I recently purchased a small Rohde ceramic test kiln from Keramikos. In addition to congratulations on ” the little one” :-), I was also asked: why buy a test kiln? After all, I can also fire my work in my larger (150 liter) kiln.

A good question and a nice reason to list my reasons for my investment in this blog. I came up with this top three and one to get rid of my kiln…

Why a ceramic test kiln?

As an artisan ceramicist, firing my work is an important part of my creative process. That doesn’t stop with making, decorating and glazing my ceramics.

Throwing ceramic objects, both functional and sculptural, is not only about expressing my values and vision. I also aim to discover, learn and share.

The firing and development of my glazes is also part of my story. It’s an inseparable part of what I have to say about myself and about art-ceramics. A ceramic test kiln for experimenting with firing schedules and glazes is invaluable.

Below a summary of my main motives to invest in a small kiln.

1. Faster results = stay in the flow

To start with the simplest reason, getting a 150 liter kiln full of hundreds of glaze samples is a lot of work. A lot of work!

I have more than once packed the entire kiln with glaze tests. There are a lot of them, but you also get a lot in return. A major drawback is that if I want to see the firied result of a smaller test series, I have to wait until the kiln is full of other work.

Sometimes I have already half forgotten, what I wanted to discover with that small series, when it comes out of the kiln. Fortunately, I take a lot of notes, so it will come back to me. But I still spend more time learning something from the experiment.

If I see results faster after I have made the test, I also stay easier in my “experiment flow”…

2. Flexible clay, glaze and firing research

Developing a glaze or decoration technique is not a one-way street. It’s a dialogue between me, the clay and the glaze. But the dialogue can go either way. And the relationship sometimes too.

Many tests I do are therefore a follow-up to previous experiments. The color is good, but the glaze still runs too much. Or the test is very different than expected, what should I have done differently?

I can’t continue with the research until I’ve seen the results. Firing smaller series several times in a row therefore gives more flexibility than firing many series at once. I can then adapt the experiment faster to the results I have received.

Create flexible thoughts with flexible firings…

3. Small projects don’t wait for anyone

In a large kiln you can of course fire a hundred espresso cups, but what if you only want ten (and as soon as possible)? Then you can easily put it in a smaller kiln and fire it directly.

For example, there are many smaller projects that I have fired in a half-empty kiln in the past. Such as transfers, small works with porcelain paper, clay tests on commission, glazes etc. etc.

Small projects can’t wait for the big kiln to be full…

Disadvantages of small: “economy of scale”

Economy of scale: big is better. Or rather scale disadvantages: small ceramic kilns are relatively more expensive than large ones.

A simple calculation example:

• A 25 liter keramikos kiln (KERAMIKOS ECONOMY BABY, without control device) approx. 1,275 euros = 51 euros per liter of kiln capacity.
• A 150 liter keramikos kiln (KERAMIKOS ECONOMY GIANT, without control device) approx. 3,150 euros = 21 euros per liter of kiln capacity.

These kilns both have the same specifications (same maximum firing temperature, similar insulation value etc.), but the small 25 liter kiln is more than double the investment per liter of content.

And the relative firing costs are also higher. The small kiln has a relatively larger outside surface area compared to the contents. As a result, the kiln will lose relatively more heat than its big brother. And that is why firing in a smaller kiln will also be relatively more expensive.

Small is nice, but sometimes large kilns also have advantages…

So, what’s your reason for a ceramic test kiln?

There are certainly more pros and cons of purchasing a small ceramic test kiln to discuss. But for me, these were the three decisive reasons. And I’m certainly not the only ceramicist who has a made this investment.

The question remains: what are your reasons for (wanting to) buy one?

(Or not, because you always have to leave something to be desired!)

About Post Author

Daniel Bende

Designs and creates under the trade name DFB-ceramics hand-thrown stoneware figurative ceramics.

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