A garage can seem like the perfect place for a pottery kiln. There’s usually more space than inside the house, the floor may be concrete, and you don’t have to worry as much about the heat affecting your living areas. But before you move a kiln into your garage, there’s an important question to answer: […]
/blog/do-pottery-kilns-use-a-lot-of-electricity If you’re thinking about buying a pottery kiln, there’s probably one question you don’t want to discover the answer to after your first firing: How much is this thing going to add to my electricity bill? Pottery kilns can use a substantial amount of electricity, but the actual cost of running one depends on […]
/blog/do-pottery-kilns-use-a-lot-of-electricity Yes, pottery kilns can use a significant amount of electricity—but how much they cost to operate depends on several factors. The kiln’s size, power rating, firing temperature, firing duration, electricity rate, and how often you fire all affect your operating cost. So instead of asking, “How much electricity does a pottery kiln use?” it’s […]
/blog/7-things-i-wish-i-knew-before-buying-a-pottery-kiln Buying your first pottery kiln is exciting. It can feel like the moment you’re finally taking your pottery seriously. But a kiln is a major purchase, and there are a few things that are easy to overlook when you’re focused on the exciting part. If I could go back and give myself advice before […]
/blog/how-much-does-it-cost-to-fire-pottery You’ve made your pottery, allowed it to dry, and now comes the next question: How much is it going to cost to fire it? If you don’t own a kiln, you can often pay a pottery studio or firing service to fire your work for you. The price can range from just a few […]
/blog/can-you-fire-pottery-without-a-kiln If you don’t have a pottery kiln yet, you may be wondering: Can you actually fire pottery without one? The short answer is yes, but there are important limitations. For thousands of years, people have fired clay using open fires, pits, and other traditional methods. Modern potters can still use some of these techniques. […]
/blog/can-you-put-any-clay-in-any-kiln If you’re new to pottery, you might assume that any clay can be fired in any pottery kiln. Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. A kiln can reach a certain temperature, but that doesn’t mean every type of clay is suitable for that temperature. Different clay bodies are designed to mature within different firing ranges. […]
If you’re new to pottery, you’ve probably heard someone say, “Fire it to Cone 6” or “This glaze is Cone 06.” But what does that actually mean? Unlike an ordinary oven, a pottery kiln isn’t judged only by the temperature shown on its display. Potters also need to know how much heatwork—the combined effect of […]
/blog/bisque-firing-vs-glaze-firing-whats-the-difference If you’re new to pottery, you may hear terms like bisque firing and glaze firing and wonder: What’s the difference? Why does pottery need to be fired twice? These are two different stages of the ceramic process, and understanding the difference will make pottery much easier to understand. In simple terms: Bisque firing turns […]
/blog/what-happens-inside-a-pottery-kiln Have you ever wondered what actually happens to a piece of clay after you put it inside a pottery kiln? Before firing, your pottery is fragile and can still be softened with water. After firing, it can become a strong ceramic piece that lasts for years. So what happens inside that hot kiln? The […]
