Purchasing a Used Kiln - what to ask and look for
Kilns are essential to running a studio but typically come with a hefty price tag, so naturally I started scouring the internet for other options when building out our Catskills’ Studio. If you are a Tri State area (NY, CT, PA) potter you know that good used kilns and pottery equipment don’t pop up very often or for very long so I jumped on the chance when one presented itself. It was a bit of a risk as I’ve actually never purchased a used kiln before and had limited knowledge in how to inspect one. Now that I’ve lived with our used kiln for a little over 3 months I’d like to impart what I’ve learned in the process. I will say that used kilns are great for people who are more handy as you’re probably going to need to fix it up a bit.
Okay, so you’re to searching for a used kiln - Great!
First you need to decide what kind of kiln you are looking for - brand, type (electric, gas, etc), cone (temp the kiln can reach - make sure your studio has the right electric) and size. Then figure out how long you have to get a kiln up and running. For me, I was looking for an electric Skutt kiln around the size of a KM 1027 that could reach cone 5 / 6. Luckily for me I found a KM 1227 that could be converted to a 240 volt, which would allow me to fire to cone 6. It did however take a lot longer to get this kiln up and running than I had allotted for this studio.
Ask the right questions:
How old is the kiln?
What type of controller does it have?
How old are the elements, thermocouple and relays (a good kiln owner will have a list of these things)?
What has been fired in the kiln (is it typically low fired/high fired, lead glazes)?
When was it last fired?
What is included in this purchase (kiln furniture, vent)?
When inspecting a used kiln:
Plug it in to make sure it turns on.
Check out the exterior: there should be a name plate that tells you about the kiln, are there any burn marks on the metal, rust, things falling off?
How does the interior look - crumbling bricks (look at the walls, bottom and top), glaze stuck to everything?
Bring tools! Unplug the kiln and open the computer and inspecting the parts including pulling out the insulation to check on the relays etc - are all of the wires intact, is nothing melted, or burn marks?
All of this inspection will help you to determine what repairs need to be done vs how much you are paying for the kiln vs how much time it’ll take to get your kiln working. This is not a fast process and shouldn’t be rushed as used kilns can become money pits especially for someone who is hiring another to fix it all. Whatever kiln you decide on, spend time researching the price of replacement parts prior to seeing the kiln. You’ll have a much better chance of avoiding a lemon if you do.
Did I miss anything? Add your thoughts to the comments below.