# How to Load a Kiln for Bisque and Glaze Firings

Cluster: Firing & Kilns
URL: https://claybook.studio/blog/how-to-load-a-kiln/

# How to Load a Kiln for Bisque and Glaze Firings

Loading a kiln is part Tetris, part safety check. A good load fires evenly and keeps every pot intact. A bad load wastes a firing, damages shelves and sometimes cracks the work of a dozen people.

The rules for bisque and glaze are different, so we will take them one at a time. Always follow your kiln's manual and your studio's rules over general advice.

## Before you load

* Check that every piece is **bone dry** for a bisque load. Damp clay can crack or explode. See [pottery clay stages](/blog/pottery-clay-stages/).
* Check that shelves have fresh **kiln wash** and no cracks.
* Look over your **posts** for chips and wobble.
* Know your cone and firing schedule.

## Bisque loading: pots can touch

Bisque ware has no glaze, so it can be stacked more closely than a glaze load.

* **Pots can touch** each other, as long as they sit stably. Rim to rim, foot to foot or nested bowls all work.
* **Smaller pieces go inside larger ones** to use space.
* **Keep weight low and balanced.** Heavy pieces go on lower shelves.
* **Leave space for heat** to move. Don't pack the kiln solid.
* **Lids can be fired on their jars** to keep them flat and matched.

Our lesson on [the rules of bisque loading](/learn/the-rules-of-bisque-loading/) goes deeper.

## Glaze loading: nothing touches

Glaze melts into a liquid and will fuse any surfaces that touch.

* **Wipe the foot clean** of glaze before loading.
* **Leave clearance between pots.** A common rule is about a finger width or more (roughly 1 to 2 cm), but check your studio's rule.
* **Don't let glazed surfaces touch** shelves, other pots or kiln walls.
* **Keep pots away from elements.** Stay well back from the walls and any heating element as your kiln manual specifies.
* **Be careful with tall pieces**, which can sit too close to the next shelf.

See [why clearance is everything](/learn/why-clearance-is-everything/).

## Placing shelves and posts

1. **Place posts in a stable pattern**, usually three or four per shelf, with the shelf level.
2. **Line up each tier** so weight passes straight down through posts, not onto a shelf's edge.
3. **Match post height** to your tallest pot plus clearance.
4. **Don't block** peepholes, thermocouples or vents.
5. **Test for wobble** by gently pressing the shelf before the next layer.

Practice with a [practice shelf with posts](/practice/set-up-a-practice-shelf-with-posts/).

## Plan on paper first

Sketch the kiln as stacked rings and assign each pot a position. It takes five minutes and prevents rearranging heavy shelves. Our exercise on [planning a bisque load on paper](/practice/plan-a-bisque-load-on-paper/) shows how.

## Common mistakes

* **Overloading a shelf** so it bends or the load shifts.
* **Putting wet or damp pieces in** a bisque.
* **Letting a glazed foot touch** the shelf.
* **Ignoring cone differences.** Don't mix clays or glazes with very different cones in one load.
* **Not recording the load.** Write down who put in what.

## Use a loading record

A written list of what went in, where, and which cones were used, helps trace a problem later. Many studios keep a clipboard. A shared digital record is easier to search. Claybook can tag every piece in a load with the firing and update them all at once after the kiln opens.

After the firing, learn how to read the results with the [cone chart](/blog/pottery-cone-chart/) and check for runs with [why did my glaze run](/blog/why-did-my-glaze-run/).