I think I’m in love!

As I’ve mentioned before, I started making dolls in 1996 and after about a year and a half my instructor gave up her classes in favor of traveling about with her husband in their RV. I fumbled along on my own for awhile, then let a few of my friends talk me into teaching them what I’d learned, but I was pretty much isolated from other doll makers. I did subscribe to Doll Crafter, then later on to Dolls Beautiful and then to Doll Costuming, and attended the doll shows in Puyallup as often as my job allowed, but I didn’t have other doll makers around to introduce me to new ideas, and couldn’t afford to attend seminars or workshops so there was a lot I missed out on.

One of the things that totally passed me by was the practice of using small, fast firing kilns to fire heads so you didn’t have to fire up the big kiln all the time for just a piece or two. I had been trying to make sure I was working on several dolls at once so my kiln would be full, and got in the habit of firing china painted pieces along with pieces I needed to soft fire. It wasn’t until about the time that I started this blog that I found out that firing the two together could keep the china paint from firing correctly, and maybe even wiping off if rubbed vigorously. And it was through the contacts I made while trying to find doll classes and suppliers to list in the Directories that I finally came to understand just how useful the little kiln could be.

One of these contacts lives nearby and has turned into a very good friend, and it was while playing dolls with her that I actually saw a Rapid Fire kiln in use for the first time. What a revelation! It took about seven minutes to fire a coat of paint on her doll head, and maybe half an hour to cool enough to handle! No more fussing about with the different applications over four or five days of firings to produce a well painted face. I knew I needed one of these! There was just one problem. The Rapid Fire kiln was made by Evenheat, and they had stopped producing them. Wouldn’t you know it!

Over the next few months I checked out a number of different countertop kilns on the internet. They all looked good, but money was an issue. Most of them were at least $400 – $500, and I just couldn’t afford to pay that much. I watched Ebay and Craig’s List but nothing turned up. I had about given up when we walked into the doll show in Roseville, California and spotted a used one being sold by one of the vendors. The price was right and I grabbed it! WooHoo!

Right from the get-go we had talked about the advantage of having a couple of these nifty little kilns to use during doll class to speed things up for my students as well, but given how hard it was to find one at a price my budget could handle, I expected to have to do the best I could with just one, and I was thankful to have it! But much to my surprise a used Quikfire kiln by Paragon was offered for sale by a member of one of the doll groups that I follow, and I was able to get that one as well. It’s identical in appearance and usage to my Rapidfire, and this brand is still on the market, so replacement parts will be available.

I can’t tell you how exciting it is to be able to complete a face in an afternoon! The kiln is fast, and easy to use. I love it! I just absolutely love it! True, you do need to watch it closely during the seven minutes that it takes to reach the correct china paint temperature so you don’t leave it in too long and fire the paint back off, but with the careful use of a timer, that isn’t too much to ask. Just don’t forget what you’re doing and walk away for too long!

So, if using one of these little kilns appeals to you, check them out, and whichever brand you choose from the variety on the market, I hope you enjoy yours as much as I am mine!