Kiln Room

 The Club operates four electric kilns in a dedicated, ventilated kiln room.  Kilns draw high electrical currents and may reach temperatures of 1300C, whilst emitting a variety of noxious gases into the atmosphere.  Multiple members pieces are being fired at once.

 K.1.            Members should pass through the KILN ROOM promptly when kilns are in operation, or when kiln loading and unloading is occurring.

K.2.            The exhaust fans in the Kiln Room should remain switched on at all times.

K.3.            Members must NEVER interfere with kilns during firing, adjust the controller, or remove bungs and try to peep inside.

K.4.            Members must NOT open kilns, or attempt to unload or remove work without the express approval of the Kiln Technician and/or supervision.  Opening a kiln early can damage works from sudden heat loss, and inexpert attempts to remove pieces can result in breakages.

K.5.            Any unauthorized interference with kilns during firing is a serious matter which may warrant disciplinary action by the Management Committee.

Leaving Work

 K.6.            Ensure your work is safe for firing; that is, not earthenware and that glazes are appropriately applied and clear on the bottom.

K.7.            Ensure each piece can be clearly identified with a makers mark, that has been registered with the Club and will be visible after firing.  A marking pen is not adequate as it will burn out, but a glaze pencil may suffice.  A list of makers marks is kept in the WET ROOM.

K.8.            Firing costs are normally determined by weight and whether either a bisque fire or a glaze fire.  For convenience there are two separate scales set up in the WET ROOM to weigh and price bisque and glaze firing work.

K.9.            Weigh the piece on the scales and

a)  record the details on the Members Firing sheet which includes name, details, weight and price, and also

b)  complete a Payment Chit for the works submitted.

K.10.        Ensure you have sufficient funds credited to the Club Kiln Firing Account, to cover your work.  Funds can be transferred to the account details shown on the front page of the Mudlark newsletter - and elsewhere.  It is different to the main Club account.  A monthly reconciliation is provided and emailed to members and also kept on the WET ROOM notice board.

K.11.        Place the pieces on the appropriate shelves in the kiln room, as marked, for bisque, glaze or other firings.  Ensure you are on the correct shelf so that your piece is not damaged from an incorrect firing, or damage the work of others.

K.12.        Where possible, place your unfired pieces together with other pieces of a similar height.  This makes the selection of pieces during kiln loading easier.  Load your pieces on the shelves from back to front to ensure we get the most on each shelf. 

K.13.        Do not move other people’s fragile work and risk breakage. 

K.14.        Do not handle other work after handling your own glazed work, as you can imprint glaze fingerprints.

K.15.        For certain works, with complex shapes or a risk of glaze running, you should leave your work already on a kiln cookie, kiln rests, or some other refractory material to separate it from the kiln shelves.  Likewise multiple small ceramic pieces, decorations etc. can be pre-arranged on a cookie to make kiln loading quicker.

K.16.        Leave a note for the kiln tech if there is something out of the ordinary with your work.

K.17.        The Club has a set of Standard Kiln Firing Programs, which include Bisque, Stoneware Glaze Firing, Mid-fire Firing, plus others.   These are published for the information of members; on the website, in the Kiln file and as posters on the Kiln Room wall.

K.18.        The Standard Programs have been agreed by the Management Committee in consultation with our Kiln Technician.  Alterations to the programs may have an influence on members works and glazes.   The Standard Programs should not be changed without a) Committee approval, b) and amendment to the documentation and c) notification of members.

K.19.        Members may seek approval for a Special Firing Program (for example, single fire, low fire, crystal glaze, lustre glaze etc.) This will be reviewed and approved by the Management Committee, or its delegate, to ensure it is safe and not likely to cause damage to our kilns.

K.20.        The program will be documented in the Kiln Programs file with a number and entered into one or more kiln controllers by the Kiln Technician.  This should ensure that we do not have an ad hoc array of unspecified programs in place in the controllers.

Routine Member Firings

 K.21.        Most members work is fired collectively on one of the Club’s Kiln Firing Programs, together with other members and class student’s work.

