What the guides cover
The guides follow a pot through each stage: choosing a clay body, shaping it by hand or on the wheel, drying it, firing it, glazing it and looking after the finished piece. There is also a page on getting started with classes and studios, and a glossary of common terms.
The site is written for adults who are new to clay, whether they are about to take a first class or are a few months in and want to understand why things go wrong.
How we handle safety topics
Kilns, glaze materials and clay dust carry real risks. Our kiln safety basics and the safety notes on other pages give general information only. They always point you back to the two sources that matter for your situation: the maker's manual for your kiln and the rules of your studio. For electrical work, a licensed electrician; for materials, the product label and safety data sheet.
Temperatures and other numbers
Temperatures, cone ranges, shrinkage figures and drying times on this site are rounded and approximate. They vary with the clay, the glaze, the kiln and the heating rate. We say "about" for that reason. For a real firing, follow the cone maker's chart, the clay supplier's data sheet and your kiln manual.
No brands, prices or rankings
We don't recommend or rank brands of clay, glaze, tools, wheels or kilns, and we don't list prices, which change often and vary by place. The site has no partner links, sponsored posts or advertising. No supplier or studio pays for mentions.
Who is behind the site
Ceramic Link is a small independent publication. It isn't a pottery studio, school, supplier or kiln maker, and it doesn't offer classes, firing services or products.
How to use the guides
Pottery is learned with your hands, so these pages work best alongside a class or time in a studio. Read a guide before a session to know what to expect, then come back to it when something goes wrong. A cracked handle or a glaze that ran onto the shelf usually has a cause you can find in the drying or glazing guide. Your teacher and studio staff know your clay, your glazes and your kiln, so when their advice differs from ours, follow theirs.
Corrections and contact
If you spot a mistake, such as a wrong term, an unclear step or a figure that doesn't match current guidance, please write to contact@ceramiclink.com. We read every message and fix confirmed errors. See the privacy policy for how we handle email.