I have two kilns that I use for my own work, my students' work, and I also rent them to other local potters.

Sheila is a Skutt KM 1027: 7 cu ft,  with 20 inch diameter (split) shelf space, and about 25 inch depth to first shelf

Beatrix is a Paragon TnF 82-3: 3 cu ft, with 15 inch diameter (full) shelf space, and about 20 inch depth to first shelf

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The max temperature I will accept is Cone 6 (2232ºF or 1222ºC) with a 10-minute hold that may just begin to soften the 7 cone.  I use witness cones when firing the glaze firings. Please make sure the clay you wish to fire will mature at a Cone 6 or lower temperature. Some clays will not vitrify at that temperature, meaning they will not be fired to maturity and may not be suitable for functional pottery that is intended for food and drink. ​

 

Firing in Beatrix is great for smaller amounts of work. To give you an idea of size, I can usually fit 24-30 mugs in this kiln, depending on the width of each piece. Sheila is the perfect size for a larger amount of work and has more than twice the amount of firing space as Bea.
*Both kilns had new thermocouples, elements, and relays installed in May 2023. Kilns were checked and certified again in 2025 by a certified kiln electrician.
 

My kilns reside in the basement of my home. All potters must be able to handle carrying work a short distance, from your vehicle and down one flight of stairs (covered access through our garage). You will self-load the kilns with supervision. It’s your work and I don’t want to be responsible for accidental breakage when handling. I can help with your permission… my Skutt 1027 is pretty deep and it can be difficult to reach the bottom shelf, and the shelves are rather heavy. I do have a step that may help the vertically-challenged reach the first shelf.
 

You must provide images of your clay boxes so I can guarantee the proper cone for firing. You will also need to share images of your glazes for the same reason. Do not bring wet work for bisque firing. It should be bone-dry and packed safely for travel. I closely monitor all firings to ensure that you work is properly fired. If greenware appears to be dry, but still is putting off moisture after a 2 hour preheat, then I will add $10 per extra hour of preheating that is needed. All bisque firings come with a 2 hour preheat and the temperature is held at 190º F (safely under the boiling point of water) to finish drying any remaining dampness that may be present in your clay. I use a mirror to check the work, which will fog up when placed over work that is still releasing water. I will only allow the firing to proceed if I am sure it is ready (I have a great track record and have never had work explode while firing. I really want to keep my perfect record!) * Please note that I will not once-fire from greenware to glaze.

If you intend to fire with me frequently, you will need to provide clay cookies made from a cone 6-10 clay body. Please bring these with your first batch of greenware for bisque. I can provide suggestions on shape and size for cookies if you’ve never made them before. I will also provide cookies you can rent for a $10 fee per firing. Cookies are simply fired clay "catch plates" that protect the expensive kiln shelving from runs or drips of glaze. YOU will be financially responsible for any damages caused by runny glazes, or misrepresentation of clay and cone temps. Melted clay and runny glazes can not only damage kiln shelves but can also destroy the heating elements if it drips off a shelf and onto the wall of the kiln. You will be responsible for covering replacement costs if your work causes any damage. It’s important to know the materials you are working with and the specific firing temperatures for each. This is why I will ask questions and request pictures of clay and glaze packaging.
 

My firing costs are for the entire kiln and not per shelf. I do not fire my work combined with yours. If you have enough work to fill both kilns, you can load both while you are here, but they will be fired one at a time. This will increase the wait time between firing and pick-up. 
 

Beatrix/Paragon: $80 bisque, $90 glaze
Sheila/Skutt: $100 bisque, $110 glaze

Separate Decal and Luster firings: bisque price for each kiln. If you have low-fire clay, you'll only be charged the bisque price for each firing. 

I accept Venmo, PayPal, or cash. The entire amount must be paid before you load your work in the kiln.

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*These kilns were a significant investment for my studio, so in order to protect my investment I reserve the right to turn away requests for firings that I feel are not the correct fit or if I feel the potter has misrepresented the clay work that they intend to fire. However, if you are new to clay, please don't let this discourage you from reaching out about firing. I was new once too and was lucky to have wonderful, patient mentors that helped me to learn about the science behind the clay medium that I love so much.

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Melissa Michael ClayArt is located in Solebury, PA, in between New Hope and Doylestown. I’m very close to the Peddler’s Village shopping area. I’m one hour North of Philadelphia and 50 minutes from The Ceramic Shop (supply store) in Norristown. My small, private teaching studio is part of my home.​​