Buying guide
Kiln Room Essentials
Updated How we research
Fire safely and consistently at home. The page is split into five sections (Choosing a Home Kiln; Kiln Shelves; Pyrometric Cones; Kiln Wash; Heat-Safe Gloves), followed by every pick ranked by our score so you can compare them in one place.
The short version
We compared 20 picks. Our scores range from 5.8 to 9.1 out of 10.
- Best overall:Orton Pyrometric Cones, Cone 6, 50 Pack. Highest overall score in this guide at 9.1/10.
- Also great value:Orton Pyrometric Cones, Cone 06, 50 Pack. Value score of 9/10, overall 8.8/10.
- Solid build:Seattle Pottery Supply Bartlett V6CF Kiln, 18 in. Build and materials score of 9/10, overall 8.8/10.
- Feature-rich:Seattle Pottery Supply 18 in Electric Kiln, 240V. Features score of 9/10, overall 8.8/10.
Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings. How we score
Choosing a Home Kiln
- Seattle Pottery Supply Bartlett V6CF Kiln, 18 inOur score8.8/10
- Seattle Pottery Supply 18 in Electric Kiln, 240VOur score8.8/10
- Seattle Pottery Supply Electric Kiln, Cone 6Our score8.6/10
- INTSUPERMAI Electric Ceramic Kiln, PID ControllerOur score7.1/10
Kiln Shelves
- Chunful Octagon Kiln Shelf, 15.5 inOur score8.4/10
- Weysat Kiln Shelf, 16 x 16 x 0.8 inOur score8.0/10
- Verdanzia Square Kiln Shelf, 7 in, 2 PackOur score8.0/10
- Weysat Round Kiln Shelf, 13 inOur score7.6/10
Pyrometric Cones
- Orton Pyrometric Cones, Cone 6, 50 PackOur score9.1/10
- Orton Pyrometric Cones, Cone 06, 50 PackOur score8.8/10
- Orton Pyrometric Cones, Cone 05, 50 PackOur score8.4/10
- Orton Pyrometric Cones, Cone 04, 50 PackOur score8.4/10
Kiln Wash
- Penguin Pottery Liquid Kiln Wash, 16 ozOur score8.4/10
- AMACO 4-Pound Carton Kiln WashOur score8.3/10
- Penguin Pottery Dry Kiln WashOur score7.8/10
- Paragon Liquid Kiln Wash 16oz.Our score7.4/10
Heat-Safe Gloves
- RAPICCA Heat Resistant Welding Gloves, 16 in, BlueOur score8.2/10
- SoClaay Aluminized Heat Resistant Kiln GlovesOur score8.1/10
- NULYLU Heat-Resistant Kiln GlovesOur score6.6/10
- Supvox Cotton Pottery Kiln Gloves, 1 PairOur score5.8/10
All 20 picks, ranked by our score
Every product from the sections above, listed once. Sort by the criterion you care about most, or tick up to three to compare.
Orton pyrometric cones, Cone 6, 1 Pkg/50, the go-to witness cone for mid fire stoneware firings.
