Firing Services and Kiln Rental Policy
Effective January 1st, 2024
Small Batch Firing Services
$25 Bisque Batch Firing
Includes firing fees and cost of labor to un/load artwork for one batch.
Drop off ready-to-load greenware and pick up bisqueware from Batch Firing Shelf during Shop Hours. If artwork is fired sooner than 2 weeks, a staff member will contact you via phone or email.
One batch is the amount of artwork that covers the surface area of one kiln shelf. This is explained in different ways, but approved by staff at time of drop off:
10 mugs at 5” tall,
5 cereal bowls at 7” wide,
2 dinner plates at 8” wide,
one layer of tiny pieces,
or one single artwork.
Artwork can be stacked as the structure allows, but no taller than 8 inches.
If the scale of artwork exceeds one batch capacity, the Studio reserves the right to charge customers for additional batches. For example, a 20” bowl will require the surface area of 2 kiln shelves and artist will be charged for 2 batch firings. Additionally, a 20” tall sculpture will require the vertical space of 2 kiln shelves and the artist will be charged for 2 batch firings.
All clay and materials used for surface design must be Cone 5 to match the Studio’s firings; no exceptions.
If a different cone is required for your bisque temperature or artwork exceeds the capacity of 2 batch firings, please schedule a full kiln load.
$25 Glaze Batch Firing
Includes firing fees and cost of labor to un/load artwork for one batch.
Drop off ready-to-load glazed ware and pick up vitrified ceramics from Batch Firing Shelf during Shop Hours. If artwork is fired sooner than 2 weeks, a staff member will contact you via phone or email.
One batch is the amount of artwork that covers the surface area of one kiln shelf. This is explained in different ways, but approved by staff at time of drop off:
10 mugs at 5” tall,
5 cereal bowls at 7” wide,
2 dinner plates at 8” wide,
one layer of tiny pieces,
or one single artwork.
Artwork can not be stacked or taller than 8 inches.
The bottom of each piece must be left raw; no exceptions.
If the scale of artwork exceeds one batch capacity, the Studio reserves the right to charge customers for additional batches. For example, a 20” bowl will require the surface area of 2 kiln shelves and artists will be charged for 2 batch firings. Additionally, a 20” tall sculpture will require the vertical space of 2 kiln shelves and the artist will be charged for 2 batch firings.
All clay and glaze must be Cone 5 to match the Studio’s firings; no exceptions.
If a different cone is required for your glaze materials or artwork exceeds the capacity of 2 batch firings, please schedule a full kiln load.
$25 Glaze Application Fee
Includes glaze material and cost of labor to apply glaze onto one batch of pottery.
The Studio staff will apply glaze material for you.
Indicate your glaze choice with a post-it or tape at time of drop off. There are 5 glazes to choose from:
Clear, Black, White, Oribe and Blue.
One glaze per piece, full dip each, bottom will be left raw; no exceptions or special requests.
Firing services are sold separately.
$40 Glaze Work Session
Includes one in-studio work session and firing fees for up to 2 batches of bisqueware.
The following glaze materials and tools are available for use during glaze work sessions:
Mixers, paddles and spoons to mix glazes.
Soft-bristle brushes and pallets.
Tongs and beakers.
Wax resist and masking tape.
Studio made dippable glazes: Clear, Black, White, Oribe and Blue.
Artists are welcome to bring personal glaze materials and equipment for use during glaze work sessions.
The bottom of each piece must be left raw; no exceptions.
Glazed artwork should be placed all together on the appropriate ware cart for firing.
Pick up vitrified artwork from the communal shelving during Shop Hours two weeks after glaze work session.
$25 Bisque Clean Up
If a piece of pottery or artwork explodes in a bisque firing, customers will be charged $25 per piece for kiln clean up. This covers the cost of labor required to clean out the shards of bisqueware and vacuum the inside of the kiln. Additional charges will be made if damage to kiln shelves, furniture or kiln structure exceeds $25.
$25 Glaze Clean Up
If a piece of pottery or artwork drips glaze onto kiln furniture, customers will be charged $25 per piece for kiln clean up. This covers the cost of labor and materials required to remove glaze drips, sand down and reapply kiln wash. Additional charges will be made if damage to kiln shelves, furniture or kiln structure exceeds $25.
Full Kiln Rental
Kiln Rental in Peanut Butter (Kiln #1)
$100 Decal, Overglaze or Luster Firing Cone 018-022
$120 Bisque Firing Cone 06-04
$120 Glaze Firing Cone 4-6
Internal dimension of 28'' wide x 30'' deep, just over 11.5 cubic feet.
Ideal for the artist who has about 4-5 bags of clay worth of projects, depending on scale of each artwork.
Kiln Rental in Jelly (Kiln #2)
$80 Decal, Overglaze or Luster Firing Cone 018-022
$100 Bisque Firing Cone 06-04
$100 Glaze Firing Cone 4-6
Internal dimension of 22'' wide x 26'' deep or just under 7 cubic feet.
Ideal for the artist who has about 3-4 bags of clay worth of projects, depending on scale of each artwork.
Scheduling:
To book a full kiln load, send an email to info@costamesaceramics.com with the following information:
Name, email and phone number of the person paying for firing(s).
Date request(s).
Number of firing(s) needed.
Desired firing cone or temperature of firing(s).
Type of clay(s) or glaze material(s) that need to be fired, including cone temp(s) required.
The Studio will respond with date options for you to choose from.
We recommend booking both your bisque and glaze firing at the same time; and about a month in advance to ensure you do not have to wait too long in between firings.
Payment:
The Studio sends an invoice to confirm firing dates, details and accept payment.
The due date for each invoice is the date of the first firing included on the invoice.
Kiln services will not be provided if invoice is not paid by the date of the firing.
Drop off:
Artwork must be dropped off at 3pm on the date of firing.
Please park cars at the back of the studio to unload work.
The Studio has a clean dedicated ware cart or table for artists to unload artwork.
Artwork must be ready to load at time of drop off.
Greenware must be completely bone dry.
The bottom of the bisqueware must be completely free of glaze materials.
Pick Up:
Artwork must be picked up at 2pm, two days after drop off.
Please park cars at the back of the studio to load work.
The Studio has a clean dedicated ware cart or table for artists to retrieve artwork.
The following is not included:
Instruction is not included. Classes, workshops and courses are sold separately for anyone who needs it.
Clay, glaze or other ceramic materials are not included. It is the responsibility of each kiln renter to purchase clay, glaze or other ceramic supplies needed.
Stilts, bead racks, glaze drip catchers or any other specialty kiln furniture is not included. Please bring any specialty kiln furniture at time of drop off.
The Studio is not responsible for firing results:
If the amount of artwork dropped off exceeds the kiln capacity, then kiln renter has two options:
Pick up unfired work with the fired work.
Pay for additional firing services.
If a piece of pottery or artwork explodes in a bisque firing, kiln renters will be charged $25 per piece for kiln clean up. This covers the cost of labor required to clean out the shards of bisqueware and vacuum the inside of the kiln. Additional charges will be made if damage to kiln shelves, furniture or kiln structure exceeds $25.
If a piece of pottery or artwork drips glaze onto kiln furniture, kiln renters will be charged $25 per piece for kiln clean up. This covers the cost of labor and materials required to remove glaze drips, sand down and reapply kiln wash. Additional charges will be made if damage to kiln shelves, furniture or kiln structure exceeds $25.
The Studio reserves the right to edit, adjust and/or update these policies at any time and without notice.
All questions, comments and concerns should be directed to the Studio manager via email: info@costamesaceramics.com