https://yourwebsite.com/how-long-does-a-pottery-kiln-last/ Buying a pottery kiln is a major investment, especially if you’re building a home pottery studio or starting a ceramics business. One of the most common questions beginners ask is: How long does a pottery kiln last? The good news is that a well-built pottery kiln can last for many years. With proper use […]
Basic maintenance and things beginners shouldn’t attempt themselves A pottery kiln is a major investment, and regular maintenance can help keep it working properly for years. You don’t need to be an expert technician to take care of a kiln. There are several simple maintenance tasks beginners can handle, such as keeping the kiln clean, […]
/blog/how-to-load-a-pottery-kiln-without-breaking-your-work Loading a pottery kiln can feel intimidating when you have pieces you’ve spent hours or days making. Can you place pieces close together? How much space should you leave? Can pottery touch the kiln shelf? What happens if pieces are too close? A good kiln load isn’t simply about fitting as much pottery inside […]
If you’re new to pottery, you may wonder how often you actually need to fire your work in a kiln. Do you fire pottery once? Twice? Does every piece need two firings? For most traditional glazed pottery, the answer is two main firings: a bisque firing and a glaze firing. However, the exact process can […]
A pottery kiln needs to reach the right temperature for the clay and glazes being fired. But what happens if the kiln gets too hot? Overfiring can cause problems ranging from warped pottery and melted glazes to serious damage to kiln shelves and other kiln components. The good news is that understanding the signs of […]
Clay, drying, firing temperature, thickness, and kiln placement It can be frustrating to open the kiln and find that a piece that looked perfectly straight before firing has suddenly warped. Warping is fairly common in pottery, especially with flat pieces such as plates, trays, tiles, slabs, and wide bowls. The good news is that warping […]
/blog/why-did-my-glaze-turn-out-different-after-firing You carefully choose a glaze color, apply it to your pottery, put the piece in the kiln—and then open the kiln to find something completely different. Maybe the glaze is lighter than expected. Maybe it’s darker. Maybe it became glossy instead of matte, ran down the piece, developed unexpected spots, or simply doesn’t look […]
/blog/why-did-my-pottery-explode-in-the-kiln Opening a kiln and finding that a pottery piece has broken apart can be alarming. Sometimes you’ll see pieces scattered around the kiln or damage to nearby pottery, shelves, or kiln furniture. One of the most common reasons this happens is moisture trapped inside the clay. Understanding why can help you prevent it from […]
/blog/why-did-my-pottery-crack-in-the-kiln Few things are more frustrating than opening a kiln and discovering that a piece you spent hours making has cracked. You may immediately wonder: Was it the clay? The firing? The drying? The kiln? The truth is that pottery can crack for several different reasons, and sometimes the cause isn’t obvious. The good news […]
/blog/can-you-have-a-pottery-kiln-in-an-apartment If you live in an apartment and love pottery, you may eventually wonder: “Can I just buy a small pottery kiln and fire my pieces at home?” The answer isn’t as simple as choosing a small kiln and finding an empty corner. Apartment firing comes with important considerations involving ventilation, heat, electrical requirements, space, […]
