Kiln Repair

Need Kiln Help?

I'm Joe Kowalczyk (Ko-väl-chick)
your local Bay Area kiln technician, and I can fix your kiln.


Services I provide:
- Kiln evaluations
- Repair for ceramics or glass kilns (both gas and electric)
- Tutorials (basic operation, safety, component identification, maintenance, & custom programming)
- Ventilation setup
- Recommendations on new or used kiln purchases
- Pottery wheel evaluations and repair
- Slab roller repair
- General studio setup

I'll give a thorough evaluation of your kiln, tell you what's wrong with it, estimate a price, and (with your approval) fix it.

Buying a kiln? If you're unsure what to get, I can make recommendations based on what I've found to be more reliable and user friendly. You can also consult me regarding kiln setup, ventilation, proper power supply, and kiln placement in your studio space.

Selling a kiln? If you need an idea of how much to price it, I can inspect and suggest a practical price based on its condition and replacement parts needed.

I also give tutorials on how to fire your kiln, how to properly maintain it, and how to practice kiln safety. I explain what each part is and what it does, so you have a better understanding of how it operates. I even explain what happens in the kiln as you fire your clay. If you have an automatic digital controller, I can teach you how to take advantage of its features so you can program your own firings.

Please know that I am not a licensed electrician and although I have basic electrical knowledge, I don't do electrical work outside of the kiln.


Pricing:
Each kiln I service begins with a thorough evaluation (like a patient going for an examination before an operation), and the repair begins from there.
I charge hourly for the work I do onsite and for transportation. I'll meet and beat the prices of any professional kiln service in the Bay Area.
SOMETIMES I provide kiln service in exchange for art, but I'm VERY particular. It has to be truly amazing & tantalizing. Don't be offended if I decline, I can't pay my rent with art.
My shop is located in Oakland, but I'm willing to travel (and have!) as far as Yosemite National Park for servicing.
Feel free to contact me with questions on pricing.


Experience:
My first several years of kiln repair began while attending the California College of the Arts ceramics program. I was taken under the wing of the studio manager and instructed on firing and kiln repair for both gas and electric kilns. The following four years were spent working for a ceramics supply company repairing kilns at high schools, colleges, recreation centers, campgrounds, home studios, and professional art studios. Currently I provide independent kiln repair throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California. I've even attended kiln training at the Skutt Kiln manufacturing facility in Portland. I've seen all kinds of kilns and have experienced many kiln malfunctions. I have yet to come across a kiln I can't repair (knock on wood).

2003-2006: kiln repair as I studied ceramics at California College of the Arts
2006-2010: repairing kilns professionally at Leslie Ceramic Supply co.
2010-present: providing independent kiln repair throughout the greater Bay Area / Northern California


I know a lot about kilns because I'm an artist and I use them myself.
Feel free to have a look at my online portfolio in the URL list to checkout the clay sculpture I do.

Thank you for your time!

Reviews

• 5/5 stars May 11, 2012

  

  Joe is friendly, knowledgeable, and genuinely cares about those who seek his professional experience. Our High School has greatly benefited from his expertise. I am happy to recommend Joe to anyone in need of a Kiln Repair.
  
  John Howell
  Newark Memorial High School
  

  – John

• November 12, 2011

  

  I needed some help and an old manual for a kiln that had been in a garage for a number of years. Other businesses had given me the brush off--but Joe went the extra mile and then some. I got what I needed and met what is clearly a decent person as well. I can't recommend highly enough his knowledge and his positive attitude and passion for getting it right and for being a decent person. I would recommend you try Joe Kowalczyk's kiln repair first--I am sure you will come away happy.

  – Stan

• July 6, 2011

  

  Very knowledgable and helpful. Is always quick to respond.

  – Cindy

• June 10, 2011

  

  Joe did a great job with the kiln at Malcolm X Elementary; he checked it over, gave us a really complete review of the maintenance it needed, and completed all work as agreed and very quickly. Thanks, Joe, the PTA ceramics class and the other MX kids all got to finish projects this year!!

  – Krysta

• May 8, 2011

  

  Joe did great, speedy work of fixing my kiln. Hes a really friendly guy, has a great work ethic, and charges a very fair price.

  – Joshua

• May 8, 2011

  

  Joe repaired my kiln recently--replacing the plug and the thermocouple-- and my firings have all been really good since! I don't know why, but the colors are definitely more intense.
  He has come a couple of times for various kiln issues, and he always gives very good advice. He helps me save money by advising which things can wait (an Envirovent which is big bucks!) and which I can do myself. He is generous about showing how to DIY. I highly recommend his kiln repair service.
  

  – Tina

• April 25, 2011

  

  Joe is a fantastic, affordable and friendly kiln repairman. He has really come through for me wen I was on a deadline and my kiln broke down. I recommend him very highly!
  Sara Paloma
  Sara Paloma Pottery- Emeryville

  – Sara

• April 20, 2011

  

  I live in the Monterey Bay Area and brought my kiln to Joe's shop in Oakland. He did a quick repair and it my kiln is like new. Joe is very pleasant and easy to work with.

  – Maris

• April 20, 2011

  

  I found Joe K. to be very responsive and professional in his assessment of our kiln problem. He was prompt in responding to my plea for help and he was quick to seek as much information as he could to understand our challenge. Our studio is five hours away from Oakland forcing Joe to trouble shoot over the phone as we spoke about our situation.
  
  He gave me his honest opinion of how to proceed with our repairs and I learned a few new things in the process of speaking with him. He is a very clear communicator and was patient with my questions as well which made troubleshooting straight forward.
  
  I would recommend Joe Kowalczyk to anyone in California who needs a competent kiln repairperson.
  
  

  – Daren

• April 17, 2011

  

