Maria E

Thank you all for the tips! It is good to know that there are ways to manage a kiln in an unheated space in winter if I have to. In a mild coastal climate like the one we are living in now, I wouldn't mind sharing space with a kiln, but the extra heat would be a bit much in summer in Ohio. Yes, Mark, we are practically neighbors and my 93 year old father always drinks out of one of your mugs. I wear lots of layers and heat my throwing water in winter (plug in water pot) to work in my present studio, but it gets a lot colder in Ohio. I hadn't thought about how dry a conditioned space might be in winter -- good reminder. We are planning a conditioned space, with the kiln being the one question mark, mostly because of zoning issues that limit the size of a studio with onsite sales to 20% of the size of the house and we don't want that much house.

Potters in the Midwest, I need advice! I am planning to build a studio in SW Ohio. My present studio is an old, shaded, unheated greenhouse in northern California, near the ocean and I have never lived, let alone potted, in a climate like the Midwest. The climate here stays between 40 and 60 degrees most of the time, and the humidity tends to average around 75%. I know that letting a studio get below freezing is bad for ware that hasn't been bisqued yet and messes with kiln controls, but that is as far as my knowledge goes. What do I need to consider? How warm should I plan on keeping the space if I want work to dry within a reasonable amount of time (say, 2 days)? What about the summer? How does the humidity and heat affect pottery (and potters)? What else should I consider? Thanks!