: kilns are very hot and connected to the mains.

The programmer's digital display prompts for heating rates, target temperatures, and hold times, making it easy to set up and re-use accurate drying, heating, holding, and cooling sequences.

There's a recommended kit, included in the price: one durable 305mm x 305mm x 15mm cordierite shelf and four 12mm shelf posts.

There's an extra recommended kit, not included in the price: one 305mm x 305mm x 15mm and four posts. You can choose 12mm, 25mm, 50mm, 75mm, or 100mm posts.

Depending on the material or process, and the sizes of your pieces, stacked shelves will hold more work, free up your time, and reduce the unit firing cost: so you might want more kits. This kiln has room for four.

The internet is packed full with inaccuracies: accidental or intentional. There are unsubstantiated claims that whatever is being sold is the best, the newest, or the cheapest, and it's being sold by the largest dealer or the premier distributor.

This comprehensive internet resource helps you make the right choice instead of an expensive mistake. Especially if, several weeks later, you discover new materials or processes, want to make larger pieces, find a promising business niche, or realise you've spent much more than was necessary.

So, why buy a Paragon SC1, SC2, SC3, or SC4 from Cherry Heaven?

The Orton Sentry digital programmers allow you to set up multiple sequences, each one with multiple heating, holding, or cooling segments: so you can choose the heating and cooling rates, target temperatures, and hold times, save the sequences, and re-use them. There are no restrictive features such as single-sequence use or pre-set programmes.

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.

The SC series kilns heat from both sides, not from both sides and the back. This minimises the front-to-back temperature difference that's common with smaller kilns. The elements are embedded in ceramic fibre, an important safety feature if you run classes or like to open the door or bead door whilst you work. However, never get careless: kilns are very hot and connected to the mains.

Although there's cross-over, 1095°C front-opening ceramic-fibre kilns that heat and cool quickly, such as those in the SC series, are preferred for Art Clay and PMC metal clays, dichroic glass, enamelling, glass clays, and mixed-media jewellery.

And, generally, 1230°C to 1290°C front or top-opening firebrick kilns that heat and cool evenly, such as those in the Caldera and Xpress series, are preferred for ceramics, porcelain, pottery, and stoneware, especially as firebrick kilns are better suited to continual high temperatures.

In the unlikely event that your kiln develops a fault, it's reassuring to know that home repairs are easy and need little more than a screwdriver and a pair of pliers. If you need help, there are on-line repair videos or an engineer can guide you on the phone. Alternatively, we can repair the kiln in our workshop at Cherry Heaven.

Kilns from competing manufacturers typically don't have built-in programmers, don't come with professional shelf kits, have out-dated features, use restrictive pre-set programmes, aren't in stock, or there are no spares. They're generally more expensive, but smaller and don't get as hot, so less versatile. Mis-leading first-sight prices often exclude delivery and VAT.

Here are a few facts that you can easily check for yourself, based on net-shop specifications and prices in January 2012 for Efco, Evenheat, and KilnCare kilns. However, buy a Paragon and, with the saving, you can treat yourself to a luxury five-star weekend break.

The Efco 110, 135, 150, and 180 kilns don't have rotary controllers or digital programmers: without one, they'll just heat up and burn out. The KilnCare EN-1, EN-2, and EN-3 kilns have built-in manual rotary controllers.

So they're all usually sold with a KilnCare KCR1 digital programmer, probably made by Stafford Instruments. It's a separate box with a separate mains cable, a separate thermocouple, and a separate stand: so more stuff on your worktop. This adds about £300 to what might appear to be the price of the kiln.

The Paragon SC series kilns have built-in, comprehensive, automatic, digital programmers, with just three keys: you set the ramps and holds in sequence: you're not stuck with pre-sets that will restrict you sooner or later. So remember this when someone tells you that some programmers have confusing menus and masses of buttons.

