FAQs
What is the kiln footprint? 163 7/8” x 99 ¾” x 55 ¼” (L x W x H)
How much overhead clearance do I need at the kiln location? At least 12’ of ceiling height.
How heavy is the kiln? Total Weight: 5,845 lbs. (2651 kg) Lid Weight: 2,095 lbs. (950 kg) Base Weight: 3,750 lbs. (1701 kg)
What size forklift do I need to move the kiln? 5,000 lbs. or greater. The kiln can be moved into place in separate parts.
What size door is needed to move the kiln through? 9’0” wide and 7’0” tall or greater.
What are the electrical requirements for the kiln? Standard Kiln: 2 circuits of 480V 3-phase 50A Option (additional cost) 3 circuits of 208V or 240V 3-phase 50A
What is the thickness of the cement floor required? 4” or greater. No special support is needed.
What are the space requirements around the kiln? Allow at least 3’ or greater around the perimeter of the kiln.
How do I load material into the kiln? The kiln lid is removed from the kiln base and the raw glass sheets (standard float glass) are loaded horizontally onto the textured kiln sand bed. Multiple layers of glass may be required to achieve the desired thickness.
How much room is needed for the kiln loading process? A space must be made available for the kiln lid to be placed when loading. Clearance must be allowed for staging and placing the glass slabs onto the bed of the kiln. The kiln is normally loaded from the side, but it can also be loaded from either end.
How is the kiln bed prepared for material? The kiln bed is screeded using a 3” x 3” angle iron metal screed (provided with the kiln) to screen the sand bed flat. The desired texture is then imprinted into the sand base by rolling, dragging, or pressing. Kiln release powder is then applied lightly to the sand texture to prevent sand from imprinting into the glass during the glass fusion process.
Can different patterns be imprinted into the same slab? Yes. Different parts of a slab can have different patterns.
Are any special tools needed to operate the kiln? No specialized equipment is required.
What equipment is required to handle the glass slabs? A forklift with a boom, a bridge crane, or a jib crane can be used with a clamp to stage slabs, exactly as one would move a granite or quartz slab. To load the kiln, a vacuum lifter will be needed to position the slab in a horizontal position and place it on the sand bed.
What range of patterns can be imprinted into the slabs? The range is almost unlimited. Standard designs will be provided for customers who would like to pick from a range.
Can smaller pieces of glass be placed in the sand below the slab or on top of the slabs? Yes, other pieces of glass can be placed on the bottom or top to create different glass looks. This is mostly done with tile, signage, or art. Most pieces are placed on the top.
How long will the sand bed last? Minimal sand is lost during a kiln run. Only the small amount that sticks to the bottom of the piece needs to be cleaned up. Additional replacement sand is sent with the kiln. The sand can be used for continually firing and does not need to be replaced. Depending on the volume of use, the initial sand should last 5 -10 years.
Can tile be run through the kiln? Yes, tile as small as 1” x 1” can be kilned. Pieces should be at least ¼” apart when placed on the sand bed.
How long does it take to run one slab? Run times depend upon material thickness. ¼” thick glass can run in as little as two days, whereas 1 ½” to 2” slabs typically take around ten days.
What training is provided to operate the kiln? One full day of setup and training is provided with each kiln. Because the kiln programs run automatically once started, one day of training is adequate.
Fabrication and Material Questions:
What size are the slabs? 56” x 104". Larger pieces up to 68” x 122” with custom size raw glass.
Do I have to kiln a full slab every time? No. Cut pieces can be kilned. A cut piece should be slightly oversized from the final required dimensions. After kilning, the piece can be cut to the exact size, and the edges polished.
Can I kiln pieces that have different thicknesses? Yes. The kiln program will need to run at the program for the thickest piece placed on the kiln bed.
Will all of my current hard surface fabrication equipment work on glass? Yes. Cutting and polishing glass is done with the same equipment. Modern stone saws have no problem cutting the glass slabs. Glass can also be cut on a waterjet.
Do I need tension relief cuts on the outside edge of the slab? No.
Can I do plunge cuts on the glass slabs? Yes.
What kind of polishing pads will I need for the edge? A standard set of granite/quartz polishing pads will work. Recommended grits are 50, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1500, 3000. Finishing with a felt pad and cerium oxide polishing powder is recommended.
Can I surface polish the material if it is scratched? Yes.
Will I need to drill all my holes in the shop, or will installers be able to drill faucet holes in the field? Installers will be able to drill holes in the field. Cutting in the field is possible, but extreme caution needs to be exercised.
Installation and Care Questions
What is the best method for attaching tops to the cabinets? Use clear silicone where the countertop meets the top of the cabinet framing and where the countertop meets a wall or cabinet panel. Moderate use of the silicone allows the product to blend with the glass texture. Should the homeowner wish to hide all views of cabinet framing, a thin layer of stainless steel, copper, or laminate substrate can be applied to the top of the cabinets prior to the glass installation. The glass countertop would then be attached to the substrate using an appropriate amount of clear silicone.
What should be used at seams? Clear silicone can be used where seams are necessary. Water clear silicone is also acceptable. Use of polyester or epoxy as a seaming material is not recommended, as the seam will become more visible within the counter. Also, the expansion and contraction rates of the glass and the cabinets beneath are vastly different, and it’s likely a hard seam will crack over time.
How should a sink be mounted? Undermount sinks need to be mounted using a cradle system, similar to the process of mounting a heavy cast iron sink in granite. Sink mounting clips cannot be used in glass. In order to avoid seeing the top of the installed sink, it is recommended that a thin layer of stainless steel, copper, or laminate substrate is applied over the sink, running just shy of the edge of the sink cutout. Then, a bead of clear silicone should be applied between the substrate and the bottom of the glass countertop in order to waterproof and seal the bond.
Can a chip in the material be fixed? Yes. Use a UV-style repair kit to fix edge chips. FillaChip is one brand of these repair kits.
What is the best way to light the material? There are two methods: 1) LED strip light placed on the edge of the glass where the glass meets a wall. 2) An LED light panel under the glass. The light strips are used the majority of the time. Light strips and panels are available in different color temperatures.
What is the best way to clean a glass countertop? Standard glass cleaner, such as Windex® or Sprayway® Glass Cleaner.