Fit for the job 10/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 9/10
- + Cone 6 is the most popular mid fire target for home potters
- + Shows whether your kiln controller is reading accurately
- + Orton cones behave consistently from box to box
- - Mid fire only, so low fire potters need a different number
- - Best used with guide cones on either side, bought separately
Seattle Pottery Supply's 18" by 18" electric kiln, 240V, fires to Cone 10 with a Bartlett V6CF controller.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 8/10
- + Cone 10 rating covers low, mid and high fire work
- + 18" by 18" chamber fits a solid load of bowls and mugs
- + Bartlett V6CF controller makes programmed firings reliable
- - 240V circuit is required, which may mean hiring an electrician
- - Large kiln needs dedicated floor space and ventilation
Seattle Pottery Supply's 18" electric kiln, 240V, Cone 10, with a tall 18" by 27" interior for larger loads.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 8/10
- + 18" by 27" interior holds tall vases and multi-shelf loads
- + Cone 10 capability handles every common firing range
- + Bigger capacity lowers cost per piece for productive potters
- - Requires 240V wiring and a suitable breaker
- - Tall kiln is harder to load at the bottom without bending
Orton pyrometric cones, Cone 06, 1 Pkg/50, for monitoring low fire bisque and glaze kiln firings.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 9/10
- + Cone 06 is a common bisque and low fire glaze target
- + Orton is the industry standard for pyrometric cones
- + Pack of 50 lasts through many bisque and glaze firings
- - Cone 06 only suits low fire, so stoneware potters need other cones
- - Large cones need cone packs or holders to stand correctly
Seattle Pottery Supply's 12" by 9" electric pottery kiln, 120V and Cone 6, with a Bartlett V6CF digital controller.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + 120V runs from a standard household outlet with no rewiring
- + Bartlett V6CF controller automates firing schedules
- + Cone 6 capability handles mid fire stoneware and glazes
- - 12" by 9" interior fits only a few small pieces per firing
- - Needs proper clearance and ventilation even at this size
Chunful's 15.5" octagon kiln shelf, 5/8" thick cordierite and mullite, rated up to 2282F.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Octagon shape fits common round and octagonal electric kilns
- + 5/8" thick shelf resists warping under heavy loads
- + Cordierite and mullite blend handles repeated firings
- - Measure your kiln interior, as octagon shelves need room for airflow
- - Thick shelves are heavy and add thermal mass to firings
Orton pyrometric cones, Cone 05, 1 Pkg/50, for checking low fire and slightly hotter glaze firings.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 9/10
- + Cone 05 helps confirm low fire glazes matured properly
- + Witness cones show heat work, not just a thermocouple reading
- + 50 cones in a pack keep you supplied for a long time
- - Only useful if your clay or glaze targets Cone 05
- - Needs to be set in a cone pack at the correct angle
Orton pyrometric cones, Cone 04, 1 Pkg/50, for monitoring hotter bisque and low fire glaze firings.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 9/10
- + Cone 04 is a common hotter bisque firing target
- + Helps diagnose underfired or overfired low fire loads
- + Pack of 50 is economical for regular firings
- - Narrow use if you do not bisque or glaze at Cone 04
- - Cones must be stored dry to stay accurate
Penguin Pottery's 16 oz ready to use liquid kiln wash to keep glaze from sticking to kiln shelves.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Ready to use liquid skips mixing powder with water
- + Protects shelves from glaze drips that are hard to grind off
- + 16 oz jar covers several shelves with a few coats
- - Needs time to dry fully before loading a firing
- - Liquid can settle, so stir well before each use
AMACO's 4-Pound carton of dry kiln wash for coating shelves in classroom and studio kilns.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 9/10
- + 4-Pound carton lasts through many shelf coatings
- + AMACO kiln wash is a widely used school standard
- + Dry powder lets you mix thickness to your liking
- - Carton can absorb moisture if not stored carefully
- - Mixing required, so it is less convenient than liquid wash
RAPICCA's blue fireproof leather welding gloves, 16IN long and heat resistant to 932F, useful for kiln work.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 9/10
- + 16IN length protects forearms when reaching into a kiln
- + 932F heat resistance handles warm shelves and posts
- + Durable leather stands up to rough kiln bricks
- - Welding gloves are stiff for picking up small pieces
- - Not meant for touching red-hot kiln interiors
SoClaay's aluminized leather heat resistant gloves, heavy duty kiln gloves for ceramic firing and unloading.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Aluminized leather reflects radiant heat from open kilns
- + Heavy duty build protects hands when moving hot shelves
- + Made with pottery kiln unloading in mind rather than welding
- - Bulky gloves reduce dexterity for small pieces
- - Title gives no temperature rating or length
Weysat's 16 x 16 x 0.8 Inches square kiln shelf rated up to 2280F for front-loading and square kilns.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Square 16 x 16 surface maximizes space in square kilns
- + 0.8 Inches thickness gives a sturdy, warp-resistant shelf
- + 2280F rating comfortably covers mid fire ceramic work
- - Square shelf will not fit most round top-loading kilns
- - Heavy shelf is awkward to lift in and out
Verdanzia's 2 Pack 7" x 7" square kiln shelves, 0.5" thick, rated up to 2280F for small kilns.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10
- + 2 Pack lets you build a second layer in a small test kiln
- + 7" x 7" size suits compact and tabletop kilns
- + 0.5" thickness keeps weight and heat mass low
- - Too small to make good use of full-size electric kilns
- - Thinner shelves can warp under heavy pieces over time
Penguin Pottery dry kiln wash in a jar, mix with water and brush onto shelves to keep glaze runs from fusing to your kiln furniture.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Dry powder you mix with water in the jar, applied in several thin coats and dried between coats.