The Paragon SC2 is 540% larger inside than the Efco 110 and 145°C hotter. It's 300% larger inside than the Efco 135. It's 220% larger inside than the Efco 150 and costs about £75 less. It's about 20% larger inside than the Efco 180 and costs about £145 less.

The Paragon SC3 is about 850% larger inside than the Efco 110 and 145°C hotter. It's 405% larger inside than the Efco 135. It's about 300% larger inside than the Efco 150 and costs about the same. It's about 160% larger inside than the Efco 180 and costs about £75 less.

The Paragon SC2 and SC3 come with a professional shelf kit, a tough shelf on posts, rather than the Efco shelf and a metal gauze stand. It's a personal thing, but I don't want a metal gauze stand scraping away at the floor of the kiln every time I move the shelf.

The Paragon SC2 can hold three shelves and the SC3 can hold four. The Efco 110, 135, and 150 can only hold one, and the Efco 150 can hold two: however, as the shelves don't come with posts it's not clear how the second shelf is supported.

The Paragon SC2 and SC3 are also available with a letter-box style bead-annealing door, a heat-resistant glass viewing-window, or both. In regular blue, or special-edition black, pink, purple, or turquoise. So, every reason to buy a Paragon.

The Paragon SC2 is about 380% larger inside than the KilnCare EN1, 95°C hotter, and costs about £395 less. The Paragon SC3 is 33mm less tall inside than the KilnCare EN2, but 95°C hotter, and costs about £615 less. The Paragon Xpress E12A is 226% larger inside than the KilnCare EN3, 230°C hotter, and costs about £640 less.

The Paragon SC4 is about 210% larger than the KilnCare EN2, and costs about £35 less. It's about 380% larger than the KilnCare EN3, and costs about £400 less but, more importantly, the SC4 firing chamber floor is 330mm x 330mm, whereas that of the EN3 is only 190mm x 340mm.

All the Paragon kilns include a professional shelf kit. And, again, it's a personal thing, but I prefer the mains cable to exit from the back of the kiln, as with Paragon, rather than from the side where it gets in the way, as with KilnCare.

The Paragon SC2 has been copied as the Evenheat KingPin, Evenheat PMC Kiln, Evenheat Set-Pro, Evenheat E-360, and Evenheat Sierra. They cost at least £230 more, which is probably why so few people sell them or own them. Only the SC2 includes a shelf kit.

They have restrictive pre-set programmes, don't include a shelf kit, and have an irritating door ball-catch. And copy-kilns don't have Paragon's international, informed, and supportive user-base, or EU spares and repair centres.

The Paragon SC2B has a bead-annealing door. The SC2W door includes a 50mm x 50mm heat-resistant glass viewing-window: not just has a small peephole. The Paragon SC2BW has both, making it more versatile.

The Paragon SC2B is about 540% larger inside than the KilnCare Bead Cube and 175°C hotter. It's about the same size inside as the KilnCare Maxi, 445°C hotter, and costs about £260 less.

If you want a kiln specifically designed for batch-annealing beads, look at the Paragon BlueBird series: especially as the regular BlueBird is wider than the Maxi and costs about £210 less. The BlueBird XL is a professional batch-annealing kiln: it's 230°C hotter than the Maxi and costs about £40 less. so more versatile.

The SC series kilns come with a 13A UK three-pin plug, so they can all use a regular 230V UK mains socket. If you're not in the UK, use a plug adapter or cut off the UK plug and fit your own: it won't invalidate the guarantee.

Kilns in the BlueBird, SC, and Xpress series are normally blue, but can be painted black, pink, purple, or turquoise. However, as they're made to order, they can't be returned if the colour isn't exactly the same as the colour on your computer.

The door hinge is usually on the left. However, a right-hand hinge might be better if you're left-handed: unless the kiln will be in the left-hand corner of your studio or there's an obstacle that will make access difficult. Give this some thought.

