Karin Hurt on sun 19 sep 04
Someone asked what I would charge to fire a load in my electric kiln.
I have the Skutt Model 1227, inside dimensions 26 1/2" deep, 28" dia.
My husband hauled out the electric bill and figured it. A slow firing of 11+
hrs would be $15.0 something, a medium around 7+ hours around $11.00+ and a
fast at 4.55 hrs around $10.00 something.
That does not include wear and tear. I feel that is excessive, does anyone
have any idea what to charge? I've done it in the past and not charged
anything, but this time it would be several kiln loads.
Any ideas?
Karin
www.Laughingbearclay.com
Cheryl Fisher on mon 20 sep 04
The studio I work out of charges per piece on the basis of height x width =
x
width x .035=A2 for the electric kiln and the same but .045=A2 for the gas kiln=
.
The width would be slightly larger than the actual width to allow for space
around the piece. A piece that is 3 x 5 x 5 would be figured as 3 x 5.5 x
5.5 x the amount. In the electric it would be $3.18. In the gas it would be
$4.08. =20
Cheryl F.
Sarasota, FL USA
On 9/19/04 9:24 PM, "Karin Hurt" wrote:
> Someone asked what I would charge to fire a load in my electric kiln.
>=20
Wayne on mon 20 sep 04
Karin:
Yeah, ok, that's the cost of the electric for the kiln.
How much do you charge per hour to load/unload?
How much time will be required to grind glaze off kiln shelves,
reapply kiln wash (don't forget the electric for the grinder, too)
and set it all up again?
How much do you charge to sit there and mind the kiln during an 11
hour firing?
$15 excessive? Not hardly. Should be more like $50.
Don't sell yourself short.
Just my $.02
Wayne Seidl
Key West, Florida, USA
North America, Terra
Latitude 81.45W, Longitude 24.33N
Elevation 3.1 feet (1m)
----- Original Message -----
From: "Karin Hurt"
To:
Sent: Sunday, September 19, 2004 9:24 PM
Subject: How do you figure the cost of firing a kiln load
> Someone asked what I would charge to fire a load in my electric
> kiln.
>
> I have the Skutt Model 1227, inside dimensions 26 1/2" deep, 28"
> dia.
>
> My husband hauled out the electric bill and figured it. A slow
> firing of 11+
> hrs would be $15.0 something, a medium around 7+ hours around
> $11.00+ and a
> fast at 4.55 hrs around $10.00 something.
>
> That does not include wear and tear. I feel that is excessive,
> does anyone
> have any idea what to charge? I've done it in the past and not
> charged
> anything, but this time it would be several kiln loads.
>
> Any ideas?
>
> Karin
> www.Laughingbearclay.com
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your
> subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
> melpots@pclink.com.
>
Maid O'Mud on mon 20 sep 04
Our local guild charges $25/load and the person renting
the kiln must do the loading and unloading. If you are
doing the loading/unloading, charge for your time as well.
Considering how many pieces can fit into one firing,
$25 is quite low when averaged per piece.
Most of all, don't undervalue any part of your work -
maintaining and operating a kiln is a part of your work.
Sam Cuttell
Maid O'Mud Pottery
RR 1
Melbourne, Ontario
N0L 1T0
CANADA
"First, the clay told me what to do.
Then, I told the clay what to do.
Now, we co-operate."
sam 1994
http://www.ody.ca/~scuttell/
scuttell@ody.ca
----- Original Message -----
From: "Karin Hurt"
> Someone asked what I would charge to fire a load in my electric kiln.
>
> I have the Skutt Model 1227, inside dimensions 26 1/2" deep, 28" dia.
>
> My husband hauled out the electric bill and figured it. A slow firing of
11+
> hrs would be $15.0 something, a medium around 7+ hours around $11.00+ and
a
> fast at 4.55 hrs around $10.00 something.
>
> That does not include wear and tear. I feel that is excessive, does anyone
> have any idea what to charge? I've done it in the past and not charged
> anything, but this time it would be several kiln loads.
>
> Any ideas?
>
> Karin
> www.Laughingbearclay.com
>
John Bandurchin on mon 20 sep 04
When you figure out the cost of wear and tear on the kiln, get an
electrician to give you an estimate of how much he would charge to replace
the elements. Those snaky kinky pieces of wire sure don't jump into the
element grooves by themselves and your time is valuable.
John Bandurchin
----- Original Message -----
From: "Karin Hurt"
To:
Sent: Sunday, September 19, 2004 9:24 PM
Subject: How do you figure the cost of firing a kiln load
> Someone asked what I would charge to fire a load in my electric kiln.
>
> I have the Skutt Model 1227, inside dimensions 26 1/2" deep, 28" dia.
>
> My husband hauled out the electric bill and figured it. A slow firing of
11+
> hrs would be $15.0 something, a medium around 7+ hours around $11.00+ and
a
> fast at 4.55 hrs around $10.00 something.
>
> That does not include wear and tear. I feel that is excessive, does anyone
> have any idea what to charge? I've done it in the past and not charged
> anything, but this time it would be several kiln loads.
