How to Load Glazed Pottery in a Kiln

Kilns cure glazed pottery to give the pieces their finished look.

Ceramics and pottery from clay to porcelain must be glazed and fired in a kiln in order to cure the material. The way the kiln is loaded with glazed pottery is crucial to whether or not it cures properly. Air flow around the shelves and the pieces of pottery is needed to cure them properly. With glazed pottery you also have to take precautions so that the glaze does not drip and stick to the kiln shelves, which will ruin the pottery.

Things You'll Need

• Stilt - 1 per piece of glazed pottery

Instructions

1. Remove the upper shelves of the kiln so you can get to the lowest shelf.

2. Load the larger pieces of pottery in first and in the center. Put each piece on its individual stilt to raise it up from the shelf. This will keep the glaze from dripping down and adhering the pottery to the shelf.

3. Load in the smaller pieces on their individual stilts. Make sure there is at least 2 inches in between each piece of pottery so the air can circulate.

4. Put in the next shelf and repeat Steps 2 and 3. Continue until all the shelves are loaded or all your pottery is loaded into the kiln.

References

• Orton Ceramic: Loading a Kiln For Best Results