Please read carefully to ensure you have fully understood the capabilities, limitations and requirements of this Kitiki Mini-Kiln. There is a lot of information here, but buying a kiln is an important purchase and we want to help you to make an informed choice. If you are not sure what you want and would like to discuss your requirements, please contact Mary either via the Contact Us button on the web site, or by using the phone number found under How to Buy at the end of this page.
Overview
The compact Kitiki Mini-kiln is a good choice where kiln loads are likely to be small, or where space is an issue. It can be used for general low-budget small-scale work such as Art Clay, PMC, dichroic glass, enamelling, and jewellery.
If you are looking to buy a kiln for the first time, the Kitiki Mini-Kiln is a good choice for home, school, craft workshop, jewellery studio, or class. Besides being compact and easy to move, it uses a regular mains socket (no need for expensive re-wiring), it stays cool on the outside, it's controllable, it heats and cools quickly, and it's inexpensive to run. See Technical section for dimensions.
Firing Characteristics
Please take note of the following firing characteristics of the Kitiki Mini-Kiln:
If the target temperature is low, and if the heating rate is set to full, the actual temperature will overshoot before the thermocouple and programmer can regulate it. If the target temperature is high, the overshoot will usually be negligible. While these variations don't affect Art Clay and PMC, they might affect glass, particularly dichroic glass. Depending on how low the target temperature is required, these variations can be minimised by reducing the set temperature slightly, choosing a slower heating rate (ramp), and learning where to position your work on the shelf. However, while they can be minimised, they cannot be entirely discounted.
As with any kiln, the best way to learn about your own is to keep a firing log, listing the material you used, the shelves and their spacing, the firing cycle, and the end result. This is particularly useful if you are working with glass in any of its forms – fused glass, enamelling, dichroic, etc.
Technical
The UK kiln is rated at 230V 700W, so can use a regular mains socket which is ideal for most first time buyers.
The Kitiki Mini Kiln is small enough to use in your home, school, craft workshop, jewellery studio, or class venue, and as it only weighs about 6Kg it is very portable. The outer steel case measures 224mm x 244mm x 274mm, and is slotted for air circulation: so it keeps cool. The door opens 90°, and there's a door vent for any processes that may release fumes.
It can heat up to 1000°C, and is a 700W, 6Kg, front-opening, controllable, and ceramic-fibre kiln. Its internal measurements are 113mm x 135mm x 66mm (that’s in the region of 4 ½” x 5 ½” x 2 ½” in old measurements), and has its ceramic fibre heating elements in the top, sides, and bottom, with an easy-to-use 4-key digital controller. The Kitiki Mini-Kiln requires a minimum 600cm wide surface to stand on.
The recommended furniture kit for the Kitiki Mini-Kiln, included in the price, consists of one soft ceramic-fibre cloth 120mm x 90mm x 24mm for Art Clay, PMC, and delicate jewellery, and one hard ceramic-fibre shelf 115mm x 80mm x 8mm for china paint, enamels, and glass.
Kiln shelf paper is simpler and more convenient to use than glass separator for stopping enamels and glass sticking to the shelf.
Heating Information
The Mini-Kiln doesn't have a programmer – it has a controller. It is important that the difference between a programmer and controller is understood: a programmer, such as that in the SC-2 Series, allows you to set up and re-use four accurate drying/heating/holding/cooling sequences each with up to 8 segments: and go away and do something else whilst the sequence is running; while a controller only allows you to adjust the maximum temperature and the heating and cooling rate.
The Kitiki Mini-Kiln controller does not offer sequences and segments: it heats to a set temperature and stays there until you turn it off. Using controller’s ramp function enables you to choose how fast the Mini Kiln heats up or cools down. For example: it can heat up to 800°C over 75 minutes, or cool down from 960°C to room temperature over 180 minutes.
For most people doing small-scale work, that's enough, although it helps if you buy a small digital timer to remind you that time's up.
Comparison with the SC-2
For many people deciding which kiln to buy, it comes down to a choice between the Kitiki Mini-Kiln and an SC-2. To help you make your decision, here are a few pointers to remember:
The Mini-Kiln has a Controller, not a Programmer, so there will be some limitations in available firing schedules. This of course does not mean that one kiln is better than the other – just different. You need to choose on the basis of what you will actually require.
The Mini-Kiln has a smaller firing chamber than that of the SC2, so you can't stack it full of shelves with loads of pieces of jewellery: just four or five average things on the floor of the firing chamber, on a ceramic-fibre cloth or shelf.
The Mini-Kiln heats to a lower top temperature – the top temperature of the Mini-Kiln is 1000°C, while the top temperature for the SC-2 is 1095°C. This should not be an issue for PMC, Art Clay, dichroic glass or enamelling.
The Mini-Kiln door opens 90° so, unless the kiln has cooled completely, you should use long tongs in order not to burn your hand taking pieces out. The SC-2 door opens 180°.
How to Buy
We can offer the Kitiki Mini-Kiln, kiln paper, fire extinguishers, ceramic blocks, ceramic cloths, heat-resistant gloves, glare-resistant glasses, and other tools and accessories.
Kiln prices include the recommended furniture kit and the legally-necessary lid or door cut-off switch, where appropriate. If your delivery address is within the
To buy a Kitiki Mini-Kiln, please ring and talk to Mary, on 0113 293 7053. She will go through your requirements with you to try to ensure the kiln you are buying is suitable for your requirements, and to make sure you have everything you need, She will let you know if your kiln is in stock and when you can expect delivery.
After Sales Service
These kilns rarely go wrong, and are guaranteed for one year. Spare parts are easily available, so if you have any problems, just ring us on the number above.