Kiln Hire

Bring your own clay creations to my garden studio, load up the shelves and choose your programme. Most firings will continue overnight so you can come back the next day (or day after) to unload again. If you are glazing, you can choose to do this in my (very small) garden studio between the two firings, or take the work home, glaze at your pleasure, and bring the work back when you're ready.

Please, please, please read the T's an C's as they must be followed!

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How does it work?

If you're new to pottery, it can be difficult to find the technical information you need to go ahead with making and firing your pottery. Very simply:

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- You make the work out of clay and let it dry until it's brittle and lighter in colour because there's not a drop of moisture left in it!

- Then, the unglazed piece goes into a bisque firing (also known as biscuit firing) which is at a low temperature. This chemically turns the clay into ceramic but it's still porus so that glaze sticks to it easily.

- Once out of the kiln, you can add glaze to your pottery, making sure not to add any to the bottom.

- Then the piece goes into the kiln for a second time, this time at a high temperature. This is called the glaze firing because this is where the glass-like glaze fuzes to the ceramic. As it's at a hotter temperature, the clay can vitrify, becoming non-porous.

- Once out of the kiln your work is ready to use!

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Please read the Ts and Cs for things you need to keep in mind before you start making!

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To hire a shelf: £35 for a bisque firing then glaze firing.

Must use a clay that fires to 1260 degrees C. (stoneware). The temperature 1260 is also known as "Cone 9". Please make sure you use the correct clay - if the wrong clay is used it may melt in the kiln thus destroying the kiln. You must also use a compatible glaze that also fires to 1260 (Cone 9 (Not cone 09)). I would like a picture of the bag of clay/glaze/ receipt before your work goes in the kiln to be sure it does not melt.

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I recommend using clay B17C from CTM Pottery Supplies (pick up from Exeter):

https://www.ctmpotterssupplies.co.uk/staffordshirestonewareglazes.html

​Or ES90 from CTM or a supplier who can deliver. If not available, ask the shop for guidance on a compatible clay and glaze that both fire to 1260, Cone 9.

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For glaze:​

I'd recommend a brush-on, stonware glaze of your choice. Brush-on is less likely to run down your pot in the kiln and damage the kiln shelf. Must not be labelled as a dribble glaze! Never glaze the bottom of your pot - leave around 1cm of space around the bottom incase the glaze runs.

My preferred brush-on is any Mayco Stoneware Brush on Glaze. This can be delivered:

https://www.potclays.co.uk/mayco-stoneware-glazes

or ask your shop for an appropriate alternative that fires to 1260.

CTM also offer good brush-on glazes.

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To hire the whole kiln: £90 for combined bisque firing then glaze firing.

​My kiln fires up to 1300 degrees C (cone 10).

You must know the temperature your clay is to be fired at in degrees C or the number cone. This temperature must be ​the same as for your glaze. All clay and glaze in the same firing must be compatible to the same temperature; you cant mix and match with some pieces made of one clay and some pieces made of another (unless both clays fire to the same temperature).

You may not choose to use glaze at all, for example for sculptural pieces, but you must still have 2 firings.

Shelves can be removed so the whole internal capacity of the kiln can be filled with larger pieces such as sculptural pieces. The clay thickness must not exceed 1 inch in any part of the piece. All pieces must be hollow without a wire structure inside. You can leave in combustible supports such as newspaper and cardboard. 

Please read the Ts and Cs before you start making for other important requirements.

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Things to consider:

Food-safe: Make sure your glaze is food safe. Check with the manufacturer. A finished item must be smooth textured and the clay must be vitrified so that bacteria cannot grow.

Dishwasher/oven/microwave safe: Not all ceramics are safe to use with these appliances. Ask the clay and glaze manufacturer. As a rule of thumb, Stoneware clay and glazes tend to be appliance safe whereas earthenware clay and glazes tend not to be compatible. If you arent sure, ask a potter or online pottery group for recommendations of appliance compatible clay and glaze.

Glazed or unglazed: You do not have to glaze your ceramics unless it needs to be food safe. You must still put it through a 'glaze firing'.

Decoration: Many glazes are coloured. This means if you use a blue gloss brush-on glaze, your pot will end up blue and shiny. Glaze like this is good if you want your whole pot to be one colour or you want more than one colour to merge into another. There are also dipping glazes but these need experience to get right! Only layer up different coloured glazes if they are compatible to each other. You can ask for advice on pottery and glaze combination facebook pages for beginners. Don't exceed the recommended thickness.

If you'd like to draw pictures on your pots you could use coloured underglazes (which looks more like watercolour when fired) or coloured slips (which give block colour when used in layers). Both should be applied before the first firing when the clay is completely raw but not too brittle. The underglaze can be applied after the bisque firing if you choose but must be covered in a dipping glaze. This is because a clear brush-on glaze will smudge your drawings when applied over the top.

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Dimensions:

4x round kiln shelves: 53cm wide

Spacers between shelves: 13cm tall

Whole internal space: 59cm wide x 56cm high

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To request kiln hire, please email Ruth at:

thetamarvalleypotter@outlook.com

or call or text her on:

07707 281 700