Marin Pottery Members Handbook - Filing Electronically
Marin Pottery Members Handbook
Table of Contents
General Studio Information
Open Studio Hours for students and Day Use
Class Schedule
Workshop Impact
Camp Impact
Emergency/Fire Procedures and Phone Numbers
Personal Conduct in the Studio
Storing Work
Storing Tools, Clay and Other Materials
Clay
Chemical Labeling and Safety/glaze area
Studio Bisque Firing
Glazing / Glaze Firing
Kiln Shelf Damage
Member-Fired Kilns
Member Trainings
Heat Gun, Slab Roller, Extruder,
Unlawful Harassment: MP policy
MP Release Form
Addendum A
Addendum B
General Studio Information
This manual contains the operations and procedures of Marin Pottery Studio. We welcome your comments and suggestions as a means of helping us to continually respond to the interests and needs of our program participants.
Ceramic Studio Staff:
Marin Pottery Director, Studio staff and technicians run the daily operations of Marin Pottery Studio. The Studio Director (Kebby McInroy) and Studio Operations Manager (Jenson Neugebauer) work in conjunction with Studio Staff, Instructors, and Work exchange volunteers to create a safe, healthy and friendly studio environment. Studio Staff and Work Exchange volunteers are available to answer basic questions about the studio operations and studio equipment.
Studio Hours:
Members: Members have access to the studio from 8a-9p daily (except Tuesday and you must be cleaned up by 5:00, and closed Wednesdays), 6 days a week, after a one-month probationary period unless otherwise ok’d by Kebby McInroy. Members receive unlimited hours per week to reserve a designated area for work. This requirement is waived if the member was a prior student at Studio 4 Art LLC and is in good standing. Membership cost is currently $220/ month.
Students: Students have access to the studio during their class time and during designated open studio hours (see below) or as long as a member is present in the studio. Students are not allowed in the studio while other classes are in session. Class cost is currently $280 for a six week session, or you may attend a mini-wheel throwing class which enables you to practice for 2 hours during open studio times.
Day Use: Day use passes are available to the general community. These passes can be used every day, during open studio hours (i.e., not during scheduled classes or workshops or scheduled events). Day use people must check in with staff (sign on clipboard found on the back wall by the back door). Day use passes are available for 5 days-can be non-consecutive for $40/day. There is no day-use on weekends.
Open Studio Hours for STUDENTS:
Monday 1:00-4
Tuesday 1:00-4
Wednesday closed for open studio time
Thursday 1:00-4:00
Friday 1:00-4:00
Saturday 12:00-5:00 If a birthday party is not scheduled, please refer to calendar
Sunday 12:00-5:00
Students can also use the studio to work outside of class time up to 2 hours per week. Free open studio hours for students are, at the minimum, as follows, and there are usually more hours available as well outside of class and staff hours (students may work in the studio outside of classes when there is a member present).
Open Studio Hours for MEMBERS:
Hours may change due to workshops and scheduled classes
Monday 8:00a-9:00p
Tuesday 8:00a-5:00p
Wednesday closed to members
Thursday 8:00a-9:00p
Friday 8:00a-9:00p
Saturday 8:00a-7:00p If a birthday party is not scheduled, please refer to calendar
Sunday 8:00a-7:00p If a birthday party is not scheduled, please refer to calendar
Class Schedule: (Varies, see website for current class schedule)
Monday 10a-1p; 6p-9p
Tuesday 10a-1p; 6:30p-8:30p
Wednesday 10a-1p; 6p-9p
Thursday 10a-1p; 7p-10p
Friday 10a-1p; 6p-9p
Saturday 10a-1p
Membership Cancellation:
Membership cancellation must be given two weeks prior to the first day of the month. A security deposit refund will be returned by the end of the following month (dependent on owed firing fees, etc.). Your cubby will be emptied once you are no longer active and the contents stored in a box for 30 days. After that time everything will be recycled/discarded.
Workshop Impact
The studio typically hosts one workshop/demo each month, usually on Tuesday night or a weekend. Marin Pottery will be setting up and break-down/clean-up schedule. Some workshops need wheels, and these will be moved from their stations to the center of the studio resulting in fewer wheels available for general use during workshops. The workshop and studio-impact schedule is posted and gives people plenty of advance notice of these events and how they might impact equipment/space availability. Classes are not generally scheduled during workshops times.
Camp Impact
Marin Pottery will work with the community during summer months to offer camps for kids. These will be one week in June, two weeks in July, and one week in August. Part of our mission statement is creating community through clay and we feel that connecting with our young artists is vital to enhance connection through creating. We will hold these camps from 9a-12p with clean up and set up 8:30a-12:45p.