Finally, the SC2 is large enough to accommodate the one-litre charcoal-filled stainless steel container needed to fire some of the bronze and copper clays, both described further down this page.

Owners call their SC an Art Clay kiln, PMC kiln, metal-clay kiln, bead-annealing kiln, bead kiln, bronze-clay kiln, copper-clay kiln, dichroic-glass kiln, enamel kiln, enamelling kiln, glass kiln, glass-clay kiln, glass-fusing kiln, jewellery kiln, jewelry kiln, lampwork kiln, silverclay kiln, small kiln, or studio kiln. This diversity is a good reflection of its popularity.

When a kiln is described as being larger, it means it has a larger firing-chamber volume. A wider bead kiln has space for more bead rods. A taller kiln allows you to stack up more shelves and make better use of your time.

A higher maximum temperature allows you to work with more materials and processes in the future. And an automatic programmer will run a complicated programme by itself and then turn the kiln off.

Running costs are low, as ceramic fibre heats up quickly and is an effective insulator. In any comparison, the wattage is not the only cost-indicator: it depends on the heat-up time during a ramp, the number and duration of off-periods during a hold, and the interior useable volume of the kiln.

It should be self-evident that there are more kilns, and more variations of those kilns, here at Electric Kilns and Paragon Kilns than on any other UK, and probably EU, internet resource. And, if you want a 1230°C version of a 1095°C kiln, we'll often be able to get one made for you.

If you need help choosing or have a specific project, mail or call. However, all the kilns are described on their own pages: use the links below the menu bar near the top of the page.

Generally, programmable kilns work like this: as soon as the programmer's sequence starts, the kiln begins to heat up. The thermocouple tells the programmer the current internal temperature and, depending on the sequence you've chosen, the programmer turns the elements on or off to control the heating rate, maintain the target temperature, or control the cooling rate. When the sequence is complete, the kiln beeps, and the programme stops.

For safety, the programmer doesn't switch the full mains voltage. Instead it drives a relay, an electro-mechanical switch. The programmer uses a low voltage to activate the switch which turns the high voltage elements on or off.

When the target temperature is reached, the programmer switches the elements off. However, residual heat in the firing chamber allows the internal temperature to overshoot the target temperature briefly before starting to fall back.

This overshoot is more evident at low temperatures than at high temperatures. For example: 300°C will probably overshoot to 330°C whereas 800°C will probably only overshoot to 805°C before starting to fall back.

During the hold-time, with the elements still off, the temperature falls. When the programmer switches the elements back on, the firing chamber will initially absorb some of the new heat before the temperature recovers. The continual switching of the elements on and off causes the internal temperature to cycle around the target temperature.

Regardless of the thermocouple temperature, the actual temperature of your work will be slightly different, depending on its position on the kiln shelf, the vertical spacing of any stacked shelves, and its nearness to the elements, a lid, a door, a bead door, or a window. Learn to take it into account if you're working with temperature-critical materials or processes.

Remember that glass needs radiant heat and will fuse, sag, or slump better on one shelf at the bottom than between closely stacked shelves.

Kiln doors and lids are not meant to be a perfect fit otherwise, at high temperatures, there'd be no room for expansion and movement, and the door could stick and the ceramic-fibre or firebricks could crack.

All kilns smell a bit during the first few firings, just like a toaster or a fan heater. If you're worried about fumes, open a window.

Eventually, with normal use, kilns discolour slightly, inside and outside, and some firebricks might develop hairline cracks. Your kiln is a versatile, robust, red-hot tool: not an ornament.

Using your kiln successfully needs critical research and frequent tests, especially as things that work for your friends or teachers might not work in the same way for you. It's also very important to learn how to creatively use unexpected effects. So, keep a firing log:

Buy a durable notebook. Use a new page for every firing, and draw diagrams of the shelves, their vertical spacing, and the position of your work on the shelves. Along with your work, put a few scraps at different places on the shelves to learn how things change. Describe the material, the shape of your work, the firing cycle, and the end result.

