Community Firing Services

Use our kiln

Are you a home potter? Or someone looking for extra kiln access? Our kiln has space for you, no membership needed.

Our studio is fitted with 3 Skutt kilns that bisque fires to Δ04 and glaze fires to Δ5 (with a 9-minute hold at peak temperature).

Please thoroughly read the information on this page before purchasing kiln space and participating in our firing services.

Following our guidelines helps to protect our kiln and ensures the longevity of our studio’s community firing services program.

BISQUE 3¢/CUBIC INCH

GLAZE 5¢/CUBIC INCH


Kiln requirements

All pieces must meet these guidelines to protect our equipment. Any damage to our kiln from your piece will lead to additional charges.

Bisque Fire

All pieces dropped off to go into the bisque fire must be:

  • bone dry greenware

  • marked with a consistently recognizable maker’s mark or name

  • dropped off after submitting the clay information form

We will not fire pieces with any section more than 1 inch thick.

Glaze Fire

All pieces dropped off to be glaze fired must be:

  • previously bisque fired

  • marked with a consistently recognizable maker’s mark or name

  • glazed with a mid-range glaze that is rated to go up to Δ6

    • please double check your glaze does not say Δ04-Δ06

  • glazed with at least a 1/4 inch margin of space left between the bottom of the pot and glaze surface

We do not single-fire pieces from green ware to Δ5.

We will not fire any pieces that need stilts. If you’re concerned about clay drippage, drop off your piece with a clay cookie underneath.


Process

All pieces must meet these guidelines to protect our equipment. Any damage to our kiln from your piece will lead to additional charges.

Step one: provide piece information

Complete the following steps to provide us with information on what’s going into our kiln:

  1. Make an account for Third Place Pottery KilnFire, the online portal that our studio uses to manage supplies and transactions: Third Place Pottery User Sign Up

  2. Measure your piece’s volume to the nearest inch in three dimensions (length, width, and height), rounding up to the nearest inch if needed. Our kiln post sizes increase by the full inch. Use Kiln Fire’s calculator and set the multiplier to 0.03 or 0.04 for bisque or glaze to get an estimate on cost per piece.

    1. For example: if your piece has a 4 inch diameter and is 5 inches tall, it is 80 cubic inches since 4 x 4 x 5 = 80.

  3. Purchase kiln space on KilnFire: Community Firing Item Listing

    1. Please note: the minimum price of any piece is $1 for bisque and glaze fire.

  4. Complete Clay Information form: Community Firing Services Clay Information 

  5. Schedule your drop off time and pack your pieces for transport: Third Place Pottery: Community Firing Appointments 

Step two: drop off

Please only arrive at the studio during your scheduled appointment (visit our FAQs for more information on getting here). When you get to the studio:

  1. Leave your piece on the appropriate firing shelf, located by our glaze station. Look for shelves clearly labeled “COMMUNITY FIRING SERVICES”. Ask a staff member wearing a name tag for help if you have trouble finding the drop off shelves.

  2. Fill out a form located on the community firing shelf and leave it underneath your piece. If you have multiple pieces, leave the form underneath just one piece as they should all have the same maker’s mark/signature.

Step three: pick up

Turn around for firings will vary from 1-3 weeks. When your piece is dropped off, it will join the queue for the next kiln firing. Once completed, we’ll reach out through email to notify you that your piece is ready for pick up and provide a link to schedule pick up.

Arrive at the studio during your scheduled pick up time.

Bring your own box and packing materials to safely transport your kiln haul home.