About Ceramic Drift

What it is

Ceramic Drift brings together the sums potters do again and again: what temperature a cone means, how big to throw a mug, how much of each material goes in a glaze bucket, what a firing costs, how long a schedule takes, and when to start pots for a gift. Temperatures are shown in °C and °F, and weights in grams and ounces.

How it works

Every calculator runs in your browser. What you type is not sent anywhere, and the tools keep working if your connection drops once the page has loaded.

Where the numbers come from

Each page lists its sources. Cone temperatures are copied from the Orton Ceramic Foundation's current chart, shrinkage and glaze maths follow Digitalfire's reference pages, kiln costs and schedules come from kiln makers' published figures, and the food-safety guide quotes the FDA and the UK and EU regulations. Figures that change, such as electricity prices, are dated. Where the sources disagree with your kiln, your clay or your glaze maker, follow them, not us.

Corrections

If you spot a number that doesn't match its source, the source is the one to trust. Everything here is general guidance, not a guarantee that a firing will work or that a glaze is safe for food.