The 18" Evenheat was my first choice. I am trying to decide if an 18" evenheat is $200 better than a 24" Sugar Creek? From talking to some guys it seems the only difference is how heavy duty they are made. I definately will not be transporting it places so is that a big issue??
I have the 24" kiln from Sugar Creek, and I am impressed with the overall
value (features vs. cost).
I do not own, nor have I used, the Evenheat. But were I to require a kiln on a regular basis (read: the need to HT has progressed beyond the "hobby" level), I would give the Evenheat serious consideration.
So I am in the same situation as most here- I own one and not the other, and can only give personal experience based upon the one I own.
But
some of your questions can be answered in much the same way as you compare anything else- look at the manufacturer's specifications.
In simplest terms, performance of an electric kiln basically follows the same principle as designing and building a gas forge.
A given chamber size will require a certain amount of energy to attain a specified temperature. So if you want to have a bigger forge, you need a larger burner (or multiple smaller burners strategically placed).
But kilns are enclosed, providing the insulative properties needed for best efficiency (least amount of energy needed to attain/maintain the temperature).
This is why the small kilns can still reach 1800+F despite the seemingly low electrical requirements. But they take time to get there.
Probably the best analogy is to think in terms of automobile performance.
As an example, if you have a 5500# pickup truck that does 0-60 mph in eight seconds, you know it would no longer do that if you increased the load, such as adding an extra 1000 pounds to the back.
Even with the increased load, the truck obviously still has enough power to reach 60 mph; it just takes it longer to get there.
If you still want to hit 60 mph in 8 seconds
with the heavy load, you need more power.
"Great, now tell me something I don't know." Well, the same concept applies to your kiln comparisons.
You have a specified temperature you're trying to reach (e.g., 2000 F); this is the 60 mph goal in the pickup truck.
The electrical specs for each kiln can easily be compared to power output in the pickup.
The chamber size for each kiln can be likened to the load in the pickup; a larger chamber is compared to adding more weight to the truck.
So let's see what type of insight we can glean from the manufacturers.
Both will attain your temperature, but you want an idea which gets there faster.
The Sugar Creek has a chamber volume of 1260 cubic inches, while the volume for the Evenheat is 1170 cubic inches. So the Sugar Creek has about 8% more "weight in the bed".
Now let's "look under the hood". Output for the Sugar Creek is 2530 watts (230 volts x 11 amps); output for the Evenheat is 3120 watts (240 volts x 13 amps).
Given that the Evenheat has a "bigger engine with a lighter payload", there is no doubt that the Evenheat is the winner in terms of speed.
But what about other factors (besides $$) that may influence your decision?
Controllers are certainly a valid point. I started with the "dial" control, and soon upgraded to the Orton controller. MUCH better.
I can't speak for the controllers on the Evenheat, but from what I've studied from the manufacturer, it seems the same as anything else- more options = more $$, and more convenience (easier programming) = more $$.
In a nutshell, the type of controller you want is going to be determined by the types of HT schedules you need and how much convenience you want.
The Orton controller has served me well. I have no problems with it, and this is coming from a person who has to have his 9-year-old daughter show him how to take pictures with a cell phone.
How often do you plan on using the kiln?
I don't make stuff specifically to sell to others. I make stuff for my own needs at my own pace, so production (quicker ramp times) was not a concern to me. That meant a few hundred dollars saved to go for more steel, etc.
But if I were really pushing blades out of the shop, the ability of the kiln to handle high volume would certainly be an influence.
What are your requirements for chamber dimensions?
The extra length on the Sugar Creek is nice to have.
For that matter, if you're willing to spend the extra couple hundred for the increased performance of the Evenheat, but need/like the increased length of the Sugar Creek, then don't forget that the Evenheat KF 22.5 is only about $55 more than the KF 18
and it has greater output to handle the increased chamber volume (3600 watts for the Kf 22.5 versus 3120 watts for the KF 18).
Other stuff?
Differences in door design is evident. The Sugar Creek lifts up, the Evenheat opens to the side. Take your pick; you need to be wearing heat protection irregardless.
One precaution with the lift-up design is that you need to be careful closing the door; don't let it slam shut (it has a spring to keep it closed).
I have heard some people mention that they have a fear of the lift-up door falling shut. I fail to see how that is an issue, as the swing is greater than 180 degrees.
Heavy duty?
Can't really say since I only own the Sugar Creek. The construction is solid. You would have to really put some weight on it or bang it around before it became an issue.
One obvious advantage the Evenheat has is that it appears to sit on an actual stand instead of four legs attached to the body. Sturdier, but hardly a concern unless the Evenheat weighs considerably more.
My Sugar Creek weighs somewhere between 50-75#, and it gets moved from the little storage corner in the back up to the workbench when the time comes to use it.
I think when it comes to this stuff, your electronics are more sensitive to abuse than the rest of the unit.
I can certainly see where it's tough to make a decision.
The Evenheat has better performance; is it enough to make it worth the couple hundred extra? Probably so, provided you
need that performance.
Whereas the Sugar Creek is initially better on the budget while serving the needs of the majority of nonprofessionals (and probably some professionals as well).
Other members here own the Big Knife kiln by Sugar Creek. (Rex, where are you?)
Chevy.
Ford.
Dodge.
Just like Josh said, you'll find satisfied owners of each.
Good Luck,
Rob