>
> Any ideas?
>
> Karin
> www.Laughingbearclay.com
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
__
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
Linda Ferzoco on mon 20 sep 04
At a workshop this summer, several of the potters were recounting
their firing costs for electic kilns. It varied from about $8-9 for
a lucky potter from Illinois to about $25 for us California potters
(remember Enron guys pumping up our costs?).
I think the manufacurers should work harder to conserve the heat we
pay for so dearly. Surely the electric kilns could be better
insulated.
Linda
Lowell Barron on mon 20 sep 04
Hi Sam, Is it not true that our guild has their electricity subsidized?
Otherwise the price would be considerably higher I imagine. I agree that
there is a lot of work that goes into firing and should not be undervalued.
Lowell
----- Original Message -----
From: "Maid O'Mud"
To:
Sent: Monday, September 20, 2004 10:22 AM
Subject: Re: How do you figure the cost of firing a kiln load
> Our local guild charges $25/load and the person renting
> the kiln must do the loading and unloading. If you are
> doing the loading/unloading, charge for your time as well.
>
> Considering how many pieces can fit into one firing,
> $25 is quite low when averaged per piece.
>
> Most of all, don't undervalue any part of your work -
> maintaining and operating a kiln is a part of your work.
Karin Hurt on mon 20 sep 04
Thank You Sheryl, it doesn't sound like my price was too high.
Karin
www.laughingbearclay@npgcable.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Cheryl Fisher"
To:
Sent: Monday, September 20, 2004 5:36 AM
Subject: Re: How do you figure the cost of firing a kiln load
The studio I work out of charges per piece on the basis of height x widt=
h x
width x .035=A2 for the electric kiln and the same but .045=A2 for the ga=
s kiln.
The width would be slightly larger than the actual width to allow for spa=
ce
around the piece. A piece that is 3 x 5 x 5 would be figured as 3 x 5.5 x
5.5 x the amount. In the electric it would be $3.18. In the gas it would =
be
$4.08.
Cheryl F.
Sarasota, FL USA
On 9/19/04 9:24 PM, "Karin Hurt" wrote:
> Someone asked what I would charge to fire a load in my electric kiln.
>
_________________________________________________________________________=
___
__
Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
Michael Wendt on mon 20 sep 04
Karin,
Start with the price you would pay to replace the kiln. Figure in the cost
of shipping, installation, floor space used as well as the labor loading and
unloading. Be sure to include all other costs like insurance, property
taxes, as well as electricity. Finally, use a figure of 100 firings ( or
some number you figure to be the life of the kiln ) and divide your costs by
that figure. You will find the cost per load is more like $60 or $70, not
$10-15.
Good luck with the figuring :-)
Regards,
Michael Wendt
Wendt Pottery
2729 Clearwater Ave
Lewiston, Idaho 83501
USA
wendtpot@lewiston.com
www.wendtpottery.com
Cynthia Bracker on tue 21 sep 04
If it helps to know what you are actually paying for your kiln firing,
Skutt actually produced a calculation of Firing Costs brochure. For a
1227, 240V, the official method of figuring your costs is as follows:
Hours at Low X 2.9 = A
Hours at Med X 5.8 = B
Hours at Hi X 11.5 = C
(A+B+C) X cost per Kilowatt hour (available on your electricity bill)
Also, don't let an electrician change your elements. You'll pay WAY too
much. Skutt elements are easy to change. You can do it yourself, I
promise! (You're welcome to call our repair tech, Dave. He's walked
people through how to do this over the phone many times) If you really
don't feel comforatable doing that, hire a kiln repair tech. As a
ballpark for your replacement of wear & tear items, Skutt elements
retail at $41.00. I think they generally go up about $1/year. A good
repair tech should be able to change a full set in a 1227 in 2 hours or
less. In the midwest it's reasonable to expect at least $35.00 labor
plus drive time. Double that (at least) on the coasts. If you do it
yourself and have never done it before, it will probably take you about
4 hours. Be sure to set a policy on replacement of shelves if they are
ruined. Consider a refundable deposit or something like that. Think
twice before advertising that you will do this. It has a really
appealing draw - Make a little extra money on the side with little
effort. It usually doesn't end up being the panacea you think it will
be. Good luck!
Cindy Bracker
Bracker's Good Earth Clays, Inc.
Karin Hurt wrote:
>Someone asked what I would charge to fire a load in my electric kiln.
>
>I have the Skutt Model 1227, inside dimensions 26 1/2" deep, 28" dia.
>
>My husband hauled out the electric bill and figured it. A slow firing of 11+
>hrs would be $15.0 something, a medium around 7+ hours around $11.00+ and a
>fast at 4.55 hrs around $10.00 something.
>
>That does not include wear and tear. I feel that is excessive, does anyone
>have any idea what to charge? I've done it in the past and not charged
>anything, but this time it would be several kiln loads.
>
>Any ideas?
>
>Karin
>www.Laughingbearclay.com
>
>______________________________________________________________________________
>Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
>You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
>settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
>Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at melpots@pclink.com.
>
>
>
>
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