Paragon kilns are now shipping with updated digital controllers engineered by the Orton Ceramic Foundation. The new Sentry 3.0 12-key and Sentry Xpress 5.0 3-key controllers can be customized by the kiln owner in many ways. The Sentry 12-key has 35 Ramp-Hold programs, and the Sentry Xpress 3-key has 25 programs. Each program has 20 segments.

The Circuit Board

The memory chip on the new controllers has improved protection from electrical noise and heat. Ferrite beads are built into the circuit boards to protect the thermocouple wires from electrical interference. The new controllers have twice the memory of the previous ones.

On the new controllers, you can disable the audible buzzer by removing a jumper on the back of the circuit board. Temperature selection between F and C is now through Options on the 3-key controllers instead of removing or adding a two-pin jumper on the back of the earlier 3-ke

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Eric Markow and Thom Norris are noted for creating woven glass kimonos, which have been called “impossibly beautiful.” The kimonos weigh an average of 125 pounds. Eric and Thom fire their glass in nine Paragon kilns. “Now that we’ve done all our testing, and have actually cooked sculpture in the Pearl-56, it is our favorite kiln and we love the even, consistent heat,” they said.

Q. When were you introduced to glass fusing?

A. Thom: In 2002, our good friend Nancy Weisser (also our glass distributor) invited us to attend a class involving glass powders in a kiln. We were completely absorbed by the glass making process and intended to purchase a kiln to make our own colorful custom glass for our windows. Once we started playing with the warm/hot glass, we never made another stained-glass window. We now have nine Paragon kilns.

Q. Who are the most interesting glass teachers you have studied under?

A. Thom: We are mostly self-

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