Emergency and Fire Procedures and Phone numbers:
Dial 911
In the event of a serious emergency and contact staff: staff phone numbers posted on Wall in Kiln area. Novato Police Department: 415-897-4361
For non-emergencies, contact staff 415-596-5546
In the event of fire or smoke: call 911, contain or fight the fire only if possible, practical and safe to do so, evacuate yourself and others from the building.
Fire extinguishers are located by the back door
First aid supplies are available for immediate treatment of minor injuries and are in the restroom cupboard
Any accident, illness or injury which may be the result of working in the studio should be immediately reported to a staff member who will fill out an incident and accident form (copy in addendum).
If there is a significant earthquake, exit building or at least stay clear of pottery racks. The main gas shutoff is at the back of the building.
Aisles and exit routes should not be obstructed in any way
Library
There is a small ceramics library that members and students are welcome to use. The collection of books belongs to Marin Pottery and is not a “lending” library. You are welcome to read there, but do not remove any of the books or magazines
Personal Conduct in the studio
You may not bring in friends or family members except to walk them through and share your work.
Parking is available on 2nd street or down Grant Avenue. Do not park in the back parking lot, these are reserved for tenants that live upstairs.
Leave your work area clean and empty for the next person
Do not leave your work on tables when leaving the studio. Put all unfinished work on designated shelves if you are a student and in your cubby if you are a member (Marked with your name on the appropriate monthly colored paper)
Work without a slip or with an outdated slip (over two months old) will be relocated to donation shelves at the beginning of the third month. Pieces will stay on donation shelves for one month and will then be discarded or recycled. Members and students are responsible for finding their own work there
Be cautious when moving other people's greenware. Ask staff if you need assistance to move someone else’s work
Keep your voice to a normal speaking level. Respect others’ need for quiet concentration. The wearing of headphones is a sign that a person does not wish to be disturbed
If you accidentally disturb, alter, or damage another person’s work, leave a note including your name
Serious disagreements among studio members, students, work volunteers, or staff should be reported to management
Be respectful of others’ feelings when offering critiques on their work. Critical comments should be solicited and occur privately
Inappropriate speech (including off-color humor, etc.) is strictly prohibited. See policy on unlawful harassment in appendix
Drug and alcohol use in addition to pets and children (under 16 years) and late night partying are prohibited at Marin Pottery
No plaster making is allowed in or by the studio (except by staff)
Membership may be suspended once per calendar year without going to end of waiting list
Members may bring 1-2 guests (for free) once every four months. The member is responsible for everything (clay, firing, safety, clean-up, behavior etc.)
Use shelving appropriate for the height of your work (tall pieces on tall shelves, short pieces on shorter shelves. There is a small ladder if you need to reach to a high shelf
Use bats to match the size of the work (for example don’t store cups on large bats - use small cut wood to store your work on
Private storage cupboards are for members only. If we have extra shelves/cubbies available for rent they will be $50/month per shelf
Storing Tools, Clay, and Other Materials:
Each member has an assigned cubby or shelf. All tools and clay should be stored there
Students will have open shelving to store work in progress marked with monthly slip and name. You may not produce more work than can fit on your shelf or in your cubby.
Marin Pottery is not responsible for personal belongings left in the studio
A lost and found for tools can be found in kiln area, highly recommend writing your name on your tools
Personal hazardous, flammable or combustible materials may not be stored in the studio. NO PROPANE CANISTERS
Students may not store personal materials/glazes in the glaze area, store on your shelf or in your cubby
For chemical storage (glazes, slips, dry materials, etc.), see “chemical labeling and storage protocols
Clay:
Inhalation of clay materials, especially silica, can damage your lungs. It is the finest, invisible particles that hang in the air that are the most dangerous because they are the most easily inhaled and because we are less likely to wear a mask when the air seems clear. It is important to thoroughly clean your wheel and workspace each time you are in the studio. This is your responsibility and for the safety of our staff and others if you leave your area not clean you may be removed from class or membership without reimbursement.
Low-fire and mid-fire clay warning: All regularly stocked studio clays are mid fire. We do not fire high fire clays at Marin Pottery. If you are using low fire clay you must place your work on low fire shelves. IF a low-fire clay goes in a high-fire kiln, it will melt, run, and destroy everything it touches. It's not possible to chip-grind melted low-fire clay off of kiln shelves, which cost $75-$110 each.
