Paragon - Caldera
Product Description
Make jewelry from the amazing silver, bronze, and copper clays that are shaped with simple tools and fired. Fire ceramics, porcelain, or stoneware jewelry. When you are ready to try something new, fire china, decals, enameling, and glass in Paragon’s digital Caldera kiln. Glass compatibility and glaze color tests are fast and easy. The Caldera fires rapidly to 2350°F/1287°C.
Steel stand, stackable design
The Caldera ships with a sturdy 2 3/4" high x 14" x 12 3/4" steel stand, complete with mar-proof rubber feet. With a separate top and bottom, the Caldera is stackable and portable. The kiln is easy to carry in sections to seminars. Take it with you on vacation retreats. For a digital kiln that can do this much, the Caldera is a bargain.
A true workhorse
“I love, love, love the Caldera. I not only fuse glass and work in metal clay, but I teach a lot of classes, so I'm firing the kiln all the time. It is a true workhorse. In three years I have not had one problem with it. I have done drop ring vases, small pot melts, small dishes, and candleholders in it. It is inexpensive to run on 120 volts.” --Lisel Crowley
Versatile, fun
Imagine the glass you could make with this kiln: Sag, slump, and fuse. Make small bowls, pendants, earrings, cufflinks, and even bracelets. Enjoy glittering dichroic glass. This kiln will give you a haven of creative enjoyment that you will especially appreciate when life gets hectic. You will soon find that glass fusing is addictive.
The joy of testing
You will never outgrow a small kiln. If you later buy a larger one, you can continue to use the small one for testing and small projects. Perfect a new design in the small kiln before running production quantities in the large kiln. A small test kiln is invaluable in solving ceramic glaze problems and perfecting difficult glazes such as crystallines.
The Caldera in the classroom
A Caldera is a nice addition to school programs. A test kiln is relatively inexpensive. Students can make gifts in the Caldera in time for a birthday or holiday instead of waiting until the school’s large kiln is fired. A test kiln creates enthusiasm for a clay program. Students can test glazes while they feel the momentum instead of waiting to fire them in the large kiln.
New teachers inherit bags of unlabeled clay in their classrooms. Many kiln loads of ware have been ruined because they were fired to the wrong temperature. With a Caldera kiln, you can easily test unlabeled clay.
Strong lap joints
To strengthen the firing chamber, the firebrick corners are fitted together with L-shaped notches. This type of joint lasts longer than the butted joint and the "picture frame" mitered joint found on competitive brands. The base is versatile and can be flipped if one side is damaged. The lid and base are interchangeable unless you order the lid with a glass window.
Reliable construction
This kiln is built to last. Elements are coiled from the finest high-temperature wire available. They use heat-dissipating element connectors refined and proven over many years in Paragon kilns.
2 ½” insulating refractory firebricks
Dropped, recessed brick grooves protect the element for long life.
Vented switch box, heavy duty wiring for years of reliable service.
Heavy-duty steel stand with mar-proof feet
The optional glass window
You can order your Caldera with an optional glass window in the top. The glass window is rated to 2300°F (1260°C), so it can easily withstand glass fusing temperatures. Please note, however, that the window reduces the kiln’s maximum temperature to approximately 2100°F (1148°C) and is meant for glass fusing. (You can still fire porcelain and stoneware jewelry even with the window, but you will need to plug the window with ceramic fiber.)
Expansion collars
The basic Caldera is part of a kiln expansion system. Add a collar for annealing glass beads or enameling small copper pieces. Add 4 1/2” of height to the Caldera with a Caldera-BC collar, which has a 7 ½” x 2” door on the side for annealing glass beads. The Caldera-X is the same type of collar, but without the bead door. Explore copper enameling with the 6 3/4” tall Caldera-E collar.
Caldera-BC Bead Collar
Caldera-X Collar
Caldera-E Enameling Collar
Warning for the caldera kiln equipped with a lid safety switch and collar
The Caldera kiln was intended to be a stackable kiln with a separate lid and bottom. However, the lid must be hinged to the Caldera body when a lid safety switch is installed. To stabilize a Caldera kiln that has a hinged lid, we attach the kiln body and kiln bottom together with two latches.
If an unlatched collar (enameling, bead, or extension) is mounted between the Caldera body and the kiln bottom, care must be taken when opening the hinged lid. Do not open the lid past 90 degrees (where the lid is straight up) unless the lid leans against a heat-proof support behind the kiln.
