Design
as neededSketch the form, confirm sizes and get commission approval in writing before touching clay.
A realistic stage-by-stage timeline for wheel-thrown and hand-built work — and a planner that works backwards from any market, drop or commission deadline to tell you the last day you can safely start.
Pick the kind of work and your deadline. Every stage is placed day by day, with a 30% buffer for kiln scheduling and remakes.
Fast forming, short drying — the everyday production timeline.
Total lead time: 30 days (5 weeks).
Sketch the form, confirm sizes and get commission approval in writing before touching clay.
Weigh and wedge. Batching all your throwing weights at once saves a whole day later.
Throw or build. Keep pieces together so they dry at the same rate.
Wait for leather hard, then trim feet and attach handles.
The stage most potters underestimate. Slow the first 48 hours under plastic, then open up until bone dry.
Load, fire to cone 04–06, and cool. Budget for waiting on a full kiln, not just the firing itself.
Wax, wipe, underglaze and dip. Log the glaze combination while the pot is in your hand.
Fire to your maturing cone and let the kiln cool fully — opening early crazes glaze.
Unload, wipe kiln wash, grind any feet that stuck.
Photograph, measure, weigh, price and QC before anything ships or lists.
Pack, label and post — or hand off at pickup.
A simple mug or bowl runs about 3–4 weeks including buffer. Large or complex work is closer to 5–8 weeks, mostly because of drying time.
3–5 days for small thin pieces, 7–14 days for thick or large forms. Slow the first 48 hours under plastic so handles and attachments don't crack.
25–30% of total lead time. That absorbs humid-weather drying, waiting for a full kiln load, glaze faults and remakes.
Yes, and it's the single biggest time saver — but it only works if the pieces reach bone dry together. Line up start dates so their drying windows overlap.
ClayCal builds this schedule for each project, tracks stages day by day, and warns you when a deadline slips or clay and glaze run low.