All clay bags must be marked with the firing temperature of the clay (for example: “Low-fire” or “Mid-fire” or “cone 05” or “cone 5”)
Storage slips (colored monthly tracking tags that go with a piece on a storage shelf) should indicate the firing temperature of the work
Water conservation is essential at Marin Pottery. Water used for throwing should be poured into the designated washing buckets near the sinks. Wheel parts and tool clean-up is done in the same bucket. Note that there are a series of buckets for washing, with the rinse bin being the last and cleanest station. For the most part, it is not necessary to use water straight from the tap to clean your tools. Use sponges to clean up tables, stools, and wheels
Try to clean up clay scraps on the floor while they are still wet and not toxic to your health, but if clay is dry pick up or use a sponge to get off of floor, then dry with a paper towel as to not leave residue which then turns into clay dust
Always use a wet mop to clean, we have a unique and successful way to mop, please make sure to check in with other members or contact Kebby to understand necessary steps
Clean your own area AND do one extra task by cleaning some part of the common area each time you clean up
If you wish to recycle your own clay, use a board. Do not leave it
Part of cleaning your area is cleaning any additional tools you may have used including bats
Purchasing Clay:
Students receive a 12lb bag of clay for each six to eight-week session. A number of clays, all mid fire, are available for purchase. Prices and attributes (% shrinkage, absorption rates) are posted. Purchased clay will be waiting for you with your name on the bag after purchasing online. You MUST purchase our clay to use the kiln and glazes. No outside clay is available for use for students or members.
Chemical and Clay Safety
Safety and attire:
all members and students must wear eye and face protection equipment wherever deemed appropriate by the staff.
Long hair should be tied back when working with wheels or other electrical equipment
Shoes should be worn at all times, preferably not sandals
Safety glasses should be worn when performing an eye-threatening activity, such as drilling, grinding, sawing, or splashes occurring from mixing slips, glazes, etc.
Niosh masks: required when glazing. Additionally, a mask should be worn when sanding or grinding clay or when performing any activity that sites up clay dust or chemicals. We have masks for purchase, please email info.marinpottery@gmail.com to purchase.
Chemical Labeling and Storage protocols
If you store any chemicals anywhere in the studio (glazes, slips, dry materials, etc.) you must be fully compliant with the OSHA safety guidelines.
The City of Novato and OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) require all facilities such as ours to use proper containers, and proper labeling, for all chemicals stored in the studio. We do not allow glaze mixing at Marin Pottery. You may use underglaze, slips, premade glazes to decorate ware.
“Chemicals” include glazes, stains, slips, underglazes, engobes, and all ingredients that make them commercially purchased chemicals should have the Prop 65 warning on them so no action is required on those.
If you bring in your own glazes, underglaze, slips, stains, or engobes, you must store chemicals with detailed information and following the protocols below:
The types of containers that can be used and not used, any container that was ever used for food/drink CANNOT be used for non-food/chemicals. No repurpose yogurt containers, even with the label taped over or scratched off, etc.)
CAS labeling (a list of chemicals in a container and their codes)
HMIS labeling (the health, fire, and safety threats associated with the chemicals in a container)
Re-Enrollment
Students currently in a class are given Priority to re-enroll for the following session in the same class. The re-enrollment payment deadline is class #4 in each session. If you miss the deadline we cannot guarantee you a spot.
For Students not re-enrolling for the next session:
The last day of class is the last day in the studio. Shelves must be cleared out by that date in preparation for new students
The last day to submit your work for class firing is the day before the next class session starts. Please check in with staff before using the studio (once you are no longer an active student).
Firing Materials Warning: Any non-studio-provided materials put in a kiln-aside from commonly used store-bought glazes, underglazes, slips, stains, etc. - must be pre approved by staff.
Studio Bisque Firing:
Do not touch the kilns without authorization. For the most part, kilns are fired by staff, who load, program, and unload the kilns.
First Firing: Bisque Firing (cone 05 electric)
Most bisque firing is done to cone 05 in our electric kilns
Greenware should be bone dry prior to putting it on firing shelf in kiln area, marked bisque fire (Does not feel cool when you put your hand on clay)
All work should be marked with the maker's mark, initials or signature. It may help to keep a record of your work with drawings, notes or photos
Firing slips are deep yellow (members) or pale yellow (students)
Each piece, or set of similar pieces, should have a firing slip (indicate if your slip is for a set and say how many pieces are included)
Glazing
Glaze Prep:
Only bisque-ware can be glazed
Use a damp sponge to thoroughly wash your bisqued piece to remove bits of dry clay
Limited wax use for our studio. No regular waxed items (such as the foot of your piece) as this is hard on the elements in our kiln. Sponge clean up is efficient.
