- Best all-rounder: the Skutt Firebox 8x8x4.5 LT. Skutt lists glass, PMC and ceramics, and you write your own ramp/hold programs. It ships with a 7 × 7-inch shelf.
- Glass-only and compact: the Skutt Firebox 8x4 LT, a dedicated glass kiln that takes Skutt's 7 × 7 shelf.
- Touchscreen programming: the Paragon SC2 (120 V, 14 A / 1,680 W listed).
- Pendants and earrings only: microwave kilns with about a 5-inch platform. They're quick, cheap to run and limited to tiny pieces.
A glass fusing kiln has to do two jobs: heat the glass until it fuses or slumps, then cool it slowly enough that it doesn't crack. That second step, annealing, is why a programmable controller matters more for glass than almost any other spec. A kiln that can only switch on and off leaves the cool-down to chance.
The electric glass kilns in our catalogue come from Skutt, Paragon, Fuseworks and PMC. To give you a full picture we've added the microwave option, which suits jewelry-size work. If you also want to fire pottery, read the cone notes for each pick. Most of these kilns are built for glass and metal clay, not cone 6 stoneware.
Our picks
Skutt Firebox 8x8x4.5 LT Digital Glass Kiln
- Interior size
- 8" x 8" in. in diameter and 4.5 in. high
- Controller
- Digital, Ramp/Hold programs
- Includes
- 7" x 7" shelf, kiln wash, posts
Skutt's listing says the Firebox 8x8x4.5 LT digital controller does glass, PMC and ceramics, with ramp/hold programs you write yourself. That's exactly the control fusing and annealing need. It arrives with a 7 × 7-inch shelf, kiln wash, posts, a DVD and a manual, and it's UL approved per the listing.
Best for: fusing and slumping coasters, small dishes and pendants
Skip if: you want plates wider than about 7 inches
- Ramp/hold programs for annealing
- Shelf, kiln wash and posts included
- Also lists PMC and ceramics
- Voltage, amps and max temperature not in this listing
- 4.5-inch interior height
Paragon SC2 120V Digital Kiln, Sentinel Touch
- Voltage
- 120V
- Power
- 14A / 1680W
- Controller
- Sentinel Touch Xpress
- Size
- 13.25" x 15.5" x 14"
The SC2 lists 120 V, 14 A / 1,680 W and Paragon's Sentinel Touch Xpress controller. Touchscreen programming makes multi-segment fuse-and-anneal schedules easier to set up and repeat. The outer body is 13.25 × 15.5 × 14 inches. This listing doesn't give a maximum temperature or interior size.
Best for: glass and metal-clay makers who run repeatable schedules
Skip if: you only have a shared 15 A outlet
- Touchscreen controller
- 120 V, 14 A / 1,680 W listed
- Compact outer size
- Interior size and max temperature not listed here
- Needs a 20 A circuit
Fuseworks Craft Kiln FW999
The Fuseworks Craft Kiln FW999 is part of the Diamond Tech Fuseworks glass line, the same family as the Fuseworks microwave kits. The listing is thin, giving the model and line and little else. Check temperature, chamber and controller details on the listing.
Best for: hobby glass fusing from a known craft-glass line
Skip if: you need listed specs to compare
- Glass-craft brand
- Simple step up from microwave fusing
- Specs not listed
- Not for pottery
PMC OV-1 Kiln & OC-01 Controller Combo
- Interior size
- 4 5/8" x 4 5/8" x 3 1/2" high
- Controller
- OC-01, 14 programs pre-programmed
- Insulation
- 2" walls
- Top shell weight
- 7.5 lbs
The PMC OV-1 with the OC-01 controller has 14 pre-set programs, 2-inch walls and a 4⅝ × 4⅝ × 3½-inch chamber. It's built for metal clay first. The listing doesn't mention glass programs, so check that before you plan fused work in it.
Best for: metal clay jewelry with the odd glass cabochon
Skip if: glass is your main material
- 14 pre-set programs
- 2-inch insulated walls
- Light 7.5 lb top shell
- Glass use not stated in the listing
- Smallest electric chamber here
WICAND Large Microwave Kiln Kit, 10 pcs
- Interior size
- 4.9" (12.5 cm) platform
- Microwave
- 1000W or higher recommended
WICAND's 10-piece kit pairs a microwave kiln with a 4.9-inch fusing platform, 10 kiln papers, a diamond file, a glass cutter, gloves and five bags of COE90 glass. The listing says it fuses in 6–8 minutes and recommends a microwave of 1,000 W or more. It's a low-commitment way to find out whether you enjoy fusing.
Best for: trying glass fusing with jewelry-size pieces
Skip if: you want to slump dishes or control annealing
- Everything for a first session
- COE90 glass included
- No new circuit needed
- 4.9-inch platform
- No temperature readout or anneal control
Diamond Tech Fuseworks Microwave Kiln Kit
- Type
- Microwave glass fusing kit
The Diamond Tech Fuseworks microwave kit comes from the same line as the FW999 electric kiln, so it's a familiar entry point if you plan to move up later. The listing gives few details beyond the kit type, so check the platform size before you buy.
Best for: beginners who like the idea of staying in one product line
Skip if: you want to compare platform sizes first
- Established glass-craft line
- Kit format
- Platform size not listed
- Jewelry-size work only
What makes a good glass fusing kiln?
