Electric Kilns and Firing – Online Course
£145.00
Understand your kiln. Improve your firings. Feel confident with the process.
Remember opening your kiln to find your favourite piece cracked? Or wondering why the studio’s glaze firings always turn out perfect while yours are unpredictable?
Every potter faces these moments of kiln confusion. Whether you’re just getting your first kiln, or want to improve your firing results, this 8-module course transforms uncertainty into understanding.
You’ll discover why your kiln does what it does, how to read what it’s telling you, and how to fix problems before they ruin another firing. Clear explanations of what, why and how things happen, and what to do about it, from a potter who’s been where you are. You’ll also learn how to use your kiln safely, how to install it and how to maintain it.
Join the hundreds of potters who’ve gone from kiln-anxious to kiln-confident by doing this course.
Description
What is the course about?
This course gives you all the information you need to select, maintain and fire an electric kiln in a safe and efficient way. It also goes over what happens to clays and glazes when they are fired.
How is it Delivered?
The course is structured into eight modules (nominally weekly but you can decide on your own pace). Each module consists of a video presentation, a PDF of the presentation for you to download, and links to additional material (both on and off my tech website) that you may wish to explore if you want more detailed information on any aspects of the course.
You’re also encouraged to ask me questions about the course content and your practices during the course. This may be by email, or by participating in the monthly “Ask me Anything” video conferences for all my current students and Patreon supporters.
You have access to the course material for 12 weeks from your booking date. After that, you can have access whenever you want by supporting me on Patreon for the cost of buying me a cup of coffee each month.
What will we cover?
The course covers everything you are likely to need to know about electric kilns and firing them. It is ideal for you if you’ve just bought a kiln and want to get to grips with it, or if you use a studio where work is fired for you and you want to understand what happens, or if you’ve had a kiln for a while but aren’t sure if you’re getting the most out of it.
The course covers choosing, installing and maintaining your kiln; kiln safety; how a kiln heats up, how we measure it with thermocouples and cones, and how we control it with the kiln controller; what happens to clays and glazes during the firing; how best to load your kiln and when to unload it; and firing faults, their prevention and cure.
The course doesn’t deal with older technology such as kiln sitters or kilns controlled manually through dials or switches.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should have achieved the following:
- Identify and understand all the components found in an electric kiln and its controller
- Know what to look for when buying a kiln, whether new or 2nd hand
- Understand the mechanisms by which a kiln heats up, and how different materials used in kiln construction and in kiln furniture (shelves etc.) behave
- Understand temperature and heatwork, and how they are measured
- Understand how clays and glazes, and their constituent materials, are transformed through the firing process, and what fumes may be given off from the kiln
- Loading and unloading your kiln, including the best spacing of shelves and positioning of pots
- Understand and use your kiln controller, and monitor your firing
- Determining the best firing schedules for your work
- Identify firing faults, their identification and cure
- Understand safety issues – heat, electricity, and fumes
- Learn about kiln maintenance, and how to diagnose faults
- Know about how to install the kiln
What do I get?
- Eight lectures , each lasting about 90 minutes
- Recordings of all lectures for later viewing during the course, with subtitles in all attendees’ languages
- Additional optional online course material, giving background info and greater depth
- Optional participation in monthly “Ask me Anything” live online discussion sessions
- Downloadable PDFs of all presentations
- Premium level access to the Tech part of my web site, containing much more information, references etc.
- Course attendance certificate
Note that the lecture recordings and premium level site access are included at no cost until 12 weeks after you sign up to the course. After that, continued access is available for the cost of buying me a coffee each month.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
Beginner to intermediate.
You should have some experience of making and firing pots in a pottery studio, whether you do the firing or it is done for you.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
The course is primarily run through video lectures.
Additional material that you may wish to explore is on the course website. This will help you go deeper into the subject matter, should you wish to do so.
There will be suggestions for you to consider specific aspects of your studio between sessions.