Please be aware when firing the Caldera with any collar in place, the maximum temperature is reduced. Enameling Collar – 1800°F; Bead Collar – 2000°F; Extension Collar – 1700°F
Choose Your Color
Express yourself!
One of our favorite features of all Paragon kilns is the ability to choose the color of your oven - Make your purchase truly your own with a splash of paint and make your workshop pop.
Selecting a color on your oven is absolutely no additional cost and is simply one of the many perks of choosing Paragon.
Product Specifications
| Model | Caldera |
| Max Temperature | 2350 °F |
| Loading Type | Top-loading |
| Inside Dimensions | 8" W x 8" L x 6.75" D |
| Exterior Dimensions | 13.00" W x 19.50" D x 13.75" H |
| Volume (Cu. Ft.) | 0.25 |
| Power Plug Type | NEMA 5-15 (120V) NEMA 6-15 (240V) |
| Voltage | 120 |
| Watts | 1680 |
| Amps | 14 |
| Breaker Size (amps) | 20 |
| Shipping Weight (lbs.) | 50 |
| Shipping Lead Time | Made To Order - Please Inquire |
| Warranty | 1 Year |
Price Guarantee
At Soul Ceramics, we want our customers to know they are getting the best prices online. When you see the blue "Lowest Price Guarantee" words on our website, we are guaranteeing that we have the lowest price anywhere on the internet. In fact, if you find another online store that offers a lower price then us within 30 days of your purchase date please let us know and we will hand you the difference - in cash. We want you to shop confidently knowing that you are getting the absolute best price on your kiln or wheel.
To request your partial refund, e-mail us a link to the same product on our competitor's website within 30 days from the date of your order and we will process the credit accordingly.
Our Lowest Price Guarantee has some restrictions:
- You must purchase the item from our website before requesting your partial refund
- Special promotion offers are not eligible
- The competitor must be an online store only
- The website can not be a discounter or auction website, such as eBay
- The competitor must be an Authorized Retailer for the product
- The price on the competitor's website must include all shipping and processing fees
- The model must be "like-for-like" (eg: In-stock vs. In-stock or Made-to-order vs. Made-to-order)
- The manufacturer must be either Evenheat Kiln, Jen-Ken Kilns, or Paragon Industries
Shipping & Returns
At Soul Ceramics, we know how annoying it can be when you are hit with hidden costs and fees when you purchase items online. That's why we offer FREE SHIPPING* on all standard orders through Soul Ceramics.
We even cover extra costs such as lift gate service, so the price you see is the price you pay!
For the full details on this offer and our detailed shipping and returns policies, click here.
* Non standard orders include shipments outside of our standard shipping range, and orders that do not include a kiln or pottery wheel in the same shipment. Soul Ceramics reserves the right to inform you of shipping costs before orders are finalized.
Warranty
Paragon warranty highlights
- One to two years depending on the model: most kilns rated 2300°F or lower get 2 years; QuickFire 3 months; HT, KM, SC and J series and kilns rated above 2300°F get 1 year.
- Controllers: Sentry 12-key, Sentinel Smarttouch and TouchXpress 2½ years; Sentry Xpress for the length of the kiln warranty.
- Knife and heat treat kilns (Dragon, Super Dragon, Iguana, Viking): 2 years, with standard elements 6 months and Type-K thermocouples not warranted.
- Register online with Paragon. Your claim must name the dealer the kiln was bought from, so keep your order confirmation.
- Paragon ships replacement parts postpaid after examining the defective part, with installation instructions. Factory installation is available with transport paid by the owner.
- Not covered: overfiring, exceeding the nameplate temperature, reduction or salt firing, improper electrical installation, element burnout from foreign material, and kilns that have been modified.
Extended warranty (Clyde)
- Optional extended protection from Clyde can be added to eligible products at checkout, on top of the manufacturer's warranty.
- Clyde plans cover the core product only. Add-on options such as controllers, furniture kits, stands, blade fixtures and vents are not included.
- Claims under a Clyde plan are filed with Clyde, not with the manufacturer. Keep your Clyde confirmation email with your order confirmation.
In every case
- Keep your order confirmation. It is your proof of purchase date and every manufacturer asks for it.
- Report a problem as soon as you notice it. Several manufacturers require notice within 10 to 15 days of discovering a defect.
- Contact Soul Ceramics first. We are the authorized dealer for everything we sell and we coordinate claims with the manufacturer on your behalf.
- Do not discard any failed parts until the claim is resolved. Manufacturers may ask for them back for inspection.
Reviews
* Reviews may be for a similar product in the same series, but a different size.











