Jan McQueary on tue 9 may 00
A friend of mine has a 40 cubic foot wood kiln, which she typically fires
in about 12-16 hours. She is wondering how much to charge for firing
other potters' work. Can anyone offer any ideas/suggestions?
Some considerations are:
Wood firing is romantic, but it is a lot of work, and it is not
necessarily cheap! She has just ordered a new set of shelves, for
example (the guys with used shelves didn't have what she needed in
stock). Usually everyone brings food for the firing - but my friend
still provides a lot of drinks and food herself.
What do other potters charge people who use their glazes or just drop
work off to be fired - but don't participate in the considerable work to
prepare wood, load, fire and clean up the kiln.
Should there be any break for people who help with all or part of the
work involved.
Guidelines for figuring out the real cost of her wood - some purchased,
some picked up for free or delivered for a reasonable fee. All the wood
still requires considerable processing - logs need to be split with a gas
powered log splitter and long thin cutoffs must be gathered, cut up and
bundled. (Usual practice is to take turns splitting while the kiln
fires, so she is ready for the next firing - still procuring the wood is
a big deal.)
I think that she finds having some help and sharing the kiln a benefit UP
TO A POINT - but she needs to define that limit and figure how much to
charge beyond it.
Thanks for any suggestions you can give!
Jan McQueary
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Merrie Boerner on wed 10 may 00
To Jan's friend who wants to share her kiln....
It would be great to start out with set prices and rules to go
by...instead of making them up as you go, like I did ! You are accepting a
huge responsibility ! The friends you make will be priceless!!!!!
........here are a few guidelines I thought of while resting.
1. Tell the participants the size of your shelves and posts, and tell them
the price according to how much space you are willing to let them have. This
will usually cut down on the amount of platters people want to fire. If you
told them... say, 10 pieces for a certain amount of $$, they may show up
with 10 platters and there goes the pot chamber ! I usually say that they
can expect to fill two 12"X24" shelves and some on the sandy bottom, but to
bring more, just in case we have room. I have a different amount of people
coming each time, so...pricing by the shelf works best for me. (my kiln has
about 120 cubic feet stacking space)
2. No one should put even one pot in unless they do at least one stoking
shift! Part of the romance is having physical interaction with the pots,
flame, and people. They would miss the point if they didn't sweat. AND, they
will appreciate their pots more if they stoke (or try harder next time if
they are not satisfied with their work).
3. Work/scholarships can be given to participants who come early or stay
late for clean-up, kiln washing of shelves, and wood gathering.....but, they
still should stoke.
4. Take into consideration participant's health needs....I have had
participants with heart problems and I let them do the first (very easy)
stoking shift....so they can romance the flame. The rest of the time, they
work in the kitchen, run errands, answer the phone...and such.
5. While the kiln cools, and after you celebrate and rest, anyone who is
able gathers wood for the next firing. 10 hands can stack much faster than 2
!!! The people will WANT to help ! If they don't, wood firing is not for
them.
If you have any more questions, please e-mail me at Boerner@tislink.com
Also, check out the June issue of Ceramics Monthly to see this beauty of a
kiln !
Firing May 30 and June 16 !!!! Can hardly wait !
Merrie in Mississippi
Stephen Cappelli on wed 10 may 00
Jan..... we fire a few times a year at the University of Alabama's two
chamber bourry box, saw dust injected kiln (designed by Lowell Baker there
at U of A). ALL participants pay a $25.00 workshop fee (goes back to the
clay area I hope) .... Lowell provides the wood and place to fire. EVERYONE
that had pots in the kiln are required to work 3 to 4 hour shifts.... no
deadbeats!!!!!! and just like any other firing, nothing is a sure thing
with getting in the kiln. always a puzzle to put together.... we try to
load a little of everyone's but there is always the situation of some
getting more in than others, but in the long rung and over time, everything
works out about even for everyone......everyone is responsible for their own
food and drink, glazes etc.... your friend needs to find other outlets for
wood..... lumber yard cast-off, mills, etc.... most people that I know who
fire with wood, get the wood for free, just have to pick it up..... some
are paid to haul it off..... hope this helps a little......... CIAO
........ Stephen in muggy Montgomery AL
-----Original Message-----
From: Jan McQueary
To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
Date: Tuesday, May 09, 2000 1:25 PM
Subject: Woodfiring charges
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
A friend of mine has a 40 cubic foot wood kiln, which she typically fires
in about 12-16 hours. She is wondering how much to charge for firing
other potters' work. Can anyone offer any ideas/suggestions?
Some considerations are:
Wood firing is romantic, but it is a lot of work, and it is not
necessarily cheap! She has just ordered a new set of shelves, for
example (the guys with used shelves didn't have what she needed in
stock). Usually everyone brings food for the firing - but my friend
still provides a lot of drinks and food herself.
What do other potters charge people who use their glazes or just drop
work off to be fired - but don't participate in the considerable work to
prepare wood, load, fire and clean up the kiln.
Should there be any break for people who help with all or part of the
work involved.
Guidelines for figuring out the real cost of her wood - some purchased,
some picked up for free or delivered for a reasonable fee. All the wood
still requires considerable processing - logs need to be split with a gas
powered log splitter and long thin cutoffs must be gathered, cut up and
bundled. (Usual practice is to take turns splitting while the kiln
fires, so she is ready for the next firing - still procuring the wood is
a big deal.)
I think that she finds having some help and sharing the kiln a benefit UP
TO A POINT - but she needs to define that limit and figure how much to
charge beyond it.
Thanks for any suggestions you can give!
Jan McQueary
________________________________________________________________
YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET!
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Try it today - there's no risk! For your FREE software, visit:
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