To support artists in our community and beyond, Berkshire Art Center provides several kiln firing services.
We offer the following: electric oxidation to Cone 6 and gas reduction as well as soda firing to Cone 10. Fees and glazes differ for each of these firing options. For the safety of our kilns and the work within them, we require that you verify that your clay body has a range from Cone 6 to Cone 10.
Turnaround Time
In an effort to conserve energy, keep operating costs down, and ensure an even firing, Bisque Firing and Cone 6 Electric/Oxidation turnaround time is typically one week. Every effort is made to process all work as quickly as possible.
Kiln firing schedules will be updated on the Ceramics Firing Calendar at the end of each month. Firings may be cancelled due to lack of work or weather.
Please email ceramics@berkshireartcenter.org to schedule a private firing, or with any questions.
Kiln Firing Steps
Please follow the steps below if you have greenware (leather hard work) that you wish to fire or bisqueware that requires glaze firing.
Step 1 — Review our policies
Before bringing outside clay or glaze to Berkshire Art Center, please review our Ceramics Policies.Step 2 — Measure your work
See Measuring Your Ceramic Work. We will confirm the size of your pieces when we receive them. In the event that we discover a discrepancy, we will contact you to adjust the pricing accordingly.Step 3 — Pay for your kiln firing
See Pricing & Payment below.Step 4 — Drop off your work
You will receive email instructions from a staff member about drop-off and pick-up after paying. You will be sent a link to schedule a drop off appointment. Be sure to put your work in a clearly labeled box.
Pricing & Payment
Choose the appropriate kiln firing service and corresponding total volume (based upon your measurements) from the menu below. (Pricing tables are also located below.) Bisque firing is done in our electric kiln.
Private (full kiln) firings occur outside of the public schedule. Please contact ceramics@berkshireartcenter.org if your pieces require a full kiln.
Berkshire Art Center members receive a discount on kiln firing services — learn more and join!
Kiln Firing Menu
Kiln Pricing Tables
| Electric Fire Kiln Size | Volume | Electric Kiln Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Private Rental | 2.5+ cubic ft | $175 (contact Lorimer) |
| Extra Large | 3500-4300 cubic inches | $85 |
| Large | 3499-2500 cubic inches | $55 |
| Medium | 2499-1500 cubic inches | $35 |
| Small | 500-1499 cubic inches | $17 |
| Extra Small | 250-499 cubic inches | $9 |
| Extra Extra Small | 151-249 cubic inches | $5 |
| Per Cubic Inch | <150 cubic inches | $0.03 |
| Gas Reduction Fire Kiln Size | Volume | Gas Reduction Kiln Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Private Rental | 16-29 cubic feet | $500+ (contact Lorimer) |
| Per Cubic Foot | 1-15 cubic feet | $30 per cubic foot |
| Medium | 751-1750 cubic inches | $25 |
| Small | 500-750 cubic inches | $20 |
| Extra Small | 250-499 cubic inches | $15 |
| Extra Extra Small | 151-249 cubic inches | $10 |
| Per Cubic Inch | <150 cubic inches | $0.05 per cubic inch |
| Soda Fire Kiln Size | Volume | Soda Fire Kiln Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Private Rental | 16-29 cubic feet | $700+ (contact Lorimer) |
| Per Cubic Foot | 1-15 cubic feet | $35 per cubic foot |
| Medium | 751-1750 cubic inches | $30 |
| Small | 500-750 cubic inches | $25 |
| Extra Small | 250-499 cubic inches | $20 |
| Extra Extra Small | 151-249 cubic inches | $15 |
| Per Cubic Inch | <150 cubic inches | $0.07 per cubic inch |
Etiquette, Guidelines & Fines
Our equipment is cherished (and expensive!). Before bringing your work to fire with us, check the following to avoid disappointment and/or additional fees:
Greenware is fully dry
Glazed work must not have any glaze on the bottom
Clay and glaze must be rated to Cone 6
If you are a ceramics student, you are required to purchase clay through Berkshire Art Center to use and fire during your class.
If you are a community member wanting to fire outside work, you are encouraged to use materials supplied by Berkshire Art Center. Clay and glaze materials not purchased at Berkshire Art Center needs authorization before being fired by the Ceramics Studio Manager. Please email ceramics@berkshireartcenter.org with detailed information about your clay or glaze material.
If you are not sure what cone your clay or glaze should be fired to, don’t bring it to Berkshire Art Center. We only fire as high as Cone 6 and you will be responsible for damage to our equipment.
Ceramics Firing Fines
Grinding Fines: When glaze drips on to a kiln shelf, it can sometimes be ground off to preserve the shelf. If your work is the culprit, you will be fined $15 per piece. If more substantial damage occurs, the kiln damage fine will be in effect.
Kiln Damage Fine: If you have brought clay or glaze that should not be fired to Cone 6 and it damages our kiln, you will be charged at cost for repairs or replacement. This can be upwards of $1,000.
What happens when Cone 06 clay and glazes are fired at Cone 6?
Disclaimer of Liability to Fire Ceramic Material Not Purchased or Provided by Berkshire Art Center
Berkshire Art Center provides kiln firing services for local ceramic artists who do not have access to kilns of their own, with the understanding that ceramic materials that are to be fired should be rated for the kiln temperature of Cone 6. If the person seeking kiln firing services from Berkshire Art Center can not certify their clay and glaze materials, Berkshire Art Center will not fire their work in our kilns. If information about the clay and glaze material provided by the person seeking kiln firing services through Berkshire Art Center is incorrect and causes any damage to the kilns, said person will be responsible for any replacement or repairs. Our staff are always careful loading and unloading, but sometimes work gets broken; pots crack during firing, unicorn horns break off, or glaze defects occur. Berkshire Art Center is not responsible for broken or damaged work or fired work that does not meet your expectations. It’s the nature of clay!
“Thank you all for extending me this gift of ceramics. It comes at a most needed time for me. We are all going through a difficult, trying new era and I hope things will find their way back to some kind of normal. I miss all of you at the studio, all my clay friends, and this is a wonderful window of joy, connection, and happiness, which is the most special gift.”
