Glass Kilns: Safety Tips

 

Glass kilns are safely used in schools and homes from all over the world. If you get to know how your kiln works you can stay away from trouble and enjoy your glass crafts. Here you have some advices to take into account.

When you fire the kiln make sure you keep your children and pets away from the glass kiln. When the kiln reaches high temperatures the stainless-steel shell will heat too and it my burn the skin therefore you have to be careful if you’re working close to it.

 

When you open the kiln’s door while the kiln is still hot you should wear gloves because the hot air that comes out from the kiln could burn. Never touch anything inside a kiln because you risk on causing an electrical shock and also be careful not to put anything metallic into a kiln if it is switched on. To avoid shocks kilns are equipped with baffles. Therefore you should never insert a mandrel into the kiln if the baffles are not in there. Be careful to turn off the kiln if you’re going to touch its electrical parts.

 

The kiln must be placed in large and ventilated spaces such as a garage or a utility room, and no inflammable supplies should be stored in that room. The kiln should be positioned on a distance of at least 18 inches from any walls or other kilns that are in the same room. Also the kiln’s controller shouldn’t be to close and shouldn’t be facing any other kilns nearby. If the room where you’re working is equipped with a fire-control system you have to make sure that the heat generated by the kiln, will not activate the alarm system.

Also make sure that the kiln is not placed in a small room, or in a room where the temperature can reach 105°F or drop under 32°F, or else you risk destroying the kilns electronic parts. Make sure that your kiln is positioned on concrete or ceramic surfaces which are not flammable surfaces. While the kiln is turned on no flammable materials should be around it. Looking inside the kiln may be very dangerous this is why the kiln’s operator should always wear ultra-violet or infra-red protective glasses such as No. 3 green glasses.

 

Before switching on the kiln, be careful to remove any brick fragment or other foreign materials that may be close to the elements. You can do that by using a vacuum inside the kiln. Applying a primer like Kiln Shelf Wash will prevent melted stringers and frits from sticking to the kiln’s shelves. Never wash a kiln’s walls!

 

Also be aware that when you first use the kiln, the elements will smoke. This is something natural same like the fissures that you’re kilns floor will show, caused by the firebrick’s contraction and expansion. However you don’t have to worry because the kiln’s functionality and durability will not be affected.