THE TEACHERS LOUNGE
Schools · Camps · Colleges · Universities · Non-Profits
Ceramics & pottery supplies for your whole program
Sheffield Pottery holds one of the nation’s most complete offerings to outfit and maintain any pottery and ceramics program, with knowledgeable support and service from our education team.
Questions? Call 413-229-7700 ext. 215 or email schools@sheffield-pottery.com
FREE
- Bulk clay, deliveredSpecial pricing on bulk delivered clay, with free shipping deals.
- Our own clay bodiesWe manufacture over 40 clay bodies and warehouse a vast inventory, including dry materials ready to ship.
- All the major brandsAuthorized distributor of major kilns, potters’ wheels, tools, safety equipment, studio furniture and glazes.
School promotion · Shimpo Whisper wheels
A free stool with every wheel, plus free shipping
Schools and teaching studios that order 5 or more Shimpo VL Whisper or RK Whisper wheels get a free adjustable-leg stool with each wheel and free shipping directly to the school.
Shimpo VL Whisper14" wheel head, remote foot pedal and removable legs. Quiet direct-drive brushless motor that centers up to 100 lbs.Shop the VL Whisper promo →
Shimpo RK-WhisperCompact 12" wheel head with a fixed foot pedal and hand lever. The same quiet direct-drive motor, centering up to 100 lbs.Shop the RK-Whisper promo →
- Direct drive with a brushless motor: no belts
- Centers up to 100 lbs of clay
- 5-year Shimpo warranty
- Free shipping to your school
For schools and teaching studios only. The offer applies to school orders shipping to the 48 contiguous states with a minimum of 5 Shimpo VL Whisper or RK-Whisper wheels, and includes one free stool per wheel and free shipping directly to the school.
Kilns for schools
Kilns for your classroom studio
From the L&L School-Master, designed for K-12 schools, to Skutt and Cone Art kiln packages with the vent and furniture kit included. Our kiln experts can help guide you to the right kiln for your program.
L&L School-Master K-12Designed for K-12 schools, with a five-year limited warranty and a simple control for the bisque and glaze firings schools typically run.Shop the School-Master →
Skutt KM1027 PackageLarge 7 cubic foot capacity that fires to Cone 10 at 240V. The most popular model in Skutt’s KilnMaster line, with vent and furniture kit.Shop the KM1027 →
Cone Art GX2322D-SQ PackageSquare 7 cubic foot top-loader rated to Cone 10, with factory-installed vent, furniture kit and a Genesis touchscreen controller. Square shelves suit tiles and large platters.Shop the GX2322D-SQ →
L&L Easy-Fire eFL2626Front-loading kiln rated to Cone 10, with a swing-out door, DynaTrol controller and three-zone heating for even firings. Fits through a 31" wide door.Shop the eFL2626 →
Getting started is easy
Set up once, then order by quote or purchase order whenever you need supplies.
-
New to Sheffield?
Complete our New School Information Form and click submit. You can use it to update an existing account, too.
-
We set up your account
Our education department is notified when you submit and will email you when your account is ready. Processing could take 2–3 business days.
-
Send us your quotes & POs
Already have an account? Email your quote requests and purchase orders to schools@sheffield-pottery.com.
Shop by category
Everything a classroom studio needs, from first clay to the kiln room.
Also shop: Raw materials · Mixers & pug mills · Slab rollers & extruders · Kiln room · Work tables · Air filtration
Typical products found in the classroom
Not sure where to start? These are some of the clays and glazes classrooms order most. Not sure which clay you need? See What Kind of Clay Should I Get?
Glazes & raw materials
Glazes and the dry materials to mix your own.
Let’s outfit your studio
Quotes, purchase orders, or a question about the right clay or kiln? Our education team is here to help.
Studio safety & classroom resources
Practical guidance for keeping your ceramics classroom clean and safe.
Keeping your ceramics classroom/studio clean and safe
The best way to keep safe in the classroom is to reduce the exposure to clay dust. Long term exposure to clay dust may lead to silicosis, which can be a fatal lung ailment. Teaching your students good clay habits right away is the best way to stay healthy!
Any individual who comes in contact with clay, glazes and other ceramic materials should be aware of the health hazards involved. The most dangerous materials are found in the form of dry dust, airborne glazes, and kiln fumes, all of which can enter the body through the skin, inhalation and ingestion.