A kiln log is vital if you're experimenting with temperature-sensitive materials, or working with coloured dichroic glasses, enamels, glazes, or paints, and a skilled artist will use the kiln log to advantage to re-create effects.

It'll be particularly useful if you have to repeat a commission, or you have a long holiday before returning to your studio.

If the kiln has a Sentry 12-key digital programmer, it can connect to your computer using a factory-fitted USB interface. ControlMaster software, included in the price, allows you to control and monitor the firing, and organise, analyse, print out, and save the data. If you want this option, make sure you order the USB interface.

There are two popular makes of silver clay: Art Clay made by Aida Chemical Industries and PMC made by Mitsubishi Materials Corporation, in Japan. They're both clay-like materials made of fine silver powder and water-soluble organic binders.

Art Clay Silver and PMC Silver, sometimes just called silver clay, metal clay, or precious-metal clay, are easy to fire: put your dried work on a kiln shelf and programme the temperature and hold-time.

As they're fired, the binders vapourise, releasing very small amounts of non-toxic carbon dioxide and water, and the metal powder sinters, leaving solid 999 silver: real metal, not something that just looks like metal.

Although Paragon kilns include a durable shelf kit so that you can start work straight away, several shelves can be stacked to make better use of your time and reduce the unit-cost of firing: so you might want more than one.

Although we chose to work with, sell, and provide classes in Art Clay, both makes fire in a similar way. So any kiln suitable for Art Clay will be just as good for PMC.

If you're currently using PMC, try Art Clay. There are differences in the feel, the shrinkage, the strength, the surface lustre, the product range, the pricing, and the general commercial setup if you're running a serious business.

Currently, in January 2012, 50 gms of PMC+ Silver Clay from the UK distributor costs about 37% more than Art Clay Silver Clay. If anyone would like to comment on this, let me know and provide a reference.

To learn more, use the links below the menu bar near the top of the page. You can buy ArtClay, bronzeclay, copperclay, glassclay, goldclay, and related products in the on-line shop.

There are three popular makes of bronze clay: Bronze Clay made by ClayMania, BronzClay made by Metal Adventures, and Prometheus Bronze ProClay made by Odak. They're all clay-like materials made of fine bronze powder and water-soluble organic binders. However, they're fired in different ways:

Prometheus Bronze Clay is easy to fire: wrap your dried work in kitchen tissue or ceramic cloth, put it on a kiln shelf, and programme the temperature and hold time. It can also be fired in charcoal.

Clay Mania Bronze Clay and MetalAdventures BronzClay fire in a special way. Fired normally, the surface would oxidise so, to minimize this, they're embedded in activated charcoal granules in a covered stainless steel container. Charcoal made from coconut shells produces a natural bronze colour, and charcoal made from coal produces a colourful range of patinas.

As they're fired, the binders vapourise, releasing very small amounts of non-toxic carbon dioxide and water, and the metal powder sinters, leaving solid bronze, an alloy of 89% copper and 11% tin: real metal, not something that just looks like metal.

The stainless steel container for the Paragon SC-2 measures 162mm x 176mm x 100mm, and holds 1 litre of charcoal. To fire larger pieces, or more pieces at the same time, you'll need a larger kiln, such as the Paragon Xpress E-12A. The container for the E-12A measures 265mm x 162mm x 152mm and holds 3 litres of charcoal.

The 1230°C firebrick E12A costs more than the 1095°C ceramic-fibre SC2. However, it's two and a half times larger than the SC-2 and is a versatile mixed-media kiln suited to continual high temperatures.

Particulates represent a health risk if they're breathed in, so wear a HEPA mask when cleaning out your kiln, mixing kiln wash, and working with charcoals, ceramic-fibre blocks, cloths, and papers. And, ideally, use protective glasses.

