Things You Should All Know… which you won’t be told in class. So read this!

Class Cancellations Due to Foul Weather Policy

If the Pittsburgh Public Schools have a 2 hour delay, or are closed, Fireborn MAY close or delay also. Schools sometimes close because of cold weather, but cold weather is not a sufficient reason for us to delay or close. Delays and closings for Fireborn will be posted here by 8:30 a.m. for morning classes and 4:30 p.m. for evening classes. We will reschedule if feasible.

The Flow of Pots Through the Studio

Class 1: Learn the basics and make some pots. Class 2 through 7: Trim pots from the week before and make more pots. By week 6 you should have enough pots to begin glazing some of them. On week 8, if you are not returning you will only trim and glaze. If you are retiring next term, you can make more pots on week eight. Class 8: This is the last class of the term. If you are not returning next term, READ THIS (click here)

Partly dry pots are called leather hard. They are stiff like leather. Dry, unfired pots are called greenware. Greenware is hard, but brittle. “Greenware” will breakdown in water. Greenware gets fired to 1800 degrees F. and becomes bisque ware. “Bisque ware” has undergone a physical change and will no longer  breakdown (dissolve) in water. It is stronger than greenware, and very porous. Next you will wax and glaze your bisque ware. Then it goes through a second, much hotter firing in the huge gas kiln where temperatures reache 2400 Degrees F. It takes 18 hours to reach the maximum temperature and then it cools for another 18 hours. Finally, your pots are all finished. They are now food safe, non-pours and will last thousands of years. They can be used in a dishwasher, microwave and oven.

Note: New students will not have any bisqueware until week 4, because that is how long it takes for pots you made on week one to become leather hard, get trimmed, dry and get bisqued.

Signing Your Pots

All student pots must be clearly identifiable at all times. Freshly made pots get a paper label with your last name and the date they were made (Hetrick 8-25-02, no initials, please). After you trim your pots, sign the bottom with your last name, your class mark, and the date they were trimmed. Pots lacking identification will be discarded.

Parking Issues

Click here to learn about where and when to park, permit parking, and street cleaning.

Waxing

Wax the bottom and up a full 1/4 inch from the bottom of the pot. If your pot has a lid, see Dan for special instructions on waxing lids. Clean your brush well, close the wax jar and change the water when you are done. If you spill wax, change the paper on the workbench. Use your brush for applying wax and clean it well in hot water. Use the green wax on the bottom of your pots. The yellow wax is for lids but don’t use it without getting special instructions.

Glazing

Glaze during the last hour of class. Each week, glaze ALL your bisque ware. We don’t have room to store your bisque ware for weeks. They will be fired as is, so do a good job glazing and sponging. After glazing, allow 10 to 15 minutes to clean up. Wipe tables, bucket lids and work surfaces well and leave a clean studio. Students who have been at fireborn for less than a year are in the beginner glazing group.

Buying Clay

Please buy clay at the beginning of class and pay right away. I can’t keep track of IOU’s.

Students will receive a 15 pounds of clay on the first day of the term, and a voucher for an additional 10 pounds of clay when they need it. After that’s gone, they may buy additional clay at $25 per 20 pounds.

Maximum clay usage is 65 pounds per 8 week session. Firing and glazing of all work completed during class time is included in the class and/or clay fees. The clay price is based on the assumption that 25 pounds of clay does not translate into 25 pounds of pots because some clay will be lost in throwing, trimming and collapsed pots. If you could actually get 25 pounds of pots out of 25 pounds of clay I would need to charge more to cover the actual costs of firing. Classes are designed for learning. There are limits to the size of the work you produce and the amount of clay you can purchase. There are additional charges for exceeding the limits.

Reclaiming Your Clay

Squash clay onto the plaster bat so there are no sharp edges and put your initials on it. The fan may get turned on, so don’t let your clay get too dry. Bag your scrap and wedge it before using it again.

Notebook / Journal / Sketchbook

Keeping track of where your pots are in the studio cycle and how you glazed your work is helpful. Some people photograph their pots after trimming and glazing. Some people sketch them. Some number them. Click here to see a sample journal entry. I suggest you maintain a notebook or sketchbook. You can buy one or print this Student Notebook. A sketchbook is also useful for designing new.

Trim Wheels

I will clean the floor around them. Don’t sweep during class because it makes dust which is unhealthy to breathe.

Cleaning Up Your Wheel

Clean your wheel, especially under the wheel head and then sponge up the dribbles and clay globs on the floor around your wheel. Wash splash pans in the sink. Dump the slurry in the sink, dregs go through the screen and into the gray slop bucket. Scrape bats. Splash pans should be put back on the wheels. Foot pedal should be set up on the wheel so the floor can be easily cleaned. When removing splash pans and wiping off wheels, clay sometimes dribbles onto the floor. Please use a towel or sponge to clean the floor around your wheel.

Pottery Tools and Supplies

You can buy most tools at Fireborn. The Clay Place, in Carnegie on Walnut Street, between the railroad tracks and the Chartiers Creek, has a wide variety of specialized tools. For ordering online, try Axner in Florida.

Miscellaneous Information

Please bring your own towel.
Evening classes, please be cleaned up and ready to walk out the door at 9:30. Morning classes, please depart by 12:30.
To maintain studio flow: ALWAYS, every time you come to class, trim everything and glaze everything.

Research

You should learn about the craft of pottery.

• Explore these links.
• Explore the reading list.
• Explore the technical side of of the craft, especially glazes, clays, firing, kiln designs, and pottery-related chemistry.
• Explore the techniques and styles of ancient cultures, Greek, Minoan, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Central and South American, Native American, etc.
• Research contemporary pottery from around the world.

Class Cancellations Due to Foul Weather Policy

If the Pittsburgh Public Schools have a 2 hour delay, or are closed, Fireborn MAY close or delay also. Schools sometimes close because of cold weather, but cold weather is not a sufficient reason for us to delay or close. Delays and closings for Fireborn will be posted here by 8:30 a.m. for morning classes and 4:30 p.m. for evening classes. We will reschedule if feasible.