The Advance 2208 is suitable for ceramics, glass fusing, sagging, slumping, porcelain, pottery, and stoneware. It's a 1290°C cone 10, eight-sided, round-ish, top-opening kiln, with an easy-to-use, ramp-hold and cone-fire, wall-mounted, Bartlett 3-key digital programmer.

The UK kiln is rated at 230V 4800W, so needs a separate 30A circuit. To comply with EU safety regulations, it's fitted with an additional switch that cuts off the power when the lid is opened. It needs floor space, as it weighs about 67Kg.

The stainless steel body stands on four legs, the top has a stay-open support, and there's a wide-view peephole in one of the sides. The electrical components, located on the front, stay cool, even at extended hold times.

The outer steel case measures 610mm diameter x 711mm, and is slotted for air circulation: so it keeps cool. The door opens 180°, so you won't burn your hand taking your work out. And there's a top vent for lost-wax casting and other processes that release fumes.

The ceramic-fibreboard firing chamber measures 445mm x 572mm internally, and heats from the sides, with the fast-firing elements lying in grooves in the 76mm thick board. Ceramic-fibreboard loses heat much more slowly than firebrick, resulting in valuable energy-savings.

The electronic display prompts for heating rate, target temperature, and hold time, making it easy to set up and re-use accurate drying, heating, holding, and cooling sequences. To learn more about the programmer, use the start link below the menu bar, then choose programmers.

It's very important to understand what the shelf kit consists of, why you might need a different one, and why you might need more than one:

The recommended furniture kit, included in the price, consists of one 139mm x 139mm x 6mm ceramic-fibre shelf for Art Clay and PMC: not china paint, dichroic glasses, enamels, or fused glass.

If you want to do china painting, enamelling, or glass work, you'll need a thicker shelf and four shelf posts. These come as an extra kit: one 178mm x 178mm x 15mm cordierite shelf and four 25mm x 25mm x 12mm posts.

Cordierite is a magnesium aluminium silicate that resists thermal distortion and fracture. A thick shelf, on posts, heats and cools evenly: particularly important for glass work.

Cordierite is brittle: if you drop the shelf, it'll break. It's a good idea to have spare shelves, especially if your business depends on your kiln or you're running courses. You can buy extra shelf kits in the on-line shop.

Depending on the sizes of your pieces and the number of pieces you want to fire, three shelves can be stacked to make better use of your time: so you may want more than one furniture kit. However, remember that glass needs radiant heat and is better fired on one shelf rather than between stacked shelves.

For enamelling and glass fusing, you'll need to put kiln paper on the shelf to stop anything sticking: it's simpler and cleaner to use than glass separator. You can buy shelf paper in the on-line shop.

Although there's cross-over, 1095°C front-opening ceramic-fibre kilns, such as those in the SC series, are preferred for Art Clay and PMC metal clays, dichroic glasses, enamelling, and mixed-media jewellery.

For ceramics, porcelain, pottery, or stoneware, 1290°C front-opening ceramic-fibre kilns, such as those in the Caldera or Xpress series, are generally more popular.

The SC elements are embedded in ceramic fibre, an important safety feature if you like to open the door or bead door whilst you work. However, never get careless: kilns are very hot and connected to the mains.

SHOPPING

The kiln prices include the recommended shelf kit, and the legally-necessary lid or door safety switch where appropriate.

The on-line shop includes Advance Kilns, BullsEye ThinFire kiln paper, ceramic blocks, ceramic cloths, digital pyrometers, reminder-timers, fire extinguishers, glare-resistant glasses, heat-resistant gloves, kiln shelves, kiln tables, and other tools and accessories. Alternatively, visit the Cherry Heaven Shop in Corfe Castle village.

CHERRY HEAVEN

Cherry Heaven, through Advance Kilns, is the EU distributor for Advance Kiklns made by Advance Kilns in Canada, and, through The UltraLite Kiln, an EU distributor for the Ultra Lite Kiln made by JEC Products in the US.

Cherry Heaven, through Electric Kilns, is an EU distributor for Paragon Kilns made by Paragon Industries in the US, and the Prometheus Pro kilns made by Odak Sanat in Turkey.

Cherry Heaven, through The Kitiki Studio, is a UK distributor for Art Clay made by Aida Chemical Industries in Japan, and an EU distributor for AccentGold For Silver paint and Metal Clay Veneer, both made in the US.

EDUCATIONAL DISCOUNTS AND RESALE