Bailey Kiln

From the very early years of its development Jim and I took an interest in Watershed in Newcastle, Maine. We have been “kiln gods”, giving donations in support residencies, for many of those years hoping to help build and strengthen our clay community. As part of our road trip to Maine last month we were able to not just visit Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts but to participate in their fabulous fundraiser: Salad Days.

In the far reaches of Maine lies a jewel in the crown of summertime craft programs. Jim and I had known about Haystack Mountain School of Crafts for years but had never visited the campus. Almost eight hours from our Hudson Valley home we made our way across the State of Maine to Deer Island last month. We certainly were not disappointed.

"I love that working with clay is a metaphor for life and involves important life skills such as patience and being “centered”. I’ve learned and re-learned these lessons and sure enough, pretty much every time I try to force something or move too quickly to the next part of the process, the results are not satisfying."

There is a lot to know about kiln firing and some of the most common questions we get relate to pyrometric cones. With school starting, we wanted to give you a refresher on all things cones. Read our latest blog post on cones to learn about what cones measure, the different types of cones there are and when to use them, and how important using cones can be.

A New Video on Kiln Maintenance

Learn About the Different Properties of Kiln Shelves Available. When it comes to selecting kiln shelves there are a number of things to consider such as your firing temperature, type, warp resistance, and your budget. Read this post to compare the wide range of shelves we offer and their properties.

If you have a Bailey top-loading electric kiln in your studio, or are thinking about owning one, we have a video series to help you learn about your kiln and how to maintain it. In this video you will learn how to replace elements with confidence.

Introducing the First Video in the New Bailey Kiln Maintenance Series