YES TheLab.ms has a small but mighty ceramics program. On this page you will find the ceramics FAQ and the firing schedule for our kiln.
Area Hosts
| Host | Handle |
|---|---|
| Olivia Snyder | @olisny |
| Julie Harris | @Julie Harris |
Firing Schedule at TheLab.ms
We STRONGLY recommend you join the #ceramics channel on Discord to stay up to date with what’s going on.
FAQ
What type of kiln does TheLab have?
TheLab currently has a kiln on loan from one of our members, a Paragon Caldera. For larger firings, we have members who may volunteer their personal kilns.
What temp do you fire at?
Everything is ^5 or lower. If you have a special request, speak to the area hosts.
Do you have clay?
Currently, we only keep slip in stock at TheLab. We use slip from Trinity Ceramics in Dallas. You can purchase slip for $X.XX/oz.
Do you have pottery wheels?
Not currently, primarily because of lack of space at the moment. We use handbuilding and slipcasting to create.
Do you have glaze?
We have a small array of low-fire glazes. You can purchase small cups of glaze to use and keep, or donate the rest back to our pile.
Can I bring my own stuff?
Absolutely! But we have a strict NON-TOXIC and LEAD FREE rule. If it has a toxic material in it, keep it out of TheLab’s kiln. Period. There are no exceptions. When in doubt, ASK an Area Host.
I want to fire glass.
You CAN do a special glass firing, but we ask that it be approved by an Area Host first, and that you add a little extra to the donation bin. Also, clay kilns aren’t nearly as clean as glass kilns. Your materials aren’t guaranteed clean.
Rules
- Non-toxic, lead-free materials ONLY. NO EXCEPTIONS. Firing toxic materials in the kiln can result in loss of membership.
- All greenware on shelves must have a NAME and DATE. No name or date? Your ware may be thrown out.
- All ware, green, bisque, or finished, older than 30+ days will be tossed. No exceptions. There is not enough room to store stuff.
- Do not pour more than one little cup of glaze at a time unless you are SUPER familiar with how much to use.
- Do not pour glaze back into bottles. Leave it in a sealed cup for someone else or take it home.
- EVERYTHING is at your own risk. Someone’s work may explode in the kiln and ruin yours. The kiln may get bumped during a firing and work sticks together. There may be a bad batch of glaze. That’s the nature of ceramics: she is a fickle beast that cannot be tamed.
Disclaimer
Based on usage, time, number of people, etc. etc. firing schedules and rules may change. We will do our best to communicate with everyone and let them know ahead of time if things change! If you have questions, please join us on #ceramics and ask away.