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renting kiln space

updated fri 26 aug 11

 

Valerie Hawkins on thu 12 jul 01


Does anyone out there have any experience renting out kiln space our renting
kiln space (pros and cons).

Steven Branfman on sun 15 jul 01


Valerie,

One of the services that we provide at The Potters Shop is use of our kilns.
After years of using different methods for arriving at fair and adequate
charges (cubic inch, weight, etc.) I came to a charge that reflects the cost
of firing the kiln that includes repair, maintenance, and labor as well as a
profit for the studio that is not tedious or time consuming for my staff to
figure. After coming up with our costs (eletrical, coil replacement, repair,
etc.) and adding on the profit, each kiln has an hourly rate for use. There
is a lot of "averaging" involved but it is easy and fair in the long run. You
can use a method like this for any type of kiln fired to any temperature. For
our electric kilns the fee is not dependent on the firing temperature or the
amount of time the kiln is on "low", "medium", or "high". It is strickly
about time the kiln is on. If 2 or more potters share the kiln they determine
the percentage of use. If we are firing individual pieces in a general studio
or school firing then we charge a unit fee that we call "the mug". We have a
discounted charge for studio members that requires them to stack, fire,
unstack, and clean the kiln shelves. All members go through a training
session (or 2!) to teach them how to stack, fire, and maintain the kiln.
There are more details that I'm happy to share. All of this info (and more)
is in my book "The Potters Professional Handbook."

Steven Branfman
The Potters Shop
31 Thorpe Rd.
Needham MA 02494, USA
781 449 7687
fax: 781 449 9098

jeanne wood on tue 23 aug 11


Hi,I would really appreciate some tips and=3DA0recommendations=3DA0about re=
ntin=3D
g kiln space.I have a largish electric kiln and have recently been doing mo=
=3D
re maiolica and underglaze pottery. This makes my turn-around time trying t=
=3D
o fill the kiln very slow.
So I am going to try to rent kiln space on a trial basis with the idea of h=
=3D
aving my own work in the firings as well and see if it works out.
I fire bisque at Cone 04 and glaze at 06 oxidation. My kiln furniture is in=
=3D
good condition and I use "cookies" rather than kiln wash.
Any ideas including for cost, would be welcome.=3DA0Thank you,Jeanne W.In N=
or=3D
thern ID

KATHI LESUEUR on wed 24 aug 11


On Aug 23, 2011, at 11:37 PM, jeanne wood wrote:

> Hi,I would really appreciate some tips and recommendations about =3D
renting kiln space.I have a largish electric kiln and have recently been =
=3D
doing more maiolica and underglaze pottery. This makes my turn-around =3D
time trying to fill the kiln very slow.
> So I am going to try to rent kiln space on a trial basis with the idea =
=3D
of having my own work in the firings as well and see if it works out.
> I fire bisque at Cone 04 and glaze at 06 oxidation. My kiln furniture =3D
is in good condition and I use "cookies" rather than kiln wash.
> Any ideas including for cost, would be welcome. Thank you,Jeanne W.In =3D
Northern ID
>=3D20

The simple answer is -- don't. The headaches can be worse than the =3D
income. That said, the most important thing to know is what clay they =3D
are using, what glazes, and how are they applied. I can guarantee that =3D
if the clay melts or the glaze runs off the pot onto your shelf it will =3D
be your fault. You will have fire the kiln improperly. It is never the =3D
fault of the person you fired for and you will not get any compensation =3D
for the ruined kiln furniture.


KATHI LESUEUR
http://www.lesueurclaywork.com

Patty Kaliher on wed 24 aug 11


I once put some of my pieces in a friends kiln. My glaze ran onto her
shelf. I bought her a new shelf. I thought that was fair.

Patty Kaliher

Larry Kruzan on thu 25 aug 11


I've been there and had all the bad outcomes. You KNOW your work is safe in
your kiln - it only takes some fool using raku clay instead of high fire
stoneware clay to cost you hundreds. For the little it costs to fire the
kiln, adds some hard kiln brick for thermo mass and your good to go.

Larry Kruzan
Lost Creek Pottery
An armed man is a citizen. An unarmed man is a subject.



-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:Clayart@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of KATHI LESUEUR
Sent: Wednesday, August 24, 2011 8:44 AM
To: Clayart@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Re: renting kiln space

On Aug 23, 2011, at 11:37 PM, jeanne wood wrote:

> Hi,I would really appreciate some tips and recommendations about renting
kiln space.I have a largish electric kiln and have recently been doing more
maiolica and underglaze pottery. This makes my turn-around time trying to
fill the kiln very slow.
> So I am going to try to rent kiln space on a trial basis with the idea of
having my own work in the firings as well and see if it works out.
> I fire bisque at Cone 04 and glaze at 06 oxidation. My kiln furniture is
in good condition and I use "cookies" rather than kiln wash.
> Any ideas including for cost, would be welcome. Thank you,Jeanne W.In
Northern ID
>

The simple answer is -- don't. The headaches can be worse than the income.
That said, the most important thing to know is what clay they are using,
what glazes, and how are they applied. I can guarantee that if the clay
melts or the glaze runs off the pot onto your shelf it will be your fault.
You will have fire the kiln improperly. It is never the fault of the person
you fired for and you will not get any compensation for the ruined kiln
furniture.


KATHI LESUEUR
http://www.lesueurclaywork.com

Steve Mills on thu 25 aug 11


We had a firing service at BPS, and I still do some for friends et al.=3D20
Our "conditions of sale" were very simple: while we took every care feasibl=
e=3D
, use of the service was entirely at Customer's risk. Our own precautions w=
e=3D
re pretty standard, like a thick layer of Molochite on the shelves to catch=
"=3D
runs", and we were very strict about included combustibles I.e. No plastic =
o=3D
r materials that gave off corrosive fumes.=3D20

Steve M


Steve Mills
Bath
UK
www.mudslinger.me.uk
Sent from my Ipod touch

On 24 Aug 2011, at 20:02, Patty Kaliher wrote:

> I once put some of my pieces in a friends kiln. My glaze ran onto her
> shelf. I bought her a new shelf. I thought that was fair.
>=3D20
> Patty Kaliher

Lee on thu 25 aug 11


On Thu, Aug 25, 2011 at 8:01 AM, Larry Kruzan wr=
=3D
ote:
>
> I've been there and had all the bad outcomes. You KNOW your work is safe =
=3D
in
> your kiln - it only takes some fool using raku clay

I've safely fired Continental Clay's Raku to above cone 12. =3DA0 =3DA0It i=
s a
nice coarse clay in woodfire. =3DA0It resists warping.


--
=3DA0Lee Love in Minneapolis
http://mingeisota.blogspot.com/

=3DA0"Ta tIr na n-=3DF3g ar chul an tI=3D97tIr dlainn trina ch=3DE9ile"=3D9=
7that is, =3D
"The
land of eternal youth is behind the house, a beautiful land fluent
within itself." -- John O'Donohue