The history of kilns spans thousands of years and ranges from the firing pit and ancient Japanese noborigama kilns to 18th century English bottle kilns or the modern computer controlled electric kiln. Depending on your practice as a ceramic artist or potter, your kiln needs will vary greatly. A raku artist will need a raku kiln for quick low firing and post-firing reduction, a porcelain artist might fire in an electric kiln and a salt-glazer or soda-firer will need a salt-kiln.
Some issues though remain similar to most kiln types, eg. stacking economically, knowing about safety devices, temperature measurement or burners. Other questions such as the lifetime of kiln furniture and bricks also have to be considered.
Whatever the ceramic technique involved, be it wood-firing, raku, paperclay, porcelain, vessel, sculpture or something else, the material must be transformed in the fire to achieve the durability expected of the ceramic object. If you are considering buying a kiln, a search on any one of the major search engines for your region will yield a couple of companies making kilns near you - or why not build one yourself?
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DIY fast-firing earthenware/stoneware kiln design!
