Our Process/Safety

Safety:

-If you are pregnant, may be pregnant, nursing or if you have any health concerns/issues: Please talk to your medical provider prior to signing up for any classes or workshops.  

-Signing a liability waiver is required prior to participation. 

-Email us for the Safety Data Sheet: ponderosapotteryllc@gmail.com

Process: 

We use mid-fire clay and glazes and fire to cone 5-6.  This is approximately 2,200 degrees Fahrenheit and each glaze firing lasts from 11-12 hours our electric Skutt kilns.  The kilns are off-site.

Clay - We use brown and white stoneware and it is shaped by wheel throwing or hand-building. The piece will be left to dry evenly and is now referred to as 'greenware'. We have drying shelves for leather-hard pieces (pots that still need work/trim) and also a greenware shelf where members  place their pot to dry prior to being bisque fired. 

Greenware - Term used for shaped clay prior to firing. The next step is to put each piece into the kiln for the first firing, around cone 04-02, meaning about 1900-2000 degrees lasting about 10 hours. Once the pieces are done, they are now called "bisque ware".

Bisque- Term used for porous material, after the first firing and at this stage, pieces are now glazed.

After glazing, the piece is left to dry and put into the kiln again and fired to cone 5-6 for about 11-12 hours.  After a few more hours (this is the hardest part - the waiting!!) the kiln will be cool enough to open and take all of the finished pieces out. 

It varies how long it will take someone to make their piece; however, most pieces take at least 21 hours of total firing time.