Top Loader or Chamber Kiln? What Really Decides It

A practical guide from the team at CCG, your New Zealand Nabertherm distributor

Buying a kiln is one of the biggest decisions a potter, glass artist or school art department will make. Before you get into temperatures, controllers and power supply, there's a more basic question: top loader or chamber kiln?

Both are excellent, and both come from Nabertherm's German workshops. Let's be upfront: price is a big part of this decision, and a chamber kiln costs noticeably more than a top loader of similar capacity. The real question is whether the extra is worth it for you. How you'll load it, the work you make, how often you fire, the space you have and how easy it is to look after can justify that price difference for the right customer.

The best way to find out is to come into our store and see them side by side. Our team will show you both and give you honest advice.

The quick answer

Most of our customers start with a top loader. It's the more popular choice, it costs less for similar capacity, it comes with wheels, and it's just as easy to use as it looks. A chamber kiln makes sense when loading from above is a struggle, either because of who is doing the loading or the work you make, or when you need more capacity than a top loader offers. Which one suits you comes down to how the five factors below line up for your situation. Still not sure? Pop in and our team can talk you through your options.

Top loader or chamber kiln: what's the difference?

A top loader is a round kiln you load from above. You lift the lid, look down into the chamber, and stack your work on shelves. Our Nabertherm top loaders run from the compact Top16 (16 litres) up to the Top220 (220 litres).

A chamber kiln is a square kiln with a front door, like an oven. Our range runs from the N40E (40 litres) up to the N660 (660 litres) and includes models with a drawer or bogie.

The five things that really decide it

1. Ergonomics: how you'll load it

A top loader gives you a bird's-eye view of the chamber, and you stack shelves and work inside just as you would in a chamber kiln. For most people it's just as easy to use.

What matters is who will be doing the loading. If the main user is older, has back or knee problems, or will be loading the kiln often, leaning down into a top loader adds up over time. A chamber kiln lets you load standing up, and the drawer models are the easiest of all, but they sit at a considerably higher price. Heavy or awkwardly shaped work can also be hard to lower in safely from above, and easier to load from the front.

2. The work you make

By "the work you make" we mean its weight, shape and size. They tell us how much space you need inside the kiln and the most practical way to load it. Some top loaders share the same width and footprint but have different chamber depths, so if you make tall pieces, you can often get the extra height without needing more floor space. Chamber kilns suit people who need a bigger capacity than the top loader range offers: our largest top loader is 220 litres, while chamber kilns go up to 660 litres.

3. How often you fire

A top loader copes well with regular firing. In the five years we've been selling Nabertherm top loaders, we haven't had a customer tell us one has reached the end of its life, including customers who fire theirs every day.

Some businesses run several top loaders instead of one large kiln. That gives them the flexibility to fire smaller loads in quiet periods and run everything at once when it's busy.

4. Space

Top loaders have a compact footprint and come with wheels, so you can tuck one into a corner when it's not in use. Chamber kilns take up more floor space, and the door needs room to swing open. They don't come with wheels as standard, but they can be specially requested with them.

5. Maintenance

Heating elements wear with use, and how long they last depends on how you fire. In our experience, if a kiln develops a cold spot, it's usually because an element needs replacing, not because of the shape of the kiln.

Nabertherm publishes video tutorials for replacing the elements in a top loader and in a chamber kiln. Ask us what's involved for the model you're considering.

When a chamber kiln is worth the extra

A top loader is the right answer for many customers, and we'll tell you so. A chamber kiln earns its higher price in these situations:

• The people loading it. Older users, or anyone with back or knee problems who will load the kiln often, can load a chamber kiln standing up.
• The work. Heavy or awkwardly shaped pieces that can't be lowered in safely from above are easier to load from the front.
• The size. If you need more than 220 litres or want to fire one large load instead of several smaller ones, chamber kilns go up to 660 litres.

Side-by-side comparison

A table can only tell you so much. Come and see them in person

The easiest way to decide is to see the kilns for yourself. In our store you can look inside a top loader and a chamber kiln, see how each one is loaded, and get a feel for the sizes. Our team will show you how simple the controller is to use and help you picture a kiln in your own home or studio.

There's nothing to prepare. If you like, tell us about the work you make and who will be doing the loading, and we'll point you to the right kind of kiln. No pressure, just honest advice from people who know these kilns. If a top loader is the right fit, we'll tell you.

What happens after your visit

Once you've found a kiln that suits you, we'll give you a short checklist to take home, so we can confirm the right kiln before you buy:

• Talk to an electrician. Find out what power supply you have, including the amps available and whether it's single or three phase. Most homes have single phase, which is why we stock single phase kilns and bring in three phase models on request.
• Check your space. The kiln needs a room with 50cm of clearance on all sides.
• Think about the distance from your switchboard. If the kiln will sit a long way from it, we need to check it will still get enough power.

Once you've done your homework, we'll confirm the right kiln for your space and your power, and you can order with confidence. We'd rather get this right than sell you something that doesn't fit.

[Visit us in store / Book a time / Call us on 09 475 5224 

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