Where are the studios lights?

The lights are located just outside the kiln room. Feel free to turn them off when you leave the studio. 

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Can I change the music?

Yes, just say "Alexa, play....." 

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Can I bring a friend?

We allow 1 guest at a time, for one project at a time. It's $20 and you can venmo @portlandclayhouse

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Can I bring my own clay or glaze?

Yes, but run it by us. Not all clays and glazes, despite seeming like the right cone are suitable. 

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When will you run the kilns?

We run the kilns when they are full. We stay diligent on this. Generally, when the 4 of the studio shelves are ful, we start loading the kilns. 

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My piece is almost dry, can I put it on the greenware shelf?

If you put your piece to your cheek and it's still cool or cold, then it's still too wet. Only bone-dry pieces can be placed on the greenware shelf.We determine when we load the kiln based on how the full the shelves are. Often we go to load the kiln because the shelves are full, but most of the pieces are too wet to fire. Loading wet pieces can cause them to explode in the kiln, damaging your pieces and possibly surrounding pieces. 

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There is a lot to loading a kiln, sometimes we start loading and find we have more room for more pieces, so even if the shelf is empty, we still may be loading the kiln. Please only put bone-dry pieces on the shelf. 

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How many pieces can I glaze?

In a single firing you can't glaze more than 1/2 of a studio shelf's worth of pottery. If you have large pieces or more than 1/2 a shelf you will need to space out the firings. Do not put more pieces on the shelf than alloted. We will provide a size guide in the studio. 

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How tall or big of a piece can I make?

We'd like pots to stay under 18 inches, if you do may taller pieces, they may sit out until we have other tall pieces with fire them with. 

Wide pieces need to be no wider than 13" at the base. If they are wider they will span the seam in our shelves and will most likely crack. Wide pieces take up a lot of kiln real estate and may not make it in the next firing. 

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What if my shelf is too full? Is there extra storage?

Sorry, but there is no extra storage. Please don't store clay or tools on empty shelves. If we find rouge tools and materials we will put them in lost and found. 

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I'm an open shelf member, can I store my clay in the studio?

Sorry, but no. Open shelf members can only store greenware or bisque ware on the the shelves.

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​​Can I bring my splash pans to the sink or rinse bins?

No, we really need all the clean up to happen at the wheel. We do enforce this, so save us all the awkward conversation. 

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What do I do with my clay trimmings?

Clay trimming go in the clay trimming bucket by the wheels. Only leather hard or bone dry clay- no thicker than a thumb. No wet clay.

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What do I do with really wet clay (that isn't clay slurry)?

You can reclaim this easily using the wareboards. Put your wet clay on a wareboard, flip it over after 10-15 mins, let it set for another 10 mins then re-wedge. 

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I don't want my greenware piece, what do I do with it?

Take it outside, break into to small pieces (no bigger than a thumb) and put in our trimmings bucket. 

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I don't want my bisque piece, what do I do with it?

Take it home and trash it or use it as a glaze test tile. Do not leave it on the bisque shelf or throw away in our garbage cans. 

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I don't want my glazed piece, what do I do with it?

If it's still functional, you can put it our our give away shelf. If it's not usable, please take it home and dispose of it. 

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Can I take a class or workshop?

Yes. We may even have a discount code to offer depending on our full the class is. 

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Can I switch my membership?

Yes, though, there may be a waitlist. 

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How do I cancel my membership?

You can cancel it yourself if you made an account on our website. Or just email us and we can do it for you. 

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Can I bring in food to share?

Yes, but if it's perishable it is your responsibilty to dispose of it. Please don't leave it on the counter past it's usage date and please be courteous and not expect Kim and John to clean up after you. 

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