Firing Services
Our firing service is open to the public. The studio is open every Friday 2-4pm and Saturday 9.30-11am for you to drop off work for firing and collect pieces that have been through the kilns.
We do bisque and glaze firing, using our electric kilns.
Bisque Firing Cone 08 (7-14 days turnaround)
This equates to 942°C when using Large Orton Pyrometric Cones fired at 60°C per hour in the last hour of the firing cycle.
Some people prefer to fire their bisque to 1000°C or Cone 06, however we find that the lower firing gives better glaze coverage.
Turn around time for bisque firing is 7 - 14 days. $10 per kilo.
Earthenware Glaze Cone 03 (infrequent firings)
This equates to 1086°C when using Large Orton Pyrometric Cones fired at 60°C per hour in the last hour of the firing cycle.
This is a new service we are introducing. If you’d like to join the earthenware chat group and find out when firings will be happening please send us an email. Earthenware glaze firings are infrequent at this time. $10 per kilo.
Mid-Fire Glaze Cone 6 (4 week turnaround approximately)
This equates to 1220°C when using Large Orton Pyrometric Cones fired at 60°C per hour in the last hour of the firing cycle.
Turn around time for mid-fire glaze firing is at least a month, if this firing becomes more popular we can increase the frequency. $10 per kilo.
Stoneware Glaze Firing Cone 10 (7-14 days)
This equates to 1282°C when using Large Orton Pyrometric Cones fired at 60°C per hour in the last hour of the firing cycle.
Turn around time for stoneware glaze firing is 7 - 14 days. $10 per kilo.
Clays, underglazes and glazes - what can I use?
Sometimes materials in pottery are referred to as earthenware, low-fire, mid-fire, stoneware high-fire or Porcelain. These titles refer to the type of clay, the appropriate materials (underglaze, glaze, stains, etc.) to use with those clays AND the names also refer to the firing temperatures used with each of the different groups.
This means you must use clay and other materials that can cope with this high firing temperature if you want to pop them into our glaze kiln.
If you are unsure about the materials you are using please take photos of the packaging and either pop in to see us, or send us an email.
Prices
Weighed before firing, we charge:
$10 per kilo for bisque firing
$10 per kilo for glaze firing
$13 per kilo for glaze firing using our studio glazes
There are a few conditions for our firing service:
If you cannot identify the clay and/or glaze, we will not fire it
if you are making your own glazes we will ask you to pay for firing a small test piece before we fire large pieces
Amaco and Mayco glazed ware must be on a setter as they are prone to running. If you are not sure what this means please have a chat to us - we can help!
Buff Raku Trachyate (BRT) and other high iron or flux clays must be on a setter as the flux will stick to our shelves, once again just let us know and we can make a plan.
All work must have a logo or initial on it, for identification purposes
Firing needs to be paid for upon drop off via debit or credit card (no cash)
If your work looks like it has glaze on the bottom we will not fire it
For members only, we currently offer the following Stoneware Cone 10 glazes:
Tenmoku – dark brown/black, breaks to a light brown
Kristelle’s Green - dark to mid green, lighter where thicker
Clear
Arctic Mist, Lavender, and Blue gloss
For the full terms and conditions click here
You may need to complete a Firing Form for your work, this can be done when you drop off your work.
If you have any questions about the firing services, please email us castlemaineclay@gmail.com
