Paragon Quikfire 6 Kiln Review

Whether you use a kiln for your hobby or career, owning one at home can seem like a massive luxury. But you have options – like a smaller kiln for bite-sized projects or for testing how certain materials will fire.

That’s the purpose of the Paragon Quikfire 6 Kiln. It’s easy to use, fires pieces rather quickly, and is portable enough to take anywhere.

With that said, not everyone had a good experience with it. Some users found it less than durable, while others expected more accessories or hoped for a larger design.

Are these cons insurmountable, or are they just bumps in the road? We discuss all this and more, so before you make your final decision, let’s take an in-depth look at the Paragon Quikfire 6 Kiln.

Paragon Quikfire 6 Kiln: The Details

Specs

• Weight: 12.9 lbs.
• Dimensions: 15″ W x 12.5″ D x 12.25″ H.
• Maximum Heat: 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Size of Firing Chamber: 6 x 6 x 6 inches.
• Power Wattage: 120 volts.

How Does It Work

Whether or not you’ve worked with kilns before, the Paragon Quikfire 6 is fairly straightforward to assemble and use.

It’s especially great for firing test pieces, to ensure all the details sync up well in a big kiln or in final projects.

The Quikfire kiln works with ceramics, glass fusing, enameling, and china painting. The small kiln is made of a ceramic fire shell, which has a heating element embedded within and a steel stand.

Once you have your clay piece ready, you place it in the kiln and set the temperature to your desired specifications. It can heat up to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

To see how your work is progressing, you need only tilt up the lid to peek inside. The built-in meter will tell you when to start watching for your project to be finished.

This kiln also requires far less time than a full-scale model. A small glass piece can be fired and cooled in 30 to 40 minutes, while a small ceramic piece takes only 40 to 50 minutes.

If you hope to finish multiple pieces quickly, you can buy shelves separately. These allow you to easily tier your projects, while removing and adding shelves as needed.

Features

Temperature

The Paragon Quikfire 6 Kiln allows you to set the temperature up to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s an exceptional amount for a kiln of this size and pricing.

So, whether you hope to fire something at the highest temperature or somewhere in between, the Quikfire 6 has the perfect setting for a small project, a test project, or certain pieces that come together into a whole.

Size

Speaking of size, it’s worth double-checking the dimensions of this kiln and comparing that to your desired projects before making a purchase. That doesn’t concern just the overall size of the kiln – but specifically the inner chamber.

It is 6 x 6 x 6 inches; anything bigger won’t fit. With that said, you shouldn’t be terribly limited in the range of pieces you can make.

Smaller items or figurines will fit without a struggle in this kiln, though most professionals may end up using it as a testing device only.

Types of Materials

Again, don’t let the size fool you! In the Paragon, you can fire objects made of nearly any material – even those normally suited to a full-size kiln.

Ceramics, glass, enamel, and painted china are all available to you with this compact design, ensuring you can experiment with the exact materials you prefer, without being limited by your budget.

Paragon Quikfire 6 Kiln Review

The Positives

Easy to Use

While a kiln may seem intimidating or difficult to use, especially for beginners, that’s not the case with the Paragon Quikfire 6.

Once it’s plugged in, you need only heat it to your desired temperature, place your object of choice into the kiln, close the lid, and then let it bake.

You can raise up the lid slightly to check on its progress, or simply wait until the meter indicates that it’s nearly done. Once it’s finished, simply lift it out. It’s very simple to use!

This is great for those looking to get started in this craft, or for those who are thinking about owning a machine like this for the first time.  The size and construction won’t be too intimidating not to dive right in!

Portable

Whoever thought a kiln could be portable? At just under 13 lbs., you can take this kiln with you to a friend’s house or on the road.

Should you need to store it in a compact workspace or relocate to another room, it’s easy to carry without help. Its size also means that you’re likely to have space for it on your crafting table, or in a cupboard without it hogging up all the room.

This compact nature is ideal for pottery classes or for a surprise need to test material before using a larger kiln. If you work in both a studio and at home, this is the perfect kiln since it won’t be a pain.

