Glazes and Firing FAQ

 

Can I fire one or two pieces?

We do not accept walk-ins. You must join Fired Up Studios as a member in order to use our firing services.

Can I use my own glaze?

You are welcome to use your own glazes provided that they are cone 6 or 10 glazes. You must thoroughly test the glazes in our kiln to make sure they are stable and will not cause glaze runs. You are responsible for the storage of your glazes and glaze materials. We recommend that you use appropriately labeled plastic containers for the storage of your glazes and glaze materials.

Can I re-fire a piece?

We do not allow re-fires. While we realize that pieces can often be safely re-fired multiple times, there is always an increased risk of glaze runs and possible explosion in doing so. Because we are firing the works of all our members in the same kiln, we are unwilling to take that risk.

When will my pots be ready?

Work will be ready by 3 p.m. two days after it is fired. We typically load the kiln on Mondays for cone 10 and unload on Thursdays. On Thursdays we will load the kiln for cone 6 and unload on Saturdays. If you work does not make it into a firing, it will be made priority for the next firing. Please see the Event Calendar for our firing schedule. We also use Twitter to communicate our firing schedule.

Are your glazes food safe?

Most of our studio glazes are food safe. Any glazes that are questionable are clearly marked on the glaze buckets as not for food use.

If members place work in our gallery that has not been fired with our glazes, they are responsible for labeling their work if it is not safe for food use.

When can I use the slips?

Slips are best used on greenware when it is in the leather-hard state. If you use the slips on bisque, they usually crack and flake off the pot during the glaze firing.

When can I use the stains?

Stains can be used on both greenware and bisque. On bisque stains are often applied and then rubbed off to highlight the texture of a piece. On greenware they are usually used in a more painterly manner.

How can I clean the "goobies" off my pot?

If the glaze on your pot has run and created a rough, broken edge on the bottom of the pot (a "goobie"), you can try to save the pot by grinding off the excess glaze with a bench grinder or Dremel tool. We do not provide grinding equipment.

If you choose to grind your pot, please use caution and wear appropriate safely gear. Glaze shards are very sharp and can chip off while grinding. Also, the silica dust created while grinding should not be inhaled.