If you’re shopping for a new kiln or oven or exploring controller upgrades, you might have asked yourself: “Do I need a PID temperature controller – and what does that even mean?” You’ve probably seen those three letters show up so often in your search that it’d be easy to write them off as marketing […]
Heat treating knives is an integral part of the knifemaking process. After designing the knife, cutting the profile, and adding the bevel, heat treating knives is one of the final stages of knifemaking before finishing the blades and attaching the handle. What Is the Purpose of Heat Treating Knives? Knifemakers expose blades to specific temperatures […]
We hope 2026 has been amazing for you so far! But before we leave 2025 totally in the past, we wanted to share some of the strides we made for artists everywhere in our SDS Industries 2025 Year in Review. This past year was a major year for us – including new products, new partnerships, […]
When it comes to firing ceramics, different types of clays and glazes are rated for different temperatures. A kiln firing chart, also known as a cone firing chart, is a useful tool for understanding the effects of temperature on different types of clays and glazes, as well as determining what firing schedule setpoints should be […]
In 2025, a meeting with a kiln manufacturer gave us an idea: We could make ceramic firing faster and easier than ever before. This is the story of TAP II Pro’s exclusive Cone Fire Mode. Preset firing schedules aren’t anything new. In fact, other temperature controller manufacturers rely on preset schedules to compensate for the […]
Whether you’re making swords, sterilizing lab equipment, or roasting coffee beans, there are tons of ways to use an oven. These use-cases all have one thing in common: You have to be able to control the temperature. That’s where oven controllers come into play. Oven controllers are the point of interface between you and your […]
Over the past decade, digital kiln controllers have evolved massively. While a lot of the kiln control industry is still a little bit behind the times, the best digital kiln controllers include the quality-of-life features and connectivity that today’s customers expect from their appliances. Some might argue that “best” is subjective. Different kiln operators use […]
Temperature controllers aren’t just used by artists. While most people associate temperature controllers with fusing glass or firing pottery, they can also be used in a wide array of applications that might surprise you. Today, we’ll be looking at ways to use temperature controllers that go beyond art! Roasting Coffee Amazing coffee requires roasting beans […]
We receive a lot of art submissions from artists who use TAP to power their craft. But some submissions stand out. Art doesn’t always have to stand for a cause – or to raise societal awareness or touch the lives of others. But it’s really cool when it does. These two artists use their artwork […]
TAP Kiln Controllers are built for reliability. Manufactured from high-quality components and backed by an industry-leading 3-year warranty for TAP II and TAP II Pro models, your TAP Kiln Controller should last for years to come. However, like any advanced electronic device, kiln controllers are subject to wear and tear and possible failure if not […]