Got a question?
You're in the right place.
Chances are, someone else has asked your question before, so we've answered a few of the common ones here.
What are the kiln dimensions?
The interior of the kiln is W: 47cm X H: 60cm X D: 53cm . Available height is dependant on how much room needs to be left between kiln shelves based on the size of pottery pieces.
I'm new to pottery - how does the process work from start to finish?
We get asked this a lot, so here's the standard process which will give your pieces the best chance of surviving:
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You create your pieces. Leave them to dry for at least 4 -5 days
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Once completely dry, you get in touch to organise us to bisque fire them. A bisque fire slowly reaches 980 degrees and the purpose is to suck all the moisture out of the clay, turning it to a more robust/ceramic state. This makes it easier and more sturdy for glazing.
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Once we've bisque fired the pieces, you pick them up, take them home and apply your glaze.
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Then you bring them back for their glaze firing which reaches approximately 1200 degrees - this hotter temperature is required for the glaze to form and become 'food safe'. And voila, you have finished pieces!
How long does it take to fire?
A bisque firing takes about 10 hours from loading to reaching top temp. Once the top temp is reached for bisque firing the kiln is then turned off and left to cool down which takes approx 24 hours.
Glaze firings take a little longer, about 12-13 hours from loading to reaching the top temp - due to needing to let the glaze "soak" on the pottery. From drop off and pick up with firing you're looking at about a 36 hour time wait (pottery has taught us to be very patient!).
Single fired pottery
Single fired pottery is when glaze is applied directly to greenware (un-bisque fired clay). We recommend double firing pottery (bisque, then glaze as mentioned above) to avoid breakages and cracking caused by adding glaze directly to unfired clay. Due to the increased risk to the kiln and kiln shelves with single fire pottery, there is an additional charge. Click here to read about it.
I'm new to pottery, how do I successfully glaze?
Glazing at times can be hit or miss for even the most experienced potters. For best results we recommend 3 thick thick layers of midfire brushable glaze. Avoid getting glaze on the bottom of your pieces, as any glaze on the bottom of the pieces can form during the firing and 'glue' your pieces to the shelf. If this happens your piece won't survive and neither will our kiln shelf.
Where do I buy glaze and what glaze should I use?
Once your pieces have been bisque fired, you then collect them and glaze them. We recommend any of the below brushable glazes from CCG. Wellington Potters Suppliers and Bots Pots also sell brushable options. Once you've painted them with glaze, let us know and we will book you in for a glaze fire.
https://www.ccg.co.nz/craft/products/category/4436/midfire-brushable-glazes
What happens if one of my pieces breaks in the kiln?
Spending time perfecting a ceramic only to find it broken in the kiln is disappointing to say the least, but unfortunately it can happen due to the different variables involved in pottery.
To try and prevent cracks occurring, all our firings begin with a low and slow approach to ensure the clay is completely dry before ramping up the temp. while all due care is taken, there are no guarantees and we can't take responsibility for breakages caused by the hand building/sculpting/wheel-throwing stage. If the worst happens, there's always the wabi-sabi/kintsugi approach!
Why do I need to sign a waiver?
As mentioned above, breaks can occasionally occur during the firing process. While we do our bit to ensure everything fires safely, we can't take responsibility for breakages that are a result of the creation process, the type of clay or glaze used, or anything else that's outside of our control. All is fair in love and clay.
What Clay and Glaze works with your kiln?
Our kiln has fired Primo Pro Clay, Macs Mudware and Chris's Midfire speckle clay (all available from CCG). Generally anything that fires from cone 4 - 6 should work a treat. In terms of glaze we have fired with Abbots and Amaco brushable glaze, and recommend both.
When can I drop my stuff off?
Because it's all contactless, you can drop your work off any time - we'll let you know where to leave it. Once you've dropped off, it's usually fired within 7 - 10 days. We'll let you know when we've loaded it up and flick through payment details.
Where are you located?
We are located in Birkdale on the North Shore of Auckland.