An electric kiln usually fires at higher temperatures because it has a better distribution of heat across the entire atmosphere inside the chamber. These include ceramic ware, porcelain, and earthenware such as dinnerware and teapots.
The gas kiln is more often used for small jobs because of its’ reduced firing time. It’s very suitable for delicate materials, recycled glass and plastics, fine silver, metal clay, and enamels or enamel jewelry since it can hold a lower temperature setting without damage.
There are significant differences between these two kilns. They often use the gas kiln for pottery, jewelry, glass, and other crafts that require a lower firing temperature. It can also make charcoal briquettes for barbecue grills.
This article is about gas kiln vs. electric kiln. Check out the following table that gives you a better understanding of the difference between a gas kiln and an electric kiln is.
What is a Gas Kiln, And What Does It Do?
A gas kiln is a container with an inflow of air and gas (propane, propylene, natural gas), with the flame heats the inside. They burn the gases at two or three places to heat these chambers until they reach the target temperature.
Most models use electrical elements and flames, but some high-end models use only flames.
What is an Electric Kiln, And What Does It Do?
The electric kiln runs on electricity passing through heating elements that are at the bottom of each chamber. The heat rises to the chamber’s top through heating air for baking pottery and glassworks, porcelain, and earthenware.
The Major Differences Between a Gas Kiln vs Electric Kiln
Firing ceramics and other heat-sensitive materials requires precise temperature control; the gas kiln can more precisely maintain this control than an electric kiln. They can use it for industrial processes such as glass, silver, and gold, enameling, and pottery firing.
The gas kiln is an open system, while the electric kiln makes a closed system. That’s why they use fuel like natural gas, propane, or coal to heat these pipes and chambers inside the kilns.
A gas kiln usually has one or two burners at each point in its chamber to fire it, while an electric kiln has heating elements that fire the entire chamber. The gas flame is boiling and intense, melting materials faster than an electric kiln.
Understand The Structure of Gas vs Electric Kilns
The internal structure is important as well, particularly in terms of how large it is and whether you’ll have access holes throughout its chamber so that you can insert things like tools or a heat-resistant material for a “window.”
A gas kiln typically has a larger chamber and may have access holes throughout it that allow you to insert things like tools or a heat-resistant material for a window.
They also can be built into existing doorways so you can fire your work right from where it is positioned. Because the metal chamber is heated by passing flames over pipes or tubes, thermal activity runs horizontally through the kiln instead of vertical.
This means cooling down will happen from the top down, so there’s less danger of cracking from thermal shock when you remove items after the firing process.
An electric kiln may feature a smaller space with no access holes for inserting tools but it offers a “window” option where you can put a heat-resistant material to look at your work.
They also are built with cooling down in mind, so the chamber is heated vertically instead of horizontally, which means cooling will happen from the top down and thus prevent cracks from thermal shock when you remove items after firing.
Know Which Type of Fuel to Use for Each Kiln
Gas kilns can use natural gas or propane as their primary fuel source to heat and cook the pottery, glassware, metals, etc., that you place inside it for firing. It’s crucial to find out what your local area has available for resources before making an enormous investment into purchasing one.
In order to function properly, electric kilns require special cables and wires to supply them with electricity. They may also have additional wiring so you can plug them into your car’s cigarette lighter for portability.
Understand The Fire Intensity
A gas kiln uses the heat of gas flames to fire pottery, glassware, metals, etc. that you place inside it for firing. The flame intensity in the burner determines the temperature at which your kiln will run.
Depending on how intense you need the flame to be, they can set it low or high within a specific temperature range. There are two types of intensity in gas kilns Low and High.
A small amount of air being sucked in creates a less intense flame with lower temperatures, while more air creates a higher-intensity flame for increased temperatures.
To function properly, an electric kiln requires special cords and wires, which have additional wiring so they can be plugged into your car’s cigarette lighter to be used on the go. They can also be fitted with additional wiring for portability.
As a result, the temperature range will be a lot broader in an electric kiln but operate within a narrow temperature band.
