Pre-heating time, if any, and pre-heat microwave power setting
Power setting during firing
Firing time
Whether the kiln was still warm from the previous firing
Firing results and what you learned from the firing
Suggested Firing Times
These times are approximate and are based on the microwave oven
wattage.
800 watts: 6 minutes
1000 watts: 5 minutes
1200 watts: 4 minutes (Remember, use a reduced power setting
when the firing time is under 5 minutes.)
Fire the Kiln
Preparation
Before firing the kiln, make sure the glass separator that you ap-
plied to the base has dried.
Decide where you will place the hot kiln when you remove it from
the microwave. Three ½" ceramic posts on a 12" x 12" ceramic tile or
ceramic kiln shelf are good choices. The 3 ceramic posts will separate
the hot kiln from the ceramic tile or shelf. The posts prevent heat from
transferring to the table or counter surface under the tile.
Caution:
Avoid placing a hot kiln on Formica, wood, or plastic
surfaces. Do not place the kiln on top of the microwave to cool.
Load the Microwave
Place 3 - ½" ceramic posts in the microwave.
Center the glass you are firing on the kiln base.
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Position the kiln base on top of the posts so the base is cen-
tered inside the microwave.
Place the kiln body on top of the base.
Fire the Kiln
Close the microwave door gently to avoid jarring the glass in-
side the kiln.
Until you know how long to fire the kiln, start out under-firing
the glass. Set the timer for 3 minutes or less. Turn on the mi-
crowave oven.
Open the microwave door when the timer goes off. Leave the
kiln inside the microwave. Wearing heat-protective gloves and
clear safety glasses, lift the kiln top about an inch and check
the glass. Look for only a second or two. Lower the kiln top.
Note:
Wear safety glasses and stay at arm's length from the kiln
(at least 15") whenever looking at the hot glass.
If the glass needs to fire longer, close the microwave door, pro-
gram another 30 - 60 seconds, and fire again. Then visually
check the kiln again as in Step 3 above. Keep adding firing
time and checking the
glass until the glass is
done.
When the firing is com-
pleted, remove the kiln
from the microwave wear-
ing heat-protective gloves.
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Wear safety glasses and stay at arm’s length when checking the glass visually.
