Kiln Hire at Trace Ceramics

Bisque and glaze firing for makers in Hackney Wick. Two Rohde kilns, careful handling, simple flat or per-gram pricing.

ABOUT THE SERVICE

We offer kiln firing for independent makers, students and small studios who don't have access to a kiln of their own. Whether you have a single mug or a whole batch ready to fire, drop your work off at our Hackney Wick studio — we'll take care of the rest.All firings are done in-house on our two Rohde electric kilns, and you can choose the firing temperature to suit your clay and glaze. We accept work made in our studio as well as work brought in from outside, subject to a quick safety check.

OUR KILNS

Rohde Ecotop 60L

Rohde Ecotop 60LA compact top-loading kiln, ideal for smaller batch firings.

Capacity: 60 litres

Internal dimensions: Ø 400 × 455 mm (W × D × H)

Maximum temperature: 1240 °C

Price of Bisque firing: £90

10% discount : £81 for members and E3, E20, E9, E14 neighbours receive a 10% discount on bisque firing.

Glaze firing: £90

Rohde TE-80S

Rohde TE-80SA larger top-loader for full-load bisque and high-fire stoneware.

Capacity: 80 litres

Internal dimensions:Ø 450 × 460 mm (W × D × H)

Maximum temperature: 1300°C

Price of Bisque firing: £120

10% discount : £108 for members and E3, E20, E9, E14 neighbours on bisque firing.

Glaze firing: £120

PRICING

  
      Service
      Description
      Price
    
      Rohde Ecotop 60 Kiln Hire
      60L capacity (45×40×40 cm), user-specified firing temperature. Members and E3, E20, E9, E14 neighbours receive a 10% discount on bisque firing.
      £90/kiln or £81/kiln(discount)
 
      Rohde TE-80S Kiln Hire
      80L capacity (45×45×46cm), user-specified firing temperature. Members and E3, E20, E9, E14 neighbours receive a 10% discount on bisque firing.
      £120/kiln or £108/kiln(discount)
    
      Glaze Service
      Priced by piece size.
      From £3/piece
    
      Firing Service
      0.019pence/per gram 
      From £3/piece

We keep it simple. Choose either per-gram pricing for individual pieces, or book the whole kiln for larger batches. The same rates apply to bisque and glaze firings.

WHAT WE FIRE

What we can fire

Earthenware, mid-fire and stoneware clays with a known firing range
Bone-dry greenware for bisque firing
Glazed work with bases wiped clean and ready for the kiln
Commercial glazes (Botz, Amaco, Mayco, Scarva and similar)
Tested studio glaze recipes - please share the recipe with us or show your test pieces

What we can't fire

•Air-dry clay (it will explode in the kiln-please check your packaging)

•Unknown clay bodies with no stated firing range

•Untested glaze recipes-please run a test tile first

•Raw-glazed / single-fire work

•Lustres, decals or anything containing high organic content, unless agreed in advance

Free 20-minute consultation

If you're bringing in materials we haven't seen before, please book a free 20-minute consultation when you drop off. We'll go through your clay and glaze with you and confirm what's safe to fire.

01 · Email us

Send a message to info@traceceramics.co.uk with: type of firing (bisque or glaze), the clay and glaze you've used (brand and firing range, or a photo of the packaging), the approximate weight or number of pieces, and your preferred drop-off week.

02 · We confirm a slot

We aim to reply within two working days with a drop-off appointment and an estimated firing date.

03 · Drop off your work

Drop-off is by appointment only. We'll log your pieces, weigh them if pricing is by gram, take payment, and ask you to sign a short kiln hire agreement.

04 · We fire

Your work usually goes into the kiln about one week after drop-off. So if you bring work in on the 10th, it will typically be fired around the 17th and ready to collect by the 20th. During busier periods, please allow up to three extra days.

05 · Collection

We'll email you when your work is ready. Please collect within 7 days of being notified.

HOW IT WORKS

All bookings are subject to kiln availability.
Work must be bone dry when dropped off. If it isn't, we can store it to dry at £6 per day before firing.
We handle every piece with care, but firing is by nature unpredictable. We accept no responsibility for cracking, warping, glaze defects or any other damage that occurs during the firing process or while handling.
If your work damages a kiln shelf, you'll be asked to clean it and reapply batt wash, or to cover the replacement cost. Damage to elements, brickwork or the kiln controller will be charged at full repair cost.
We reserve the right to refuse any work we judge unsafe for the kiln or for other makers' pieces in the same firing.
Please sign the underside of every piece so nothing gets lost between makers.

GOOD TO KNOW

Book a firing

The fastest way to book is by email. Please include the type of firing, your clay and glaze details, the approximate weight or number of pieces, and a preferred drop-off week. We aim to reply within two working days.info@traceceramics.co.uk

CONTACT