Any DUers do pottery?

[Maddy McCall]

I'd like to start, but I have no idea how much a kiln will cost. Anyone know?

[Jara sang]

1. You should get a potter's wheel first.

I think they have co-ops where you can fire your clay. Check out your local community center.:hi:

[Kathy in Cambridge]

2. Check out a local adult ed class first before you invest in a wheel and

materials. Maybe a local community center or church may have a class also...

[RevolutionaryActs]

3. Can I copycat puhlease!??!?!?!?!??!

[FloridaPat]

4. What did you have in mind that you want to make? That would

determine the minimum size of the kiln. Second question is how big with this are you planning to get? Kilns start around $200-300. You can get kilns that run on 110v. Most run on 220. You get a choice between computerized kilns and stilt kilns. I really like computers, but they add about $100 to the price of a kiln.

[Longgrain]

5. I was forced to when I was in college, and I personally hated it.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but I could never get the hang of the wheel.

[roscoeroscoe]

6. my wife is a great potter...

from what i know of how hard she has worked and her experience, how much she's invested, it seems wise to take a bunch of classes before investing in equipment. start with the local college classes, and if you're going strong figure out maybe an art class-vacation type of experience... go take classes in taos or santa fe or mexico, whatever, see if you've got the passion to really go with it.
enjoy!

[Robeson]

7. Don't do it, but I collect it, and sell it.

[ralps]

8. I've done some handbuilt/coil pottery. I took some classes, then

later on took my dried pots to a store that fired them for me. :hi: :loveya: :hug: :pals: :woohoo:

[Gemini Cat]

9. I paid around $300 for a used electric one back in '99.

A wheel is around $600 fwiw.
There are several types of kilns; gas, pit fire, electric, wood, salt, and raku, just to name a few.

[Jamastiene]

10. Thank you

for asking this question. I have tried everything from forming playdoh and letting is set a few days like the cannister claims you can do to hand forming cups out of the clay in my yard. They all turn into clumps of brittle dirt. A kiln sounds like a major investment. I'd love to see a good pictures thread of pottery done by DU'ers anyway. I'm such a sucker for art.

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

11. Is there one of those pottery studios in your town/city?

Where you can go and make your own bowl or whatever? I know they have them in the Bay Area; they're probably all over the place.