Glass behaves differently from clay. Pottery firings mostly care about reaching a cone. Glass firings care about the whole curve: how fast you heat, how long you hold at fusing or slumping temperature, and how slowly you cool through the annealing range. Shop with these specs in mind:
- Controller with ramp/hold segments. You need to program a slow cool-down. The Firebox lists ramp/hold, the SC2 has a touchscreen controller, and the PMC OV-1 has 14 presets.
- Flat shelf area. Glass is mostly flat work, so shelf width limits your largest piece. The Firebox kilns use a 7 × 7-inch shelf.
- Interior height. Slumping into a mold needs headroom. The Firebox 8x8 is listed at 4.5 inches high.
- Electrical draw. The SC2's 14 A needs a 20 A circuit under the 80% continuous-load rule. Check others with our outlet checker.
- Glass compatibility (COE). Fused glass must share a coefficient of expansion. The WICAND kit includes COE90 glass, so stay with COE90 for anything you fuse onto it.
Electric glass fusing kiln or microwave kiln?
Microwave kilns are a fiber shell that heats inside a household microwave. They're fast and need no new circuit, but you control them only by time and microwave power. There's no temperature readout and no programmed anneal.
Electric glass kiln vs microwave kiln
| Electric glass kiln | Microwave kiln | |
|---|---|---|
| Programmed anneal | ✓ Yes, with ramp/hold | ✗ No, time and power only |
| Largest flat piece (listed) | ~ About 7 in on a Firebox shelf | ✗ About 3–5 in platform |
| Slumping into molds | ✓ Yes | ✗ Not practical |
| Electrical work | ~ Dedicated 15–20 A circuit | ✓ Your microwave |
| Pottery | ~ Small pieces in some models | ✗ Not for stoneware |
Source: Product listings, Clay at Home catalogue
Listed shelf or platform width, inches
Firebox width is the included or matching 7 × 7-inch shelf. Microwave figures are the listed interior platform.
If you want pendants, earrings and quick experiments, start with a microwave kiln. Our microwave kiln picks rank them by platform size and what's included. If you want coasters, small dishes or repeatable results, go electric. Electric vs microwave kiln goes deeper on the trade-offs.
Compare glass kiln specs
Specs below are copied from each listing. Several glass kiln listings are thin, which is itself useful to know. Before you buy, download the maker's spec sheet for temperature and amps.
| Product | Type | Controller | Interior size | Power | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skutt Firebox 8x8x4.5 LT Digital Glass Kiln | — | Digital, Ramp/Hold programs | 8" x 8" in. in diameter and 4.5 in. high | — | 7" x 7" shelf, kiln wash, posts |
| Paragon SC2 120V Digital Kiln, Sentinel Touch | — | Sentinel Touch Xpress | — | 14A / 1680W | — |
| Fuseworks Craft Kiln FW999 | — | — | — | — | — |
| PMC OV-1 Kiln & OC-01 Controller Combo | — | OC-01, 14 programs pre-programmed | 4 5/8" x 4 5/8" x 3 1/2" high | — | — |
| WICAND Large Microwave Kiln Kit, 10 pcs | — | — | 4.9" (12.5 cm) platform | — | 10 kiln papers, file, glass cutter, gloves, 5 bags COE90 glass |
Specs as listed by the maker or seller; check the listing before you buy.
Can a glass fusing kiln fire pottery?
Sometimes, and only small pieces. Skutt lists ceramics for the Firebox 8x8x4.5 LT controller, but none of the glass kiln listings here give a maximum temperature or cone. Without one, you can't tell whether a kiln reaches cone 6 (2,232 °F on Orton's chart at a medium rate) or only low-fire cone 06–04.
If pottery is the main goal, look at kilns with a listed rating instead. The Paragon Xpress Q11A lists 2,350 °F, and our 120V kiln picks and home kiln picks sort them by cone.
How to start fusing glass at home
- Choose one glass system
Buy compatible glass of a single COE (the WICAND kit uses COE90) and don't mix systems in one piece.
- Prepare the shelf
Glass sticks to bare shelves. Use fiber kiln paper or a primed shelf.
- Program heat, hold and anneal
Enter the glass maker's schedule into the controller: a ramp up, a hold at fuse or slump, then a slow anneal and cool. Write it down so you can repeat it.
- Check the circuit
Use the kiln's listed amps and the 80% rule, and have an electrician confirm the circuit. A 14 A kiln like the SC2 needs 20 A.
- Keep the lid closed while it cools
Opening a hot kiln early can crack glass that hasn't annealed. Wear heat-resistant gloves for microwave kilns, as the WICAND listing advises.
Mistakes to avoid with a new glass kiln
- Mixing glass types. Glass with different COE values can crack as it cools, sometimes days later.
- Skipping the anneal. A piece that looks fine out of the kiln can still be stressed.
- Firing on a bare shelf. Use kiln paper or shelf primer every time.
- Buying a 2,192 °F jewelry furnace for glass. These are built for melting and casting, and their simple controllers aren't designed around fuse-and-anneal schedules. See our home kiln guide for what they can and can't do.
- Expecting pottery results. Unless the listing gives a cone 6 rating, plan on glass and metal clay.
Browse every glass kiln, microwave kiln and shelf in the kilns category. For a corner setup in a flat, see small space and apartment.
We compared the glass, crossover and microwave kilns in our catalogue by listed type, controller, shelf or platform size, interior size, electrical draw and included accessories, and by what each maker says the kiln is for. We did not fire glass in these kilns. Many glass kiln listings are thin, and we mark missing figures as not listed.