Free silica, which is contained in clay dust, feldspar, and talc can be hazardous through long term absorption or inhalation. The following materials can be especially hazardous: barium, cadmium, chrome, lead, lithium, manganese, Mason Stains, nickel, potassium, selenium, and vanadium.
For your safety we suggest
- Always keep your area clean.
- Wash thoroughly after working.
Keeping clean and safe
All dry pottery clay and dry glaze produces dust, so keep it wet to avoid dust.
- Purchase wet clay bodies and premixed glazes.
- Daily wet mopping or hosing down to a floor drain is good.
- Large wet sponges are essential to clean worktables, counters, wheels, and small floor areas. Use repeated sponging with washed out sponges to remove clay haze.
- Instruct students to use wet sponges and immediately spot clean any drips around the wheels and pick up all crumbs before they get walked on. Train them to carry two clean sponges from the sink so the first sponge gets the mess, and the second sponge removes the residue.
- If cleaning makes any dust at all, it should be done at the end of the day, so the dust settles out of the air before the space is inhabited.
- Install ventilation equipment where necessary.
- Read all warnings, directions, and labels.
- Wear a HEPA filter mask and other protective clothing while cleaning.
Teachers are much more at risk than students because of the time spent in the environment. Teaching students to respect the ceramic classroom/studio and avoid the dust in the first place, is best!
Need gear? Shop studio safety equipment and air filtration systems.
Clay studio safety: don’ts
- Dust, sweep or vacuum: it is not recommended for clay because these methods put dust into the air.
- No rugs: most rugs are impossible to clean in a safe way unless they can be rolled up and totally laundered in a large commercial facility.
- Do not allow sandpaper.
- Never work on dry clay: smooth it by sponging and if it is too dry, spray it with water.
- Do not eat, drink, or smoke in ceramic areas.
Pottery & kiln essentials: helpful resources
For information about nearly anything about pottery, visit Digitalfire. You can also browse our own ceramic reference knowledgebase.
Still have questions? Email schools@sheffield-pottery.com. If you have an urgent question please call 413-229-7700 ext. 215.
Schools · Camps · Colleges · Universities · Non-Profits
Ceramics & pottery supplies for your whole program
Sheffield Pottery holds one of the nation’s most complete offerings to outfit and maintain any pottery and ceramics program, with knowledgeable support and service from our education team.
Questions? Call 413-229-7700 ext. 215 or email schools@sheffield-pottery.com
FREE
- Bulk clay, deliveredSpecial pricing on bulk delivered clay, with free shipping deals.
- Our own clay bodiesWe manufacture over 40 clay bodies and warehouse a vast inventory, including dry materials ready to ship.
- All the major brandsAuthorized distributor of major kilns, potters’ wheels, tools, safety equipment, studio furniture and glazes.
School promotion · Shimpo Whisper wheels
A free stool with every wheel, plus free shipping
Schools and teaching studios that order 5 or more Shimpo VL Whisper or RK Whisper wheels get a free adjustable-leg stool with each wheel and free shipping directly to the school.
Shimpo VL Whisper14" wheel head, remote foot pedal and removable legs. Quiet direct-drive brushless motor that centers up to 100 lbs.Shop the VL Whisper promo →
Shimpo RK-WhisperCompact 12" wheel head with a fixed foot pedal and hand lever. The same quiet direct-drive motor, centering up to 100 lbs.Shop the RK-Whisper promo →
- Direct drive with a brushless motor: no belts
- Centers up to 100 lbs of clay
- 5-year Shimpo warranty
- Free shipping to your school
For schools and teaching studios only. The offer applies to school orders shipping to the 48 contiguous states with a minimum of 5 Shimpo VL Whisper or RK-Whisper wheels, and includes one free stool per wheel and free shipping directly to the school.
Kilns for schools
Kilns for your classroom studio
From the L&L School-Master, designed for K-12 schools, to Skutt and Cone Art kiln packages with the vent and furniture kit included. Our kiln experts can help guide you to the right kiln for your program.