K.22.        The Club will endeavour to have a minimum of one bisque and one glaze firing every week, (ideally two), with overflow work and other firing programs covered in other kilns.  We will try to provide members with a maximum one week turnaround, although this is not always possible due to demand in busy periods.  The dimensions of some pieces may also delay their inclusion in a particular firing.

Special Firings

 K.23.        Members may be request a ‘special’ or ‘private’ firing, where the kiln tech will undertake a separate and exclusive firing of the member’s work.  This may occur for example, when there is a large piece, or a large number of pieces, a need for a special firing program, or some priority to complete the firing to meet an exhibition deadline. 

K.24.        The firing will be subject to there being a suitable kiln available and not causing disruption to the routine firing of other members work. 

K.25.        A fee will be charged to cover the cost of firing the entire kiln and the kiln technicians time.

Independent Firings & Accreditation

 K.26.        Members may apply for accreditation to hire a kiln and undertake an independent firing of their work, to an approved schedule.  The accreditation process will require evidence of skill and experience in kiln use, and will also require supervised observation of loading, programming, and unloading of the Club’s kilns by the Kiln Technician. 

K.27.        Once accredited, the member will liaise with the Kiln Technician to determine a suitable kiln and time for the firing.  The kiln will be loaded, programmed, unloaded and cleaned up with minimal disruption to routine firing schedules. 

K.28.        A fee will be charged to cover the cost of firing the entire kiln without Kiln Technician time.

K.29.        The kiln, shelves, props must be left in a clean and fit condition for the next firing.  Any damage to kiln accessories, glaze runs on shelves, or damage to the kiln, its elements or thermocouple, will be charged to the member.

Kiln Technician

 K.30.        The Club engages a part-time Kiln Technician, an experienced ceramicist, to operate the Clubs kilns and assist with glaze preparation.

K.31.        The Kiln Technician is responsible for loading, programming, firing, unloading, reviewing and documenting each firing.  This includes observing works when unloading, completing a Kiln Firing Register and also Kiln Incident Reports for significant problems

K.32.        There is an art to loading a kiln effectively to achieve an efficient and uniform firing of all pieces.  The loading of wares for bisque firings is also different to that for glaze firing.  Selecting works and positioning appropriately comes with experience. 

K.33.        The Kiln Technician liaises with Kiln servicing agents to ensure routine servicing and repairs are undertaken.  They also manage accessories, shelves, props, kiln wash and purchase of glaze chemicals.

K.34.        Having a consistent skilled operator, minimizes mishaps, and provides informed feedback on any issues with specific kilns, or the works submitted by members.  They ensure our most valuable assets are properly maintained and we maximize throughput for class students and members alike. 

K.35.        The Kiln Technician is often able to provide feedback to members on technical issues with their pieces, but as this is a part-time position, members should refrain from engaging excessively.

K.36.        Members should not attempt to harass the Kiln Technician to fire their work preferentially. However polite notes left regarding urgency will be given due consideration.

K.37.        The Kiln Technician will generally welcome offers to assist with unloading, although damage to works is subsequently their responsibility.

K.38.        Issues, complaints or constructive suggestions regarding kiln firing should be brought to the attention of the Management Committee or the nominated Kiln & Glazing Coordinator.

Collection of Work

 K.39.       On completion of firing and cooling, work will be transferred to the WORK IN PROGRESS or LIBRARY ROOM shelves by the Kiln technician.

K.40.       A message is usually sent by WhatsApp with an image of the completed work, sot that members can collect it promptly.

K.41.       Members Bisque work is placed on shelves in the WORK IN PROGRESS room.  It should be collected promptly  within 10 days to free up space.

K.42.       Members Glazed work is placed on the shelves in the LIBRARY room.

K.43.       All Class Student work belonging to non-members is place on the LIBRARY shelves also.

K.44.       Work not collected in a suitable time frame may be culled, binned, used for glaze practice or disposed of otherwise.

Raku, barrel, pit firing

 The Club will occasionally undertake outdoor firing sessions using raku gas-firing in small portable drums, or using other similar techniques.  The sessions will be conducted by one or more experienced tutors or members.  Additional planning and safety precautions are required for participants and the public.