Fiber Kilns- scheduling

[Bonnie Rubinstein]

Hi All-
So I am looking at perhaps perchasing the jenken Profusion 52" Fiber top kiln. (cant find new large brick kilns!)

I am concerned about the learning curve on the heating up and annealing schedules with fiber. I understand that more kilns are now made with fiber vs. brick. What is your experience (anyone) with fiber kilns? Good/ bad/ hard or easy to schedule?
thanks!

[Brad Walker]

I've owned fiber kilns for over 15 years now. I found no significant differences in schedules.

Fiber kilns will cool a bit quicker if you have a fiber shelf, but if you have a mullite/cordierite shelf they cool at about the same rate.

[Bonnie Rubinstein]

That is very good news, Brad. I appreciate it

[Brad Walker]

One thing I should mention. Fiber kilns do heat up faster than brick ones, but usually you're constraining the rate with your schedule, so that difference doesn't come into play.

Jen-Ken says that in their fiber kilns you can heat as fast as possible without cracking the piece, but I've never tried it and am not sure I believe them. But if you try it let me know what happens.

[Bonnie Rubinstein]

No way will I try that.
After 25 years, I have learned.. not too fast up and very slow down.
I am purchasing this kiln for a class I will teach out of state. It is being shipped there. So, I wont have time for a learning curve on it. Will arrive there to teach, and hopefully the kiln and I will like each other! (wish me luck)

[Karen Avery]

I have a Bonnie Glo Fiber kiln which I bought in 2017. I have mainly used it for making sushi plates and dichroic jewelry, but am going to branch out. I like it because it does heat up faster and cool down quicker. It is really hard to find schedules for it though, but what I have found works. Just google it- the manuals are online so that should help you.

[Bonnie Rubinstein]

FYI- I taught a class and we did use kilns with fiber inner panels. Heating/cooling did go much more quickly, with good results. (and you certainly will save on shipping the kiln!)