Clean wax brushes with boiling water (hot water in water cooler) and dish soap. Put used wax water in trash
Glaze Info:
The studio offers a variety of cone 06-6 glazes and underglazes. If you want to use other types of glaze you must purchase them and store them
Commercially-prepared glazes and underglazes may be used in the studio, but please ask for assistance if you do not have knowledge of the glaze you would like to use. Make sure the glaze is formulated for the temperature (cone) to which it will be fired. You must indicate on your firing slip that you are using a “non-studio” glaze
Glaze test wall: the grid shows tests on mid fire clay
Use gloves if you have open wounds, glaze chemicals can be toxic
Mix glaze thoroughly using a whisk, paddle, or drill. Each glaze bucket has a designated mixing stick. If using a drill don’t let it touch the bottom or sides of buckets because bits of plastic can come off and contaminate the glaze
Leave unglazed area at the bottom of your pieces. Leave more space from the bottom unglazed if you are layering glazes or using a runny glaze. You will be monetarily responsible for replacing kiln shelves destroyed by glazing errors ($50-$75 a shelf)
Be careful if glazing the underside of pieces, especially plates which may slump in the kiln and stick to the shelf
Staff may reject poorly glazed work. It will be placed back on the shelf with a note of explanation. Place questionable glazing experiments on “cookies” (ask a staff person if you don’t understand what a cookie is)
Do not eat or drink in the glazing area
Glaze contains potentially toxic ingredients and should not go down the drain. Wash glaze containers, tools and brushes in the appropriate containers in the glazing area
Students must get glazing approval from staff or instructor if bringing in from outside the studio
Glaze firing
Final firing can be done to either Cone 05, or Cone 6 in our electric kilns
Place glazeware on appropriate height shelf (tall pieces on tall shelves, etc. to assist kiln-loading)
Include glaze info on firing slip
If your glaze might run, include a clay cookie. If your piece needs to be stilted, please provide a stilt.
Equipment Authorizations / Orientation
Some of our studio equipment requires authorization or instruction to use. In some cases, special safety equipment must be worn while operating the equipment. No one but staff is allowed to use the power tools. The only exception is after a through training for the following:
Heat gun
Slab roller
Extruder
Dremel tool
Failure to comply with the studio rules regarding your responsibilities for the care and use of equipment results in losing the privilege to use that specific piece of equipment. If you break equipment due to negligence, you will be responsible for its repair or replacement. Report ANY electrical malfunctions to staff immediately. Write what is wrong, the item, date, and your name on sheet in the kiln room
Heat gun
Ask for a demo if you haven’t used one before
Don’t leave heat gun on wood or plastic
Slab roller
Ask for a demo if you haven’t used it before
Use white clay mats with white clay
Use dark clay mats with other clays
Clean mats before handing them back on rack
Extruder
Ask for a demo before using
Dremel Tool
Ask for demo before using
Unlawful Harassment: Marin Pottery Studio Policy
Background Against Unlawful Harassment
Harassment, in any form, undermines the abilities and potential of employees and customers (members, students, day-pass users, contract firing clients and other customers). Harassment also violates both state and federal law.
Defining harassment and its many nuances is difficult. What one person finds objectionable may not be offensive to another. If an employee or customer experiences conduct that he or she finds unwelcome or offensive, Marin Pottery encourages the employee or customer to inform the person engaging in that conduct that it is unwelcome and should stop. If the situation is too uncomfortable to be addressed directly, please see or talk to the staff person ASAP.
The following sections of this policy describe unlawful harassment and outline the ways in which Marin Pottery will respond to it. The intent is not to discourage mutual and friendly exchanges among and between employees and customers, but to enhance awareness and to prevent unlawful harassment.
Policy Against Unlawful Harassment
Marin Pottery strictly prohibits all forms of unlawful harassment, which includes harassment on the basis of race, color, r, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), wages, gender, gender identity, gender expression, orientation, marital status, national origin, ancestry, disability (mental and physical, including HIV and AIDS), medical condition genetic information, age, veteran status and/or any other characteristic defined by state, federal, or local law.
Our policy against unlawful harassment applies to all employees and customers. Managers and employees are prohibited from harassing co-workers as well as members, students, day-users, vendors, suppliers, independent contractors, volunteers, and others doing business with Marin Pottery. In addition, members, students, day-users, vendors, suppliers, independent contractors and others doing business with Marin Pottery are prohibited from harassing our employees.
