FAQ

We no longer provide the service of making kid’s prints in slabs.  These pieces often crack or warp in the kiln and the customer, of course, is very disappointed.   We recommend bringing your little ones into the pottery painting studio and printing their hands/feet on a pre-made bisque piece with glaze for the best results.

A cone is a way to measure the temperature in your kiln. Many older kilns will have a kiln sitter, which requires a cone to be placed inside the mechanism and will bend when the cone reaches temperature, it will shut off your kiln. Most newer kilns are run by a computer system and a thermocouple. This essentially takes away the need for a cone. However, many potters choose to still place a cone in their kiln to just double check the accuracy of the kiln computer. You can learn more about cones and appropriate firing temperatures here: https://www.ortonceramic.com/en/Pyrometric%20Cones/

Take a beginning class or jump into one of our open wheel sessions. Our staff can talk you through the options and help you decide what will be the best fit.

You can glaze everything but the point where the pot touches the kiln shelf. If you’re doing low-fire work, you can glaze the bottoms and stilt in the kiln to prevent damage to the kiln shelf.

A cone is a way to measure the temperature in your kiln. Many older kilns will have a kiln sitter, which requires a cone to be placed inside the mechanism and will bend when the cone reaches temperature, it will shut off your kiln. Most newer kilns are run by a computer system and a thermocouple. This essentially takes away the need for a cone. However, many potters choose to still place a cone in their kiln to just double check the accuracy of the kiln computer. You can learn more about cones and appropriate firing temperatures here: https://www.ortonceramic.com/en/Pyrometric%20Cones/

You can glaze everything but the point where the pot touches the kiln shelf. If you’re doing low-fire work, you can glaze the bottoms and stilt in the kiln to prevent damage to the kiln shelf.

Most cracks on the bottom of a pot are due to excess water and a lack of compression. Spend time compressing with every pot you make!

Very likely, it was because the dryness of the pot and the dryness of the handle were at different stages. When clay dries, it shrinks. So when you try to attach a handle that is 10% dry to a pot that is 40% dry, they still have different amounts of shrinking to do, causing cracking.

Birdbaths are usually fine to stay outside but there are a few things you need to check. Keep in mind that when water freezes, it expands. If your birdbath holds water that freezes, is there a rim or overhang that won’t let the ice expand? If so, your birdbath will be destroyed by the ice. If you know who made the bird bath, check to make sure they used clay and glaze that were fired to at least cone 6.

Flower pots cannot stay outside over the winter. Most flower pots are made from earthenware which lets moisture pass through it. When the water freezes, the ice will break the pot apart

No! Clay’s sold at craft stores are (98% of the time) polymer clays. These can be fired in a toaster oven, but be sure to read directions on any clay that you buy. Even at a super low fire temperature, a kiln still reaches over 1000 degrees F.

Queen City Clay does not take commissions, but an individual artist who works at the studio may! We have many professional artists who call Queen City Clay home, and they’re always interested to hear about potential jobs. Call the shop and let us know the details and we’ll do our best to match you to a professional artist.

Short answer: forever. Even veteran potters and MFA ceramic artists are constantly learning new information and techniques about clay. HOWEVER, we can teach you the basics in as few as two hours. Are the pots going to be masterpieces? No, but hopefully you have fun making it! The best way to learn pottery, is to take an 8 week class (and then keep taking classes until you’re amazing!).

Take a beginning class or jump into one of our open wheel sessions. Our staff can talk you through the options and help you decide what will be the best fit.

We no longer provide the service of making kid’s prints in slabs.  These pieces often crack or warp in the kiln and the customer, of course, is very disappointed.   We recommend bringing your little ones into the pottery painting studio and printing their hands/feet on a pre-made bisque piece with glaze for the best results.

A cone is a way to measure the temperature in your kiln. Many older kilns will have a kiln sitter, which requires a cone to be placed inside the mechanism and will bend when the cone reaches temperature, it will shut off your kiln. Most newer kilns are run by a computer system and a thermocouple. This essentially takes away the need for a cone. However, many potters choose to still place a cone in their kiln to just double check the accuracy of the kiln computer. You can learn more about cones and appropriate firing temperatures here: https://www.ortonceramic.com/en/Pyrometric%20Cones/

You can glaze everything but the point where the pot touches the kiln shelf. If you’re doing low-fire work, you can glaze the bottoms and stilt in the kiln to prevent damage to the kiln shelf.

No! Clay’s sold at craft stores are (98% of the time) polymer clays. These can be fired in a toaster oven, but be sure to read directions on any clay that you buy. Even at a super low fire temperature, a kiln still reaches over 1000 degrees F.

