RCC Firing Service

(for Partner organizations)

Please read the stipulations below regarding the firing service before participating.
Your thorough completion of each step will aid in our ability to continue to offer firing services.
If you are an individual, please use the firing service at our sister-studio Rat City Studios.

Due to the changeability of the work that is brought in, we cannot promise you space in a specific kiln. We will fire your work as promptly as possible. We fire artwork on a first-come, first-served basis.

The essentials

  • Fill out the intake form below after paying firing fees

  • Arrange your artwork in clay boxes to determine “Shares” you will need. RCC can provide you with clay boxes to use.

  • Pay the Firing Fees before drop off.

  • Submit the form below with information about your work

  • Schedule your drop off/ pick up times

  • Download the Mighty Networks App to your phone.
    (On this platform, we have created a communication space called Clay Q&A.)
    All announcements for kiln unloading are given here.

Firing Fees

  • Pay the Firing Fees before drop off. ONE SHARE = $25
    Organizations’ artwork is sized by SHARES
    $25 for one share to bisque-fire to cone 06.
    $25 for one share to glaze-fire to cone 6.
    $25 for one share to once-fire to cone 6.

  • ONE clay box = ONE SHARE
    6” tall x 11” length x 14” width
    You must use a clay box for your share.

    This is the ONLY option for artwork drop-off containers.

  • You will be charged for a FULL share for each drop-off of artwork no matter how full the box is. All the work you drop off must fit within the box or you will be charged for an additional share. You may use a piece of cardboard to help create layers within the box between pieces.

  • Please leave a note in each box indicating if the contents are to be bisque-fired/ glaze-fired/ or once-fired to glaze temperature.

  • We do not offer kiln rentals or discounts on large amounts of work dropped off. Firing service fees help pay for electricity & maintaining our kilns.

Requests

  • All artwork MUST have a consistent identifiable mark/ signature (this includes small items like jewelry or test tiles). This must be on all the pieces you drop off. This must remain consistent on all pieces from any partner organization.

  • If you drop off wet work we will let it dry before firing it.

  • Please limit the thickness of your artwork to under 1/2” thick.

  • No glaze can be on the bottom. We do not fire-glazed work on stilts.

  • Applied glazes must be compatible with Cone 6 glaze firing.

  • Glaze must be applied with a ¼” space of un-glazed clay at the bottom foot of the pot.
    This includes the underside/ center of a trimmed foot. (apply this info to lids for success as well )

  • Your piece(s) will not be loaded in the kiln if the glaze is on the foot, or you have not left the appropriate ¼” space unglazed around the bottom of the pot.

Disclaimer

  • All Fees are NON-REFUNDABLE. If you drop off work and it is not fired because you do not meet the requested guidelines, we will still keep your fees. You will have to repay them once the guidelines are met.

  • Fire your artwork with RCC at your own risk. We cannot take responsibility for clay bodies that have flaws, including bloating, pinholing, or cracking. We rigorously maintain the kilns and watch the guard cones as the kilns reach peak temperatures. Should your work not turn out to your liking, please try again!

  • We do our best to maintain equipment. At times there are unforeseeable difficulties and failures on the part of the equipment that could affect your artwork. By participating in the firing service, you acknowledge that this is part of the risk and the fun of ceramics. There is always a chance that the kiln gods will not smile on us and the artwork may be ruined.

Right to refuse service

The firing service offered at RCC is only available if you abide by our requests. The following reasons will make it impossible for us to continue to fire your artwork.

  • You do not fill out the Firing Service Form Completely

  • You do not pay your firing fees/ clay fees as requested

  • You do not have a consistent stamp/ mark on the bottom of your works

  • Your glaze runs off the pot and ruins a kiln shelf
    ( If you are worried, place a thin clay slab of your making beneath the art project.)

  • If you use low fire clay and it melts and ruins the kiln furniture or kiln.

  • If you drop off work that is thicker than 1/2” thick. Know that we candle for only four hours, so if your work is overly thick it is at risk. You artwork needs to be ¼ ” - ½ ” thick.

  • If you drop off artwork that is larger than 15” in any direction.

  • If the foot of the artwork has glaze on it

  • If the glaze goes all the way to the bottom of the foot ring and does not have the appropriate ¼” of unglazed space at foot of the pot. This includes the underside/ center of a trimmed foot.

  • If you do not use the Clay Q&A messaging platform

RCC Firing Service For Organizations