Setting up a Studio

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kiln opening

Taking the leap

Having total control of your studio space; being able to work from home; freedom to make what you want, when you want; that is the dream of many potters.How do you get there? Here are som thoughts on this subject.

1. Workspace

  • Designated Area: A spare room, basement, garage, etc. with good ventilation.
  • Surfaces:
    • Sturdy tables for working on clay and glazing.
    • Shelving for storing tools, clay, and finished pieces.
  • Flooring: Non-carpeted, easy-to-clean surfaces like concrete or tile are ideal.

2. Equipment

  • Pottery Wheel: If you plan to throw pots, invest in an electric or kick wheel.
  • Kiln: Essential for firing pottery. Choose one that suits your space and power availability. Most kilns are 240 volts.
    • Ventilation: Proper ventilation for the kiln is critical for safety.
  • Other Stuff: 
    • Sink
    • Buckets
    • Bats
    • Giffen Grip (optional)
    • Clay
    • Glaze
    • Mixing Equipment
    • bucketsScale
    • Rib and scraper etc.
  •  

Expenses

Wheel: Whisper light or big boss are about $800. A Brent C is about $2000

Kilns: Don’t buy an electric kiln without computer controls if you plan on using it for firing glaze ware. A small electric kiln plus kiln posts and shelves is about $3000. A 1027 (10 bricks around and 27 inches high on the inside)will be around $6000. 

Bats: $150 (~$5 each)

Buckets: $150

Giffen Grip: 300

Kiln Vent $250

Fans $50

Electric drill with Jiffy mixer blade: $200

Triple beam balance scale, accurate to 1/10 gram for small batch testing

Digital Scale capacity 5000g accurate to 1g

Glaze Sieves, 30, 60 and 80 mesh $100

Clay: $250 for 250 pounds

240 Volt line and outlet, installation $400 to $800

Glazes: Amaco Glazes $4.00 per pint. Dry mixed glaze $3.50 to $8:50 per pound. (28 pounds of dry glaze will make 5 gallons wet.

Metal shelving units from Costco: $100 each

Tables: The folding kind from Costco are about $100. 

A solid wedging table with a formica or cement board top is something you will have to make. It should be anchored to a wall so it doesn’t wiggle.

Total: Even you get used stuff and build things yourself you will probably spend at least $5000. 

It you are planning on doing production and selling your work you could be looking at $10,000

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