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Explore the best digital kiln controllers of 2026 – with touchscreen controls, remote monitoring, and schedule adjustments, and more

The Best Digital Kiln Controllers of 2026

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 […]

TAP Kiln Controllers make managing ceramic studios more efficient.

Benefits of TAP for Your Ceramic Studio

We spend a lot of time discussing the benefits of TAP Kiln Controllers for individual artists – but there are tons of benefits to using TAP to power your ceramic studio. In fact, my own experiences and frustrations owning a glass art studio were a big part of the inspiration behind the development of the […]

How to Install TAP Monitor Digital Pyrometer [Video]

Does adding precise, remote temperature monitoring – that you can check from anywhere from your smartphone – sound complicated? In the past it might’ve been. But with TAP Monitor, you can add the most advanced remote digital pyrometer to your kiln in literal minutes. Even if you use a manual kiln or a less advanced […]

Some artists still use a kiln sitter in 2024, but it is outdated versus more modern kiln control methods.

Are Kiln Sitters Out of Date in 2024?

When it was invented in the 1950s, the kiln sitter revolutionized kiln firing. Although kiln sitters are analog devices, they represented the first step towards automation by ensuring that a kiln would shut off once it reached a specific firing temperature. In fact, kiln sitters became so prominent that pyrometric cone numbers are still used […]

Learn all about kiln relays and how to prevent kiln relay failure.

Understanding and Preventing Kiln Relay Failure

Three words no artist wants to hear: kiln relay failure. At best, kiln relay failure can be an annoyance that disrupts your project mid-schedule. At worst, kiln relay failure can pose a threat to the safety of your household and your property. However, the good news is that with foresight, proper maintenance, and the right […]

Safety limit controllers enhance kiln safety by automatically shutting off your kiln if it exceeds a certain temperature.

How Safety Limit Controllers Help With Kiln Safety

Kilns get hot! When it comes to kiln safety, using a safety limit controller helps ensure that a kiln automatically shuts off if it exceeds a pre-defined temperature. Over the course of this article,  we’ll be exploring the role of safety limit controllers and why you should consider adding one to your kiln or oven […]

Learn more about the difference between limit controllers and process controllers.

The Difference Between a Limit Controller and a Process Controller

When it comes to different types of kiln controllers, there are two broad categories you need to keep in mind: process controllers and limit controllers. These two controllers have very different roles and functionalities that will impact how you use your kiln or heat treat oven. So, what’s the difference? Process Controllers vs Limit Controllers: […]

Using a kiln temperature monitor lets you monitor kiln firing temperatures and adds kiln safety.

How to Use a Kiln Temperature Monitor

A kiln temperature monitor is a device that monitors kiln firing temperatures. Typically, when people refer to a kiln temperature monitor, they’re referring to a device specifically dedicated to temperature measurement, such as a pyrometer or a limit controller. In the next section we’ll explain the difference between limit controllers, pyrometers, and process controllers – […]

What is a pyrometer? A pyrometer is a temperature monitoring device for high temperature applications.

What Is a Pyrometer? Understanding Pyrometers for Kilns

What is a pyrometer? A pyrometer is a device that measures high temperatures for applications beyond the range of a mercury thermometer (673° F or 356° C). Pyrometers, also referred to as pyrometric devices, are used to monitor temperature for a wide variety of applications. From kilns, furnaces, heat treat ovens, and industrial processes, to […]

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