Violation of this policy will subject an employee or customer to disciplinary action, up to and including immediate termination. Additionally, under California law, employees may be held personally liable for harassing conduct that violates the California Fair Employment and Housing Act.
Examples of Prohibited Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment includes a broad spectrum of conduct including harassment based on gender, transgender, non-binary, and sexual orientation (meaning one’s homosexuality, or bisexuality). The sexually harassing conduct does not need to be motivated by sexual desire. By way of illustration only, and not limitation, some examples of unlawful and unacceptable behavior include:
Unwanted romantic or sexual advances
Offering an employment benefit (such as a raise or promotion or assistance with one's career) in exchange for sexual favors, or threatening an employment detriment (such as termination, demotion, or disciplinary action) for an employees failure to engage in sexual activity
Visual conduct, such as leering, making sexual gestures, displaying sexual suggestive objects or pictures, cartoons or posters
Verbal romantic or sexual advances, propositions, request, or comments
Verbal abuse of sexual nature, graphic verbal commentaries about an individual's body, sexually degrading words used to describe an individual, suggestive or obscene letters, notes or invitations
Physical conduct, such as touching, assault, impeding or blocking movement
Physical or verbal abuse concerning an individuals actual sex or the perception of the individuals sex
Verbal abuse concerning a person's characteristics such as vocal pitch, facial hair, or the size or shape of a person's body, including remarks that a male is too feminine or a female is too masculine
Examples of What Constitutes Prohibited Harassment
In addition to the above listed conduct, harassment is prohibited when it concerns race, color, religion, national origin, age, or other protected characteristics. By way of illustration only, and not limitation, prohibited harassment concerning race, color, religion, national origin, age or other protected characteristic includes:
Slurs, epithets, and any other offensive remarks
Jokes, whether written, verbal, or electronic
Threats, intimidation, and other menacing behavior
Other verbal, graphic, or physical conduct
Other conduct predicated upon one or more of the protect categories identified in this policy
If you have any questions about what constitutes harassing behavior, you may contact management.
Harassment of our customers by our employees is also strictly prohibited. Such harassment includes the types of behavior specified in this policy, including sexual advances, verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, sexual comments, and gender-based insults. Any such harassment will subject an employee to disciplinary action, up to and/or including, immediate termination.
What should you do if you feel you are, or have been harassed?
If you feel that you are being harassed in violation of this policy by another employee or customer doing business with Marin Pottery you should immediately contact staff or management. In addition, if you observe harassment by another employee or customer, please report the incident immediately to staff or management. Appropriate action will be taken in response to violation of this policy.
Employees are encouraged to help eliminate unwelcome behavior by talking with the offending party directly, to let that person know their behavior is unacceptable. Whether or not the employee talks with the offending party, the employee or student should report the behavior, so that Marin Pottery is able to eradicate all unlawful harassment.
A customer who believes he/she/they has been subject to harassment should immediately discuss his/her/their concerns with staff or management.
Employees must not use peer pressure to discourage possible harassment victims from making a report.
All complaints of unlawful harassment reported to management will be investigated as promptly as possible and correct action will be taken where warranted. Marin Pottery prohibits employees from hindering internal complaint procedures. All complaints of unlawful harassment which are reported to management will be treated with as much confidentiality as possible, consistent with the need to conduct an adequate investigation.
Policy Against Retaliation
Marin Pottery is committed to prohibiting retaliation against those who report, oppose, or participate in an investigation of alleged wrongdoing in the workplace. By way of example only, participating in an investigation of alleged wrongdoing in the workplace, includes, but is not limited to:
Filing a complaint with a federal or state enforcement or administrative agency
Participating in, or cooperating with, a federal or state enforcement agency that is conducting an investigation of Marin Pottery regarding alleged unlawful activity
Testifying as a party witness, or accused regarding alleged unlawful activity
Associating with another employee who is engaged in any of these activities
Making or filing an internal complaint with Marin Pottery regarding alleged unlawful activity
Providing informal notice to Marin Pottery regarding alleged unlawful activity
Any adverse action/retaliation is strictly prohibited against an employee for participating in an investigation of any alleged wrongdoing in the workplace. If you feel that you are being retaliated against you should immediately contact management, in addition, if you observe retaliation by another employee or customer, please report the incident immediately to management.
