Member Resources

No, the order of pieces going into the kiln is determined by size. 

Relatively dry to ensure no explosions. This is also dependent on the thickness of piece; Thin pieces = less chance of breakage when still wet, thick pieces = high chance of breakage when wet, therefore must be bone dry. Tip: place piece on cheek if cold then it’s still wet. 

Firing times of pieces depend on the piece height needed to fill up most of the empty space between shelves within the kiln to make costs more effective for each firing. Kiln technicians will usually wait until there are a number of similar height pieces to fill an entire shelf. 

No, please ensure all pots are marked and your potters mark is in the book. 

Yes, the small kiln is available to use for $15 (regardless of the amount of pieces inside). This kiln ca usually can be turned on within a day or two of requesting it, depending if another kiln is on. 

Cost depends on the amount of space taken up in the kiln. Bisque firing is generally cheaper because pieces can touch and be stacked whereas pieces in a glaze firing cannot. (Note: flat pieces can stack in bisque but must be fired without touching in a glaze firing, therefore takes up more room and will cost more). 

We are limited to the height and width of each kiln (approx. 50cm wide x 70cm high) 

Your piece may have been too thick or still wet, or possibly the different thickness of piece from top to bottom may also have caused it to shrink in a way which causes it to break. 

There may not be enough pieces overall to fill the kiln at times, and we must wait until there is. Ensuring the kiln is full before firing helps keep the cost of everyone’s pieces at a minimum (note: firing less pieces in the kiln means higher prices for members to cover power costs of kilns and vice versa). Firings at certain times of the year may be faster as workshop pieces ‘bulk up’ the kiln load. Firings may be slower at other times of the year because our ‘productive members’ are away and pieces take longer to come in. 

Primarily due to; glaze wasn’t fully wiped from the bottom of piece, glaze was applied too thick and ran, glaze used is a runny glaze (like floating blue) and was applied too close to the bottom. Tip: Glaze can still stick to wax so it helps to check and wipe clean with sponge). 

Yes ($90 big kiln, $50 silver kiln, $15 small kiln) 

Only one kiln. We have to wait for a kiln to complete it cycle before another can be turned on. 

This depends on the kiln. Our largest kiln takes around 1 day to cool down. The medium silver kiln can take up to three days to kiln down as the vent to release hot air is smaller.