Although Paragon kilns include a durable shelf kit so that you can start work straight away, several shelves can be stacked to make better use of your time and reduce the unit-cost of firing: so you might want more than one.

I can't recommend one clay as being the best. There are differences in the feel, the firing, the shrinkage, the strength, and the surface patinas, so try them and experiment: they're not expensive.
However, as Prometheus Bronze Clay is easy to fire and costs less than the others, try it first? It comes as 100gm of soft clay in a packet, or 10gm of creamy clay in a syringe with three tips that you can cut or shape.

There's also Creative Bronze, which is almost certainly Prometheus Bronze Clay renamed. I'll leave it you to work out why ProBronze is £19.75 for 100gm with no delivery charge and Creative Bronze is £24.95 plus £4.95 shipping.

Currently, in January 2012, 100gms of Art Clay Silver Clay costs about 1100% more than Prometheus Bronze Clay and PMC+ Silver Clay costs at least 1370% more. If anyone would like to comment on this, let me know and provide a reference.

So, if you're still in the learning phase, you can try out ideas before possibly wasting your expensive silver clay. However, bronze is a beautiful metal so, as with many materials, you need to exploit its qualities and try to produce beautiful original pieces.

To learn more, use the links below the menu bar near the top of the page. You can buy ArtClay, bronzeclay, copperclay, glassclay, goldclay, and related products in the on-line shop.

There are four popular makes of copper clay: Art Clay Copper made by Aida Chemical Industries, Copper Clay made by ClayMania, CopprClay made by Metal Adventures, and Prometheus Copper ProClay made by Odak. They're all clay-like materials made of fine copper powder and water-soluble organic binders. However, they're fired in different ways:

Clay Mania Copper Clay and MetalAdventures CopprClay fire in a special way. Fired normally, the surface would oxidise so, to minimize this, they're embedded in activated charcoal granules in a covered stainless steel container. Charcoal made from coconut shells produces a natural copper colour.

Art Clay Copper is easy to fire: put your dried work on a kiln shelf, and programme the temperature and hold time. In most kilns, several shelves can be stacked to make better use of your time: so you might want more than one.

Prometheus Copper Clay is easy to fire: wrap your dried work in kitchen tissue or ceramic cloth, put it on a kiln shelf, and programme the temperature and hold time. It can also be fired in charcoal.

As they're fired, the binders vapourise, releasing very small amounts of non-toxic carbon dioxide and water, and the metal powder sinters, leaving solid copper: real metal, not something that just looks like metal.

The stainless steel container for the Paragon SC-2 measures 162mm x 176mm x 100mm, and holds 1 litre of charcoal. To fire larger pieces, or more pieces at the same time, you'll need a larger kiln, such as the Paragon Xpress E-12A. The container for the E-12A measures 265mm x 162mm x 152mm and holds 3 litres of charcoal.

The 1230°C firebrick E12A costs more than the 1095°C ceramic-fibre SC2. However, it's two and a half times larger than the SC-2 and is a versatile mixed-media kiln suited to continual high temperatures.

Particulates represent a health risk if they're breathed in, so wear a HEPA mask when cleaning out your kiln, mixing kiln wash, and working with charcoals, ceramic-fibre blocks, cloths, and papers. And, ideally, use protective glasses.

Although Paragon kilns include a durable shelf kit so that you can start work straight away, several shelves can be stacked to make better use of your time and reduce the unit-cost of firing: so you might want more than one.

I can't recommend one clay as being the best. There are differences in the feel, the firing, the shrinkage, the strength, and the surface patinas, so try them and experiment: they're not expensive.
However, as Prometheus Copper Clay is easy to fire and costs less than the others, try it first? It comes as 100gm of soft clay in a packet, or 10gm of creamy clay in a syringe with three tips that you can cut or shape.