We no longer provide the service of making kid’s prints in slabs.  These pieces often crack or warp in the kiln and the customer, of course, is very disappointed.   We recommend bringing your little ones into the pottery painting studio and printing their hands/feet on a pre-made bisque piece with glaze for the best results.

A cone is a way to measure the temperature in your kiln. Many older kilns will have a kiln sitter, which requires a cone to be placed inside the mechanism and will bend when the cone reaches temperature, it will shut off your kiln. Most newer kilns are run by a computer system and a thermocouple. This essentially takes away the need for a cone. However, many potters choose to still place a cone in their kiln to just double check the accuracy of the kiln computer. You can learn more about cones and appropriate firing temperatures here: https://www.ortonceramic.com/en/Pyrometric%20Cones/

Take a beginning class or jump into one of our open wheel sessions. Our staff can talk you through the options and help you decide what will be the best fit.

You can glaze everything but the point where the pot touches the kiln shelf. If you’re doing low-fire work, you can glaze the bottoms and stilt in the kiln to prevent damage to the kiln shelf.

A cone is a way to measure the temperature in your kiln. Many older kilns will have a kiln sitter, which requires a cone to be placed inside the mechanism and will bend when the cone reaches temperature, it will shut off your kiln. Most newer kilns are run by a computer system and a thermocouple. This essentially takes away the need for a cone. However, many potters choose to still place a cone in their kiln to just double check the accuracy of the kiln computer. You can learn more about cones and appropriate firing temperatures here: https://www.ortonceramic.com/en/Pyrometric%20Cones/

You can glaze everything but the point where the pot touches the kiln shelf. If you’re doing low-fire work, you can glaze the bottoms and stilt in the kiln to prevent damage to the kiln shelf.

Most cracks on the bottom of a pot are due to excess water and a lack of compression. Spend time compressing with every pot you make!

Very likely, it was because the dryness of the pot and the dryness of the handle were at different stages. When clay dries, it shrinks. So when you try to attach a handle that is 10% dry to a pot that is 40% dry, they still have different amounts of shrinking to do, causing cracking.

Birdbaths are usually fine to stay outside but there are a few things you need to check. Keep in mind that when water freezes, it expands. If your birdbath holds water that freezes, is there a rim or overhang that won’t let the ice expand? If so, your birdbath will be destroyed by the ice. If you know who made the bird bath, check to make sure they used clay and glaze that were fired to at least cone 6.

Flower pots cannot stay outside over the winter. Most flower pots are made from earthenware which lets moisture pass through it. When the water freezes, the ice will break the pot apart

No! Clay’s sold at craft stores are (98% of the time) polymer clays. These can be fired in a toaster oven, but be sure to read directions on any clay that you buy. Even at a super low fire temperature, a kiln still reaches over 1000 degrees F.

Queen City Clay does not take commissions, but an individual artist who works at the studio may! We have many professional artists who call Queen City Clay home, and they’re always interested to hear about potential jobs. Call the shop and let us know the details and we’ll do our best to match you to a professional artist.

Short answer: forever. Even veteran potters and MFA ceramic artists are constantly learning new information and techniques about clay. HOWEVER, we can teach you the basics in as few as two hours. Are the pots going to be masterpieces? No, but hopefully you have fun making it! The best way to learn pottery, is to take an 8 week class (and then keep taking classes until you’re amazing!).

Take a beginning class or jump into one of our open wheel sessions. Our staff can talk you through the options and help you decide what will be the best fit.

We no longer provide the service of making kid’s prints in slabs.  These pieces often crack or warp in the kiln and the customer, of course, is very disappointed.   We recommend bringing your little ones into the pottery painting studio and printing their hands/feet on a pre-made bisque piece with glaze for the best results.

A cone is a way to measure the temperature in your kiln. Many older kilns will have a kiln sitter, which requires a cone to be placed inside the mechanism and will bend when the cone reaches temperature, it will shut off your kiln. Most newer kilns are run by a computer system and a thermocouple. This essentially takes away the need for a cone. However, many potters choose to still place a cone in their kiln to just double check the accuracy of the kiln computer. You can learn more about cones and appropriate firing temperatures here: https://www.ortonceramic.com/en/Pyrometric%20Cones/

You can glaze everything but the point where the pot touches the kiln shelf. If you’re doing low-fire work, you can glaze the bottoms and stilt in the kiln to prevent damage to the kiln shelf.

No! Clay’s sold at craft stores are (98% of the time) polymer clays. These can be fired in a toaster oven, but be sure to read directions on any clay that you buy. Even at a super low fire temperature, a kiln still reaches over 1000 degrees F.