Understand How Gas vs Electric Kilns Heat Up
In a gas, kiln heat is produced from the flame of burning gases which are breathed through pipes or tubes from some outside source such as an imported propane tank, natural gas line, and then passed through heated chambers where it cooks items placed inside it until they reach their optimum temperature readings.
The intensity of flames in burners determines the temperature at which your kiln will run at. Depending on how intense you need the flame to be, they can set it low or high within a specific temperature range.
Electric kilns make use of heating elements that give off heat and cooking pottery, glassware, metals, etc. that you place inside it for firing by contacting air molecules and converting them into thermal energy via electrical resistance.
By controlling the intensity and amount of electricity going through these coils.
How to Use or Operate Each Type of Kiln?
In a gas kiln, you’ll have to open the holes on the top of the chamber to insert ceramic objects into it for firing. You also must be very careful not to allow flames or sparks from them to come into contact with any combustible materials that may be nearby as they can catch on fire and explode if left unattended.
Electric kilns typically require special cords and wires to supply them with electricity so they can function properly and give off the amount of heat needed to complete your work successfully may come with additional wiring so you can plug them into your car’s cigarette lighter for portable use as well.
Safety Features of Each Type of Kiln
Gas kilns require you to keep the tank outside of your home or workplace, which can be extremely dangerous if they accidentally tip over. It is best to place them in an enclosed yet well-ventilated area like under a fenced patio.
Within the chamber, shut-off valves cut off the flow of gas to the burners should any leaks occur or if any flames somehow appear inside it. As a result, you will not have an explosion on your hands by shutting that valve off.
Electric kilns come with a number of safety features as well. However, they aren’t as important as those found within a gas kiln’s chamber because all electricity requires is for you to plug and unplug cords from outlets when necessary.
For example, they will shut off automatically if the temperature within the chamber rises too high and may even come with a special over-temperature protector to prevent your pottery from burning.
The Benefits of Each Type of Kiln
Gas kilns give you more options on how high or low you can heat your pottery and more control over the process too.
You don’t have to rely on the temperature readings that an electric kiln gives off. Instead, you can set them at any level within a wide range and allow your work to cook for as long as necessary until it has achieved its goal.
On top of this, they require very little effort from you because all you need is propane gas tanks, and some matches to start them up.
Electric kilns come with their own benefits such as faster cooking times than gas ones do, but this depends on the wattage you at. Also, many of them come with digital temperature settings that are accurate to within one or two degrees up or down.
There are people who like using both types of kilns for different purposes. Electric ones make excellent beginner kilns because they require less effort, have a minimal cost to use, and can be moved around easily. However, many artists feel more comfortable firing with gas because of the increased control over heat settings.
Wattage is another factor determining how fast electric ones go but you will need more wattage in your system than what your burner puts out. So if you’re planning on buying an electric kiln, find the highest wattage possible within your budget because this makes them faster than lower-rated ones.
Whether you want more flexibility for heating, there are many benefits to both types of kilns that are useful for all potters. The best way to finish your work is with an electric or gas kiln, even if one is more expensive than the other.
However, not everyone has access to them so it’s important to know what options you have available before deciding on one over the other.
Which Type of Kiln Should You Choose for Your Project?
Electric kilns are typically recommended for beginner potters because they’re easier to use and produce the same results as gas ones. However, there are people who like to use both electric and gas kilns because of their individual benefits no matter how long you’ve been working with clay.
To help you decide which type of kiln you want, consider what type of work you’ll be firing most often because it might make more sense to invest in an electric one if your pieces involve little detail or need less heat than a gas one does.
If you plan on using either type, find out their wattage amounts before purchasing because this determines how quickly they cook the materials within them. Also, consider everything you need, including your kiln’s look and how you’ll access the chamber itself.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a kiln that’s easy to use, look into an electric one. If you want more control over how your materials are heated or the time they take to cook, then gas is better.
Besides these benefits of both types of kilns, many other factors such as wattage and size may make purchasing decisions difficult.
Consider what type of pottery work will be most common before deciding about which type of kiln would best suit your needs because either way, they can help produce excellent results with little effort from you!
