Welcome to Firing at Funkē Fired Arts
FUNKē FIRED ARTS is happy to fire your pottery for you. Whether your work was created at our studio or at another studio, we are eager to assist you. Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with our program rates and policies.
Rate Schedule
Beginning January 1st of 2010, FUNKe Fired Arts will be switching from cubic inches to a pounds system of paying for firing. What does this mean to you? Getting pieces fired will be much easier and much less expensive!
Firing will cost $2/pound per firing. You may purchase as many pounds as you want in advance, or choose a pounds package:
- 25lbs package - $50
- 50 lbs package - $100
- 75 lbs package - $150
These package prices are comparable in price to the former cubic inch packages. You will, however, be able to fire much more work for your money under the new system. On average, one pound is equal to 165 cubic inches. Therefore, a $50 package will get you the equivalent of 4,125 cubic inches. Over twice the amount of firing space!!! Cone 9 reduction will cost double the pounds as all the other firings.
What if I’m in class?
Firing is included in the cost of the Class and Year Membership plans. This means that everything you make in class will be fired for free. If you are in class and mass producing work, however, you may be asked to purchase pounds or to rent a kiln to fire all of the pieces you are making outside of class.
What about Booth Rental?
If you rent booth space from FUNKe Fired Arts, you will have your choice of 3 firing options:
1. You will have access to rent electric kilns by reservation, based on availability. Kilns may be loaded and fired by certified Booth Members for $50, or we will help you load and fire the kiln for $75. Ask us how to get certified!
2. You may choose to pay a one time, $300 firing fee when registering for or renewing your Booth Membership. This will guarantee firing for everything you make over the course of the year. FUNKe’s staff will load and fire your pieces for you.
3. You may buy a pounds package in any amount that you want and we will keep track of your pounds and alert you when you are running low.
- Walk-in customers, former students, or clients who elect to terminate their studio/booth rental relationship, have six months to use their firing package.
- Full Kiln Programs
Raku Kiln – $65.00*
9.9 ft3 Electric Kiln – $75.00
25 ft3 Up-Draft Gas Kiln – $350.00
50 ft3 Down-Draft Gas Kiln – $700.00
Firing fee includes the loading, firing, and unloading of all of your pieces.
In order to conserve our kilns and energy expenditures, patrons renting a full kiln must fill at least 50% of the kiln in order to qualify for this service.
Consider sharing a kiln firing with a friend!!
* Customer must assist with Raku Firings in order to qualify for the $65.00 rate. If you wish for FUNKe FIRED ARTS to fire one kiln’s worth of Raku work, the fee is $110.00.
Policies and Procedures
Measuring for Kiln Space
We now use the pound system and have a digital scale available to weigh your pieces. We measure to the nearest
Characteristics of your piece
What kind of clay is your piece made from?
Low-Fire Clay, Matures at ∆04
Mid-Range Clay, Matures at ∆5 or ∆6
High-Fire Clay Matures at ∆9 or ∆10
What types of underglazes or stains were used to decorate your pot?
What types of glazes were used to decorate your pot?
Were any heavy metals included in the decorating of your pot? This is especially important to note when lead or cadmium are used!
Identifying your work
Describe your work on the firing form. Example: Lidded Vessel or Statue of a Bird
Is your piece signed?
It is very helpful to sign your name, add your initials, or stamp your mark onto your piece. Then add that information to your firing form.
Contact Information
Be sure to include your email address and your phone number when you register your pieces with us. It is a simple suggestion, but it helps us to avoid the mystery pot that arrives on our doorstep wrapped in brown paper. It is nearly impossible for us to return orphaned pots to their owners.
To expedite the drop off process please review and complete the appropriate firing form below. Print off a copy and bring it in with you.
Avoiding Problems
Do not be frightened by the contents of the following statements, but please take care when submitting your wares to be fired!
Please remember that some underglazes, stains, or raw material washes placed on the bottom of a piece may cause the piece to fuse to a kiln shelf.
All glazes placed on the bottom of pieces or painted on too thick will cause your piece to fuse to a kiln shelf.
Glazed drips and fused pots caused by the improper application of the products listed above will be subject to a labor charge of $5.00 per drip to restore the kiln shelves to usable conditions. Five or more glaze drips per piece or per shelf wins you a kiln shelf at a cost of $30.00. With extensive damage shelves are not reparable. Pieces will be held until the damages are paid.
Payment
All firing space must be prepaid. We will not load or fire your pieces without proof of payment. We sincerely appreciate your cooperation.
Firing Times and Completion
FUNKe FIRED ARTS ensures that all steps are taken to return your finished pieces to you in a timely manner. Please allow for a minimum of 10 days per firing for us to process and fire your wares.
“First in…First out!!! Pieces are fired on a first come/first serve basis.
We do not have a set firing schedule: rather, we operate on a simple policy… “You fill it…We fire it!!!” Once we have enough work to fill a kiln, we begin the firing. However, we do post seasonal deadlines for special occasions.