Frequently Asked Questions About Ordering, Producs, and Ceramics
Find answers to common questions about ordering, products, classes, and more. Whether you're just getting started or know exactly what you need, this page is designed to help you quickly find the information you're looking for.
Do you offer bulk clay discounts?
We offer price breaks at 50#, 100#, 500#, 1000# and 2000#. On Georgie’s brand clay, you can mix and match clay to receive the price break (i.e. 50# of CC973 Kristy Lombard and 50# of CC535D Trail Mix Dark Chocolate to reiceve the 100# price break).
Can I mix clay bodies?
Yes – with a caveat – they must have similar cones (i.e. both Cone 6) and shrinkage rates to help avoid cracking, warping or crazing during drying/firing.
Do you have wadding recipe for firing?
1 part Greenstripe Fireclay (CH379)
1 part Coarse Grog (CH563)
2 parts Sand (CH354) Blend dry ingredients, then mix with water to form a clay paste. Use Elmer’s glue to attach to the bottom of your greenware piece immediately before firing.
How do I choose the right glaze for my project?
Match the glaze cone with the clay cone you have purchased (i.e. if you purchased CC547CT Wonder White Cone 06 clay you’ll want to choose cone 06 low fires glazes)
What’s the difference between low fire and midrange glazes?
Low-fire glazes are fired to cone 06 (~1852° – 2000° F) and mid-range glazes require a higher fire to cone 6 (~2158° – 2266° F).
Why did my glaze run, crawl, pinhole, blister, or craze?
There could be several reasons why – but the main reasons are improper application, incompatible materials, or firing issues.
How do I test a new glaze?
We recommend testing all new glazes on a test tile to make sure you are getting the results you want.
How much glaze do I need for a specific project?
It depends on the size of your project. We recommend one pint per 6-8 mugs (inside and out) when brushing for average coverage. If you naturally apply thick or thin, it may cover less or more.
Do you offer glaze sample sets?
Yes! We offer sample sets in all of our glaze lines.
Are your glazes food safe?
Lots of glazes are food safe, but we have some that aren’t. Please check the website and/or glaze bottle to see if the glaze you are wanting or have are food safe.
How does application thickness affect results?
It can affect color, texture and durability of your ceramic pieces – and can also be a reason for why your glaze is running, pinholing and/or crazing. Each company has different instructors for their glazes, so following the glaze bottle instructions will be the most helpful in how thick to apply the glaze.
Why does my finished piece not match the sample photo?
It could be several reasons including – application thickness, firing schedule, and lighting of the actual photo itself.
Can I use underglaze with any clay?
You can use underglaze with any clay that is in the same firing range (so if an underglaze is cone 06-6 then you could use cone 06 or cone 6 clay) – although the firing results may be different for cone 06 and cone 6.
What kiln brands do you carry?
We carry Skutt Kilns!
How do I choose the right kiln?
Please fill out a kiln request inquiry on our kiln page or call 503.283.1353 and ask for Karen so she can help you choose the right kiln
Do you offer kiln repair?
We do not offer kiln repair at Georgie’s. We recommend John Alland in the Portland metro area for repair 503-867-7932
Do you offer kiln installation?
We will set up your kiln for you if you purchase a kiln for delivery. Please note that not all kilns can be delivered (and for non-deliveries – we are unable to set up your kiln).
How do I know which kiln shelves and posts I need?
You’ll want to make sure the kiln shelves fit the size of your kiln (measure your kiln’s interior diameter and subtract 1-2 inches for necessary air circulation and clearance). You can also look at how many sides your kiln has (8 sided, 10 sided, 12 sided, etc).
Do you carry replacement parts?
We don’t carry every part in stock for Skutt kilns, but we can special order any part they make. We make regular pickups from Skutt each week so as soon as products are ready from Skutt, we can pick up usually within 1 business day.
Can you help with kiln troubleshooting?
Yes! Please reach out to Karen@georgies.com for kiln troubleshooting.
Clay Questions FAQ
Do you offer bulk clay discounts?
We offer price breaks at 50#, 100#, 500#, 1000# and 2000#. On Georgie’s brand clay, you can mix and match clay to receive the price break (i.e. 50# of CC973 Kristy Lombard and 50# of CC535D Trail Mix Dark Chocolate to reiceve the 100# price break).
Can I mix clay bodies?
Yes – with a caveat – they must have similar cones (i.e. both Cone 6) and shrinkage rates to help avoid cracking, warping or crazing during drying/firing.
Do you have wadding recipe for firing?
1 part Greenstripe Fireclay (CH379)
1 part Coarse Grog (CH563)
2 parts Sand (CH354) Blend dry ingredients, then mix with water to form a clay paste. Use Elmer’s glue to attach to the bottom of your greenware piece immediately before firing.
What cone should I fire my clay to?
It depends what clay you have – please check the packaging or online for what cone you purchased (low fire, midrange or high fire) What is the shrinkage rate of your clays?
Please go to our clay page to see what the shrinkage rate is for the clay you have. All shrinkage rates are different.
Do you provide clay test tiles?
We do not provide clay test tiles. We do have clay tiles up in store for visuals if you want to visually see. We recommend making your own clay test tiles.
Do you offer clay in dry form?
We offer some of our clay in dry form (50# bag minimum). Please check our Georgies’ dry clay page to see what’s available.
How should I store clay?
Keep clay in a cool, dark place and seal it in an airtight plastic bag to prevent it from drying out.
What recycled content is in your clay (if any)?
All of our clay for purchase is from fresh material.
Is your clay gluten free?
Yes! All our clay and glazes are gluten free.
What clay bodies do you manufacture?
We manufacture low-fire (cone 06), midrange (cone 6) and high fire (cone 10) clay bodies. We have over 20 different clays to choose from.
What are the differences between your midrange and lowfire clays?
It depends what temperature you are glaze firing your clay to. Lowfire glaze fires to cone 06 and midrange glaze fires to cone 6. We offer different colors in each of the low fire and midrange clays.
How do I choose a clay body?
We have a lot of options!