Your Entry Into Glassblowing, Without the Furnace
A full glassblowing furnace is a serious commitment. The fuel costs, the space requirements, the 24/7 operation. For a lot of artists, that's why glassblowing feels out of reach. The Jen-Ken Crucible 1813 changes the math. It's a compact electric cullet melter that gives you real working glass temperatures in a kiln small enough to fit in most garages and studios, on a single standard 240V outlet.
The workflow is the same as any crucible kiln. It heats up to 2300°F to melt the cullet, drops to 1800°F to squeeze the glass, and holds at 2050°F to 2100°F for gathers. Between sessions, hold at 1800°F and ramp back up when you're ready to blow again. Melt what you need, blow when you want, no overnight furnace running.
At 18" wide by 13" deep with 1.91 cubic feet of capacity, the 1813 is sized for smaller crucibles and smaller working sessions. Great if you're just starting out, working in a tight studio, or doing demos and workshops where portability matters. At 150 pounds product weight, it's a fraction of the weight of full size crucible kilns.
Runs on a standard NEMA 6-50 240V outlet at 36 amps, 8,640 watts. Max temperature 2300°F, max working temperature 2150°F.
Important: cullet only, not for making batch glass
This kiln is designed to melt cullet (pre-made glass). Making glass from raw batch materials releases caustic fumes that crystalize and quickly deteriorate the thermocouple and kiln brick. If you need to make batch glass, you'll need a dedicated furnace. Give us a call and we can point you in the right direction.
Coils are a wear item, not warranted
Coils in crucible kilns typically last 3 to 6 months of regular working use because of the high sustained temperatures. They're considered a consumable and aren't covered under warranty. Plan for periodic replacement as part of your operating costs.
Who Is This Kiln For?
The Crucible 1813 is built for a specific kind of glass artist. Here's how to tell if that's you.
✓ New glassblowers ready to set up their own studio
If you've been blowing glass at a community studio and want your own equipment without committing to a full furnace, this is the most accessible way to get started.
✓ Artists doing demos, workshops, or pop up events
At 150 pounds, the 1813 is light enough to be moved with help. Great for traveling artists, classroom demos, or studios that need flexibility.
✓ Studios working at small to medium scale
If you're making smaller vessels, ornaments, paperweights, or sculptural pieces, the 1.91 cu ft chamber is sized right. No wasted heat melting more glass than you'll use.
✓ Anyone tight on space, power, or budget
Standard single phase 240V plug, compact footprint, and much lower operating cost than a full furnace. Glassblowing without rebuilding your studio infrastructure.
Key Features
- 2300°F max temperature, 2150°F max working temperature, full workflow from melt to gather to hold
- 18" W x 13" D chamber with 1.91 cubic feet of capacity, sized for small to medium crucibles
- Multi stage workflow: 2300°F melt, 1800°F squeeze, 2050°F to 2100°F gather, 1800°F hold
- Compact 150 lb product weight, light enough for demos, workshops, and pop up studios
- 240V / 36 amp single phase NEMA 6-50 plug, 8,640 watts, no three phase service required
- Orton AutoFire 3 Key controller standard, upgradeable at checkout to AutoFire 12 Key or TAP Smart
- Free freight shipping to the US Lower 48 (coils are a wear item and not warranted)
The Crucible 1813 ships standard with the Orton AutoFire 3 Key controller. For more programming flexibility on your melt and hold schedules, upgrade at checkout to the AutoFire 12 Key or the TAP Smart Controller with Wi Fi. The TAP's larger memory and remote control can be a real workflow improvement if you're holding glass for hours between sessions.
Specifications
| Model | Jen-Ken Crucible 1813 |
| Kiln Type | Crucible / Cullet Melter |
| Interior Dimensions | 18" W x 13" D |
| Volume | 1.91 cu ft |
| Maximum Temperature | 2300°F |
| Max Working Temperature | 2150°F |
| Voltage | 240V (Single Phase) |
| Amps | 36 |
| Watts | 8,640 |
| Plug Type | NEMA 6-50 |
| Product Weight | 150 lbs |
| Shipping Weight | 200 lbs |
| Coil Warranty | Not Warranted (Wear Item) |
New to crucible kilns or not sure what size you need?
Give us a call. We'll talk through your work, your studio, and help you figure out if the 1813 is the right starting point or if you need to step up to the Double Wall.
📞 (801) 839-5882Monday to Friday, 9AM to 5PM MST