L&L School-Master K-12Designed for K-12 schools, with a five-year limited warranty and a simple control for the bisque and glaze firings schools typically run.Shop the School-Master →
Skutt KM1027 PackageLarge 7 cubic foot capacity that fires to Cone 10 at 240V. The most popular model in Skutt’s KilnMaster line, with vent and furniture kit.Shop the KM1027 →
Cone Art GX2322D-SQ PackageSquare 7 cubic foot top-loader rated to Cone 10, with factory-installed vent, furniture kit and a Genesis touchscreen controller. Square shelves suit tiles and large platters.Shop the GX2322D-SQ →
L&L Easy-Fire eFL2626Front-loading kiln rated to Cone 10, with a swing-out door, DynaTrol controller and three-zone heating for even firings. Fits through a 31" wide door.Shop the eFL2626 →
Getting started is easy
Set up once, then order by quote or purchase order whenever you need supplies.
-
New to Sheffield?
Complete our New School Information Form and click submit. You can use it to update an existing account, too.
-
We set up your account
Our education department is notified when you submit and will email you when your account is ready. Processing could take 2–3 business days.
-
Send us your quotes & POs
Already have an account? Email your quote requests and purchase orders to schools@sheffield-pottery.com.
Shop by category
Everything a classroom studio needs, from first clay to the kiln room.
Also shop: Raw materials · Mixers & pug mills · Slab rollers & extruders · Kiln room · Work tables · Air filtration
Typical products found in the classroom
Not sure where to start? These are some of the clays and glazes classrooms order most. Not sure which clay you need? See What Kind of Clay Should I Get?
Glazes & raw materials
Glazes and the dry materials to mix your own.
Let’s outfit your studio
Quotes, purchase orders, or a question about the right clay or kiln? Our education team is here to help.
Studio safety & classroom resources
Practical guidance for keeping your ceramics classroom clean and safe.
Keeping your ceramics classroom/studio clean and safe
The best way to keep safe in the classroom is to reduce the exposure to clay dust. Long term exposure to clay dust may lead to silicosis, which can be a fatal lung ailment. Teaching your students good clay habits right away is the best way to stay healthy!
Any individual who comes in contact with clay, glazes and other ceramic materials should be aware of the health hazards involved. The most dangerous materials are found in the form of dry dust, airborne glazes, and kiln fumes, all of which can enter the body through the skin, inhalation and ingestion.
Free silica, which is contained in clay dust, feldspar, and talc can be hazardous through long term absorption or inhalation. The following materials can be especially hazardous: barium, cadmium, chrome, lead, lithium, manganese, Mason Stains, nickel, potassium, selenium, and vanadium.
For your safety we suggest
- Always keep your area clean.
- Wash thoroughly after working.
Keeping clean and safe
All dry pottery clay and dry glaze produces dust, so keep it wet to avoid dust.
- Purchase wet clay bodies and premixed glazes.
- Daily wet mopping or hosing down to a floor drain is good.
- Large wet sponges are essential to clean worktables, counters, wheels, and small floor areas. Use repeated sponging with washed out sponges to remove clay haze.
- Instruct students to use wet sponges and immediately spot clean any drips around the wheels and pick up all crumbs before they get walked on. Train them to carry two clean sponges from the sink so the first sponge gets the mess, and the second sponge removes the residue.
- If cleaning makes any dust at all, it should be done at the end of the day, so the dust settles out of the air before the space is inhabited.
- Install ventilation equipment where necessary.
- Read all warnings, directions, and labels.
- Wear a HEPA filter mask and other protective clothing while cleaning.
Teachers are much more at risk than students because of the time spent in the environment. Teaching students to respect the ceramic classroom/studio and avoid the dust in the first place, is best!
Need gear? Shop studio safety equipment and air filtration systems.
Clay studio safety: don’ts
- Dust, sweep or vacuum: it is not recommended for clay because these methods put dust into the air.
- No rugs: most rugs are impossible to clean in a safe way unless they can be rolled up and totally laundered in a large commercial facility.
- Do not allow sandpaper.
- Never work on dry clay: smooth it by sponging and if it is too dry, spray it with water.
- Do not eat, drink, or smoke in ceramic areas.
Pottery & kiln essentials: helpful resources
For information about nearly anything about pottery, visit Digitalfire. You can also browse our own ceramic reference knowledgebase.
Still have questions? Email schools@sheffield-pottery.com. If you have an urgent question please call 413-229-7700 ext. 215.
Special Educational Discounts on Ceramic and Pottery Art Supplies For Schools.
OUR PROCESS
Natural Sheffield Clay is mined on our property from as seen at one of the open clay pits. The Sheffield Clay deposit is located in Sheffield, Massachusetts, on U.S. Route 7 in the Southwest corner of Berkshire County.