Electric Kilns for Ceramics: A Makers Guide to Successful Firing

For a beginner and newby kiln owner based in the US, the different vocabulary and the Celsius vs F made it too complicated to enjoy. My shortcoming, not the author's.

A very good book for beginners. I have just bought my own kiln and am very new to the process. I found the instructions which came with my kiln quite limited and a bit difficult to understand at beginner level and needed something to break down and explain the process more easily so I can understand where I went wrong with my first firing. This book does that and I found answers to questions I couldnt find online and a lot of useful tips for getting it right. (I also bought the book 'mastering cone 6 glazes' which was mentioned by another reviewer on here but found that one too advanced for beginner level being more about making up glazes than the firing process although that will probably prove useful down the line). All in all, highly recommend.

The author is from UK and makes no effort to put the conversions in for US readers.

Written from a maker's perspective this book provides an excellent practical resource on a wide breadth of kiln-related matters, including; kiln loading, understanding firing cycles, kiln maintenance, remedying firing faults, and valuable advice for purchasing a new kiln (and what to look out for when buying second hand). I particularly enjoyed the "maker profiles" throughout the book where the reader is given a glimpse into the studios of several professional ceramists to see how they use their kilns (set up, firing programs, etc), and the pragmatic/aesthetic considerations that went into these decisions. A great resource for the beginner looking to demystify the firing process or the more experience ceramist looking to build upon their relationship with their electric kilns.

Clear descriptions and explanations debunk a lot of the pitfalls of firing succinctly. As a studio potter and teacher I liked the inclusion of contemporary ceramic artists and their firing process. A particularly useful book for new studio potters but there are plenty of great tips for those with more experience. Highly recommend it!