For those with an imperfect knowledge of English, all session recordings now have subtitles in the languages of all attendees. This uses computer translation, so isn’t guaranteed to be perfect, but should help you in following the sessions.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
There are no other costs or requirements.
Do I get a certificate or anything at the end?
Yes. A course attendance certificate (as a PDF) will be sent to all students.
martinschwaller1@gmail.com –
Tim’s depth of knowledge and easy thoughtful delivery of the course makes it very understandable and helps to cement the knowledge. Useful for beginners and for more experienced potters alike with good immediate responses to queries and clarification. Course notes too are thorough and continued access a boon. The course is too great value for money.
Jeremy Allen –
The Kiln Course was very useful to me as someone who has always been a Night-School potter and now embarking on my own set-up with a kiln. Jeremy Allen, Christchurch
noreendonoghue@yahoo.com –
This is an intensive, indepth course on all aspects of buying and owning a kiln. Tim is very generous with his time and sharing of his considerable knowledge. including additional material and recommendations. Noreen, London
Cathy Cosby –
Again, Tim, the course was fantastic! I have learned so much from the three courses that I have taken with you! I feel better prepared to set up my own studio and work safely with the equipment and materials. I highly recommend all of your courses! Cathy Cosby, Norwich, CT, USA
thepamperedcat@charter.net –
As a first-time kiln owner, I signed up for Tim’s Electric Kiln course hoping I would gain some insight into running a kiln. His knowledge and the course materials provided gave me the tools I needed to complete my first few firings. I look forward to fine-tuning my future firings utilizing the information received from the course. Highly recommend! Pam, Connecticut, USA
Ian Henderson –
Tim’s course provides the theoretical background and practical guidance – backed up by substantial experience – for both kiln beginners and improvers to understand how to develop their firing practice. His encyclopaedic understanding of the subject ensured that all kinds of questions were always well answered and positioned in a practical context.
Ian from Bedford, UK
Amanda Macbeth –
If you are new to firing or want to build on your knowledge, this is the course for you. It covers all aspects of firing from how a kiln is constructed to heat work, loading, unloading as well as potential glaze faults and how to fix them. Each session is well structured and the support materials are really useful once you are back in your studio. Tim has a huge wealth of knowledge that he is willing to share even if you have an off-piste question. Amanda from Bramshall, Staffordshire
Josée Bureau –
I would highly recommend Tim’s course on Electric Kilns. There was a lot of very useful information that went beyond just the basic. Tim is very well organized, easy to understand, extremely knowledgeable, patient and answers all the questions participants have. He is available outside the scheduled classes and very reliable with answering emails. I would take another class with him for sure.
Josée
Comox, BC, Canada
Jane Marshall –
Very helpful course, wide ranging and detailed, which has massively expanded my understanding and confidence using a kiln. Not too fast-paced so the technical detail was absorbable as we went along, and Tim has a wealth of experience which showed with the questions he responded to. Highly recommended! Jane, Surrey, England
Arabella Lofts –
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Kristina Smith –
I learned so much and have a better understanding of what needs to be done. Kristina Smith from Valparaiso, Florida, USA
Gai Moritz –
I found this course to be exactly what I needed to develop basic knowledge and confidence in firing a kiln for the first time and thereafter without fear of burning my house down! Gai from Kiels Mountain, Australia
Rachel Jennings –
As someone looking for a kiln for the community, I found this course to be extremely helpful. From the way temperature affects clay and glaze, to how to use the kiln to its full capability, I learnt so much and have the facts and figures to help for future fundraising of the new Kiln – Rachel Birmingham
Jill Hogan –
An excellent and incredibly useful workshop from Tim. His knowledge is extensive and shared in an informative and accessible style. The ability to access the slides post workshop is terrific. Came away feeling enthused and more confident about using my first kiln. Jill, Staffordshire
Sheridan Sharp –
The course was comprehensive on the structure, furniture and use of a kiln. pleasantly delivered and targeted a wide range of knowledge. I now have more confidence using my kiln. Well worth the cost. Sheridan, Chepstow