Do You Have a Kiln?

Almost twice I have bought my own kiln....b/c they were at estate sales.....but we moved and it was too difficult to commit to that sort of space.

I recommend you shop around on Craigslist or Ebay to see what is out there 2nd hand. Take a want ad out on Craigslist. Check with summer camps who are upgrading their kilns.

I think those new Pottery places are jokingly expensive and I would recommend you avoid paying them such high mark ups to fire your stuff. Perhaps start a monthly club with other interested parties.

How close are you to Leisure World in Phoenix? They have a kiln in their hobbies area? Maybe you can volunteer to help there and get free kiln time??? Just thinking out loud here...

Also remember, once you buy a kiln, you'll need many extras: a special outlet b/c I'm sure it runs on more than a 30 amp plug and there is normally only one to a home for they washer/dryer. Also you'll need a special, sealed and safe room so no one little has any access while you heating and cooling the kiln. There are a lot of fire and electrical concerns to to map out before you make that kind of investment.

I have a raku kiln... but it would be a bit of a drive ;)

In our city, though, at the pottery supply store they have firing services (both bisque & glaze... both for lowfire, mid, & highfire). Firing services are super cheap. $20 per shelf on the kiln. $50 if you want the whole electric kiln, $100 for the gas kiln... if you load it yourself... I forget what loading costs, since I do it myself (I don't have an electric kiln for bisquing, nor a sare 20k for a gas kiln for highfire). I believe there's a big clay supply place in Phoenix (I think I've ordered some specialty things from them a few years ago). I would give them a call to find out about firing services.

I wonder if you called one of those "paint your own pottery" stores and asked if you could rent/borrow theirs if they would do that. How fun!

Not sure what you want to fire but have you looked into the microwave kilns? They are very small but it might be suitable for your needs. I probably would have a dedicated microwave for my kiln though.

No and I do not know a single person that does!! Maybe it is more of a western thing. I agree with the poster who suggested talking to a pottery painting place.

I took a pottery class and the instructor has a kiln. His e-mail is ____@____.com is in Chandler, AZ Hope this works for you!!