Kiln share appointments reserve studio time and kiln capacity specifically for your work. The deposit confirms that you intend to use the scheduled services and allows Catoctin Creek Pottery to plan kiln availability and scheduling accordingly.

Please contact Catoctin Creek Pottery (240-620-4102) as soon as possible if your plans change. We will make every effort to accommodate a different date or time based on studio and kiln availability.

When contacting us, it is helpful to know approximately how many pieces you have, their approximate sizes, whether the work is for a bisque or glaze firing, and the firing temperature or cone required.

You should also know the manufacturer and specific clay body used for your work and, when applicable, the glazes or other materials applied to the pieces. This information helps us determine whether your work is compatible with our kiln firing services and how your pieces should be handled and placed in the kiln. Depending on the piece, glaze application, or other surface treatments, we may need to use stilts or other protective techniques to help prevent damage to kiln shelves during firing.

Providing accurate information about the materials used allows us to make appropriate decisions about how your work is loaded and fired while protecting our kiln equipment and the other work being fired.

If you are unsure about any of this information, please ask before bringing your work to the studio.

Not necessarily. Clay bodies, glazes, and other ceramic materials must be appropriate for the requested firing temperature and compatible with our firing practices.

Because an incorrectly identified clay body or unsuitable material can damage kiln shelves, equipment, or other work in the kiln, customers are responsible for accurately identifying the materials used in their pieces.

Please review the Kiln Share/Firing Services Agreement for complete requirements before your scheduled drop-off.

At your scheduled appointment, we will review the pieces being submitted, confirm the requested firing service, and verify the clay body, glazes, firing temperature, and other relevant information. Please arrive with your work ready for firing and with the information needed to identify the materials used.

The remaining balance for the anticipated firing services is due at the time of drop-off. Because kiln-share pricing is based on the actual kiln space your work requires, the final amount may occasionally differ from the initial estimate. If your pieces require additional kiln space once they are properly loaded, any additional balance will be due at the time of pickup.

We photograph your work as it is loaded in the kiln, including its placement on the kiln shelf. These photographs provide a record of the actual kiln space used by your piece(s) and may be referenced if there are questions regarding the final pricing.

Acceptance of work for firing is subject to the requirements outlined in the Kiln Share/Firing Services Agreement. If there is a question about a clay body, glaze, firing temperature, construction, or other material, we may need additional information before the work can be accepted for firing.