One tester said they brought it to a crafting event to show off their process. It can go just about anywhere! Not only does its size and weight make it portable, but it adds to this device’s overall convenience too.

Quick

Many users enjoyed how quickly they could fire objects with this kiln. Since the space inside the kiln is so compact, the heat is far more concentrated on the object, allowing it to bake at an increased speed.

So, instead of it taking hours for an object to fire and be ready to handle, it will take under 60 minutes. You can get on with your day, or, after testing a small piece, continue working on your larger project.

This frees up your time to work on other things during the process and by the time you’ve finished up everything else, your objects will be ready to go!

Affordable

When kilns can be upwards of $1,000, if not more, finding an affordable alternative can feel like a godsend – even if it’s just test-firing pieces of enamel.

At under $500 on Amazon, the Quikfire 6 kiln is a much more affordable option. Based on tester feedback, the price has not affected the quality of the product, which is always a plus.

If you’re a beginner crafter or if you’re on a budget, the Quikfire 6 is a great option since it won’t break the bank. Now you’ll have that bit of extra cash to spend on crafting materials!

It’s a great tool to have while learning too, and one that you can grow with as you continue in the craft.

Efficient on Power

Thanks to its small design you won’t have to worry about this device drawing too much electrical current. Paragon advertises that this Quikfire kiln takes less power than a hairdryer – though you shouldn’t dry your hair with it.

You won’t need another heating source for this kiln to do its job either, making it a much more convenient and money saving alternative than others of its kind.

Should you need to take this with you anywhere, it won’t be daunting to find a power outlet for it, and you won’t have to worry about electrical issues and demands.

Reliable and Consistent

Whether you’re using this occasionally at home or taking it with you on the road, users have noted that this kiln is reliable and long-lasting, ensuring you have it for many projects to come.

Crafters loved that this gave steady results, so they never have to worry about this machine making projects more frustrating or time-consuming.

When you purchase the Quikfire 6 Kiln through a website like Amazon, it gives you less to worry about thanks to their relieving return policy.

The Negatives

Watch Out For Lemons

While this was a rare issue, a few users did have the kiln break on them.

Some users found that this kiln wouldn’t close correctly – leaving a gap that could result in a loss of heat and numerous other problems. Or sometimes the control box would malfunction and the kiln would not heat up properly.

In this case, you can redeem your Amazon warranty for a replacement. No one wants to get a kiln, no matter how affordable, and then have it break on them.

Those that didn’t have to deal with the issue of lemons found that the Quikfire 6 was actually quite durable and long-lasting.

Only for Small Pieces

Although it’s an expected con, some people were upset by the limited space within this kiln, preventing larger projects.

Make sure to look at the specifications and measurements of this kiln carefully. It will only fit an object of less than 6 x 6 x 6 inches.

As such, it’s only designed for very small objects or to test pieces that will later be scaled up and fired in a big kiln.

While this can be a great tool for beginners and even advanced crafters, if you’re looking for a kiln to get your full piece done, it’ll be a hassle with the Quikfire.

Shelves Sold Separately

Shelving is available for this kiln, but they must be purchased separately – a fact which many users disliked.

They instead felt the shelves should be included as a free accessory to the product since they make it easier to move objects in and out of the kiln quickly and without complications.

Should you be interested in these additional buys, they’re around $20 each on Amazon.

Overall Verdict

After going through all the positives and negatives, we do recommend the Paragon Quikfire 6 Kiln. So long as you’re aware of its compact nature and intended purpose, you will not be disappointed.

It’s easy to use and will have your next small, creative masterpiece done in no time!

Where to Buy the Paragon Quikfire 6 Kiln

Paragon has a number of kilns and crafting materials available for a variety of crafters and the Quikfire 6 Kiln is just one example of their dedication to making quality products for the industry.

Thanks to this company’s popularity, you’ll be able to find the Paragon Quikfire 6 Kiln both in-store and online. You can kick-start your search with the following online retailers.

• Clay King (from $361)
• Blick (from $450)
• Sheffield Pottery (from $369)

And of course, you can also find this kiln on Amazon.

That’s the end of our Paragon Quikfire Kiln review. Curious to give it a try?