Pottery/Ceramics

Welcome to TinkerMill's Muddy Makers Pottery!

Our pottery studio is a collaborative space. We're a community that works together to keep things running smoothly and safely. Respect for each other, the studio, and TinkerMill as a whole is essential. With that in mind, please take a moment to read and agree to our General Studio Policies [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Qw5J00B2rl1Sb_zYkLYLWOlMgZsETKmlaSsxuo_eFZ4/edit?usp=sharing.

As a community studio, everyone is responsible for keeping the space clean. Always use water to clean, and remember, it's not clean until its dry and clean. So be sure to grab a rag and dry what you wash. Evaporating water leaves behind a film of white silica dust.

We have everything you need to create:

Five pottery wheels, four of which have changeable direction for both right and left-handed throwers

A wedging table and a work table

A slab roller

Throwing and handbuilding tools

Two Skutt Kilns

Communal storage for work in progress

Studio Use Fees

We operate on the honor system. Please be honorable,

To keep the studio self-supporting we have studio use fees of:

$2 / hour

$5 / day

$15 / week

$30 / month

$240/year

Muddy Makers Drop and Fire

We have a drop and fire service that is available to non-members, and to members who are doing all their work at home. **Members only pay for drop and fire if they are not paying for monthly shop fees.** Non-members will need to set up an appointment to bring their work in to be fired. Members can drop off their work at any time.

1. Measure all of your pieces and calculate your total. (x75% for members)

2. Use the pay kiosk, website, or venmo code to make your payment.

3. Take a screenshot or picture of the payment, and take a picture of all your pieces and your maker's mark.

4. Send the pictures to pottery@tinkermill.org.

Fees are based on cubic inches (ci) with a minimum due, and there is a 25% discount for members. Round the cubic inch to the nearest half inch and the height of a plate is a minimum of 1.5 inches. Up to three pieces can be stacked for bisque while measuring.

Per piece per cubic inch for bisque is $.04

Per piece per cubic inch for glaze is $.06

Minimum fee for bisque fire $6 members or $8 non-member

Minimum fee for glaze fire $12 members or $16 non-member

It’s better to batch your work than to pay the minimum for one mug, and then pay again for another mug in a different load.

Kiln Rental

There is a flat rate if you rent the whole kiln. It is done by appointment only and comes with a loading fee for the kiln crew member who loads your work. If your piece is very fragile or very large, you must attend the loading.

Mini Kiln 2.6cf (5,832ci) $30 members / $40 non-members

Large kiln 5.7cf (11,638ci) $63.75 members / $85 non-members

Applicable fees must be paid at drop off.

Clay and Glazes:

TinkerMill supplies cone six white stoneware for $2/lb: We also have many glaze options to chose from, and glaze is included in the studio fees.

You may bring your own clay as long as it is cone six. We're not responsible for improperly labeled clay that over, or under, fires. However, you will be responsible for any damaged kiln shelves caused by your clay. We do not fire Earthenware (cone 04) or hi-fire clay to cone 10.

All work must have a makers mark to be fired and marks must be registered with the studio. Take a picture of your mark and email it to pottery@tinkermill.org along with your name, phone number, email, and slack ID.

You can bring your own lead-free glaze, but make sure it's compatible with your clay body and is cone six.

All outside clay and glaze must be cleared with the shop captains. Take a picture of your clay/glaze label and send it to pottery@tinkermill.org.