- + Brush, roller or sprayer application is listed, so you can pick what works for your shelves.
- + Same maker as the larger school pack it replaces, at a lower price for a home studio.
- - Listing says not to apply it to fiber-based or silicon carbide shelves.
- - Smaller jar than the 5 lb pack, so a studio with many shelves may run through it quickly.
Weysat's 13" thick round kiln shelf rated to 2282F for ceramics and glass fusing.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Round 13" shelf suits smaller round kilns
- + Rated to 2282F, so it handles mid fire ceramics comfortably
- + Also works as a glass fusing shelf if you try kiln glass later
- - Measure your kiln interior to confirm the shelf fits
- - Needs kiln wash to protect from glaze drips
Paragon liquid kiln wash in a 16 oz bottle, a pre-mixed coating that keeps glaze and glass from bonding to kiln shelves and firebrick.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 7/10
- + Pre-mixed liquid, so no measuring or mixing before you brush it on.
- + Listed for firings up to 2400 F, covering most ceramic glaze schedules.
- + Made for both ceramic and glass kiln firing, a plus if you also fuse glass.
- - Listing gives no coat count or coverage per bottle, so you cannot easily estimate how many shelves it covers.
- - Sold by a glass supplier, with no mention of compatibility with specific shelf materials.
INTSUPERMAI's 220V electric ceramic kiln with programmable PID controller, 1280C max and 0.95 cu.ft chamber.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 7/10
- + Programmable PID controller holds temperatures accurately
- + 1280C maximum reaches typical mid fire stoneware temperatures
- + 0.95 cu.ft chamber suits small home studio loads
- - 220V power is needed, which most US homes lack at standard outlets
- - Import brand with uncertain local service and parts
NULYLU's heat-resistant kiln mittens for pottery, anti-scalding protection when handling hot materials.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 7/10
- + Mitten style gives broad protection when lifting hot shelves
- + Anti-scalding design suits unloading warm kilns
- + Easy to slip on and off quickly between kiln checks
- - Mittens make gripping small pieces awkward
- - Confirm the glove heat rating suits your kiln temperatures
SUPVOX cotton heat resistant mittens for pottery and kiln work, sold as one beige pair that is easy to clean.
Fit for the job 6/10 · Features and specs 5/10 · Build and materials 5/10 · Value 7/10
- + Made of cotton cloth, and the listing says they are easy to clean after use.
- + Listed for kiln work and other hot materials, with a mitten shape that is simple to slip on.
- + Low price for a pair, and a reasonable spare for a studio.
- - The product page does not give a temperature rating or a safety standard, so do not rely on them near a hot kiln interior.
- - Cotton cloth mittens offer less protection and grip than aramid or leather gloves, and no length is stated.
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Pottery Nest curates picks for US shoppers. Scores are our editorial assessment. We may earn a commission from links on this page.