There's also Creative Copper, which is almost certainly Prometheus Copper Clay renamed. I'll leave it you to work out why ProCopper is £19.75 for 100gm with no delivery charge and Creative Copper is £24.95 plus £4.95 shipping.

Currently, in January 2012, 100gms of Art Clay Silver Clay costs about 1100% more than Prometheus Copper Clay and PMC+ Silver Clay costs at least 1370% more. If anyone would like to comment on this, let me know and provide a reference.

So, if you're still in the learning phase, you can try out ideas before possibly wasting your expensive silver clay. However, bronze is a beautiful metal so, as with many materials, you need to exploit its qualities and try to produce beautiful original pieces.

To learn more, use the links below the menu bar near the top of the page. You can buy ArtClay, bronzeclay, copperclay, glassclay, goldclay, and related products in the on-line shop.

GlasClay is made by ClayMania in vibrant colours, based on glasses from Bullseye and Oruboros. It's a clay-like material made of fine glass powder and water-soluble organic binders. It's sold as a box of twelve colours in 12gm pots.

The colours in the table below are a rough guide, and the clay powder, mixed powders, fused glass, and re-fused glass will not all look the same. They're all COE90: read this pop-up.

As it's fired, the binders vapourise, releasing very small amounts of non-toxic carbon dioxide and water, and the glass powder fuses, leaving solid glass: real glass, not something that just looks like glass.

GlasClay is easy to fire: put your dried pieces on some ceramic shelf-paper on a kiln shelf and programme the temperature and hold time.

GlasClay can be shaped easily. You can make three-dimensional objects and free yourself from the constraint of working with flat glass. The size is only determined by the support you can give it. Perhaps the most exciting opportunity is to make your own beads without a torch.

The firing temperature and time are important: glass clays have to fuse, not melt. There's a difference between fusing and melting: During fusing, the binder in the glass clay vapourises and the glass powder particles bond to make solid glass. During melting, the glass powder particles liquify and lose their original clay-shape.

Particulates represent a health risk if they're breathed in, so wear a HEPA mask when cleaning out your kiln, mixing kiln wash, and working with charcoals, ceramic-fibre blocks, cloths, and papers. And, ideally, use protective glasses.

Although Paragon kilns include a durable shelf kit so that you can start work straight away, several shelves can be stacked to make better use of your time and reduce the unit-cost of firing: so you might want more than one.

To learn more, use the links below the menu bar near the top of the page. You can buy ArtClay, bronzeclay, copperclay, glassclay, goldclay, and related products in the on-line shop.

There are two popular makes of gold clay: Art Clay made by Aida Chemical Industries and PMC made by Mitsubishi Materials Corporation, in Japan. They're both clay-like materials made of fine gold powder and water-soluble organic binders.

Art Clay Gold and PMC Gold, sometimes just called gold clay, metal clay, or precious-metal clay, are easy to fire: put your dried work on a kiln shelf and programme the temperature and hold-time.

As they're fired, the binders vapourise, releasing very small amounts of non-toxic carbon dioxide and water, and the metal powder sinters, leaving solid 22 carat gold: real metal, not something that just looks like metal.

Although Paragon kilns include a durable shelf kit so that you can start work straight away, several shelves can be stacked to make better use of your time and reduce the unit-cost of firing: so you might want more than one.

Although we chose to work with, sell, and provide classes in Art Clay, both makes fire in a similar way. So any kiln suitable for Art Clay will be just as good for PMC.

If you're currently using PMC, try Art Clay. There are differences in the feel, the shrinkage, the strength, the surface lustre, the product range, the pricing, and the general commercial setup if you're running a serious business.

Currently, in January 2012, 50 gms of PMC Gold Clay from the UK distributor costs about 60% more than Art Clay Gold Clay. If anyone would like to comment on this, let me know and provide a reference.

To learn more, use the links below the menu bar near the top of the page. You can buy ArtClay, bronzeclay, copperclay, glassclay, goldclay, and related products in the on-line shop.

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