So, I bought a kiln.

Last year my I was gifted a pottery wheel for Christmas, shout out to Nana! I used it once and soon realized that air dry clay was not going to cut it for me.

Ever since my first ceramics class in 2009 I’ve been obsessed with the medium. I made my first miniature table and played on the wheel and wasn’t terrible at it.

I took a few classes in college and the passion grew.

So for a year I’ve been searching for local kilns and trying to apply at the ever-so-exclusive weekend ceramic classes at the local art studio to no avail.

With my 30th birthday creeping up on me I’ve been racking my brain for something that would excite me. I feel grateful to have not been able to think of anything I needed or wanted until the thought of finally owning my own kiln came to mind.

So I went online and built my kiln for the umpteenth time, and asked my husband if I could trade a birthday gift for his ok on me buying myself a kiln. After some hesitation due to not knowing where we would put it, he finally agreed.

I then spent hours upon hours researching; making sure the kiln was a quality brand, what the kiln’s capabilities are, what tools would be needed with it, what attachments and upgrades it would need, price matching it with other companies, and finally finding a coupon code.

I ended up purchasing the Jen-Ken AF3C 11/9 Ceramic Kiln from Soul Ceramics.

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The Jen-Ken AF3C 11/9’s features:

Max temp is 2100 degrees Fahrenheit firing at 04-06 for low-fire ceramics, fusing & slumping glass
Inside dimensions: 11”x 9”
Voltage: 120v
Solid-state relay - controls the power cycling for tight temperature control
Tap touchscreen smart controller - ability to save multiple firing programs with Wi-Fi control via cell phone
Power interrupt switch - auto lid shutoff
Furniture kit - 2 shelves, 3 1” posts, 2” posts, 4” posts, and a pound of shelf primer aka kiln wash
Stand & user manual

Tools Needed

Low-fire clay - terra cotta, low-fire white, earthenware, greenware, glazing, bisque-firing
Low- fire glazes and underglazes
Heat resistant gloves
Pyrometric Cones
Wax resist

Firing Tips

There’s a major difference between 04 - 06 and 4 - 6
- 04 = 1940 degrees Fahrenheit & 1060 degrees Celcius
- 06 = 1830 degrees Fahrenheit & 999 degrees Celcius
Clay must be bone dry before firing
Bisque fire is generally at cone 05
Firing Glazed pots us faster, 05 is common
When the kiln temperature is below 200 degrees Fahrenheit it can be opened

After 14 weeks of patiently waiting, the kiln arrived!

After reading the manuals online there were a few key tips on setting it up in the right location and usage.

Placement:

Install kiln 12 inches away from any surface and make sure it’s placed on a non-flammable surface in an open space that is covered, indoor, and well-ventilated. The best and safest place for your kiln is on a cement floor. If not, some type of adequate fireproof material like concrete blocks should be used beneath the kiln to prevent a possible fire hazard or prevent discoloration of the floor.
Place the kiln out of the way of children, traffic, and work areas. Never install a kiln outside and avoid undue moisture. 
Use correct voltage, wire size, and breaker.
The kiln must be properly grounded and level
Never place anything above or under the kiln for storage, nor should anything be propped up against the kiln.
Do not store or use flammable products near your kiln such as gasoline, paint, aerosol cans, paper, curtains, plastic, etc.
Never allow the power cord to touch the kiln. Never use an extension cord. The kiln may need to be rotated a little for the cord not to touch the kiln.

Usage:

Before use, vacuum out any extra loose pieces and make sure the coils are unobstructed
Unplug the kiln before servicing or vacuuming.
Do not drop or slam the lid shut.
Let the kiln cool to room temperature before opening the lid.
Make sure all switches are turned to “OFF” before opening the lid.
NEVER LEAVE THE KILN FIRING UNATTENDED.