Prompt and Effective Remedial Action
Any employee determined to be responsible for violating this policy will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action, up to and/or including termination. Moreover, any employee or manager who condones or ignores potential violations of this policy will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including termination.
Marin Pottery will also take steps necessary and appropriate to prevent further harassment, and will take any other appropriate action needed to remedy the situation.
Further information concerning Workplace Harassment
Employees who want further information may review the pamphlet published by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing entitled “Sexual Harassment Behaviors May Be Sexual Harassment.” The publication may be obtained at: https://www.dfeh.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2017/06/DFEH_SexualHarassmentPamphlet.pdf
Please read Marin Pottery’s Handbook and return the consent form below to Marin Pottery. A signed consent form must be on file before you may use studio equipment.
Addendum A - 11/7/21
Pick Up Areas:
Once your pottery has been fired it will be in either the bisque shelf or the glaze shelf depending on what kiln firing your work was in. Your items must be put into your personal shelf or cubby, or taken home, within 5 days. Any work left will be donated.
Music:
To respect all in our small studio headphones must be worn when listening to music
In Progress Work:
In progress pottery must be kept in your cubby or on your personal shelf
If larger items need space please reach out and we can see about offering additional storage.
Addendum B 11/7/21
Electric Kiln Info and Protocols
General overview: the goal of bisque firing is to convert greenware to a durable, semi-vitrified porous stage where it can be safely handled during the glazing and decorating process. It also burns out carbon and other organic materials in the clay. Glaze firing (up to cone 6) can also be done in most of our electric kilns-firing hotter than this is beyond the capacity of our kilns, and is very hard on the kiln components regardless, quickly wearing them out.
How electric kilns work: Electricity passes through coiled heating elements that have a certain amount of electrical resistance, generating radiant heat as a by-product. The heat rises and is absorbed by everything in the kiln. In an oxidation firing such as in an electric kiln, the elements just heat the air and wares like an electric oven.
Safety issues
Electrocution is a bad thing - always press “Stop” before loading to avoid shocks
Hot things will burn you - avoid them or wear leather gloves
Sharp things like glaze edges and glaze on shelves will cut you - avoid them or wear leather gloves when unloading.
Don’t leave anything flammable on or against or under kiln
There is a difference between temperature and cone #. Cones measure total heat (absorption) over time. So if you fire quickly, your maximum temperature will have to be hotter than if you fire slowly to reach the same cone.
Cone # explanation: Cones rage from the lowest (cone 022) to the highest (cone 10)
Cone 018 1319° F Lusters and decals
Cone 05 1888° F Bisque and low-fire glaze
Cone 6 2232° F Mid-fire
Cone 10 2345° F High-fire
Pre-heat/cooling/unloading protocols
Standard studio bisque firings include a three-hour pre-heat
Pre-heating is not necessary for work that is already bisque (e.g., mid-fire glaze firing). It is very important to understand that the cone numbers starting with zero indicate lower temperatures when they melt than non-zero numbers (e.g., cone 05 melts at a much lower temperature than Cone 5. Cone -6 melts at a lower temperature than Cone 05.) Clay and glazes are formulated to fire at specific temperatures/cones.
Be aware: If you put a low-fire clay or glaze into a mid-fire or high-fire kiln, it will melt and badly damage the kiln shelves and possibly other work.
The studio's standard low-fire bisque and glaze firing is done at cone 05, and mid-fire at cone 6.
Wares must be completely dry prior to loading or they might explode. There are several ways to tell if your work is dry:
Feel for temperature difference, bottom compared to top
Compare temperature to a pot you “know” is dry
Kiln techs
Loading Kiln
Line all posts up vertically (including short posts under bottom kiln shelves)
Don’t put wide flat things on bottom shelf because there is no heat underneath and the temperature differential can lead to cracks
Fire big heavy sculptures on a thin bed of sand/grog (acts like a mini ball bearings, allowing clay to expand and contract without craving).
Don’t put anything too close to the thermocouple
Use proper nesting techniques to avoid cracks
Max temperature Cone 6 (note that not all kilns can go this high)
When starting the kiln, close the lid, put in the peeps, and turn the fan on.
Unloading: crack the lid open with a soft brick or horizontally placed post when it reaches 250° (NOT BEFORE). You may open the lid completely at 200° and begin unloading, although note that the wares can still be too hot to touch with bare hands; wear gloves if necessary.
Firing Clean up: Put everything away after loading and unloading. Scrape and kiln wash any shelves if damaged (by glaze typically). Vacuum any debris.
Marin Pottery Studio Handbook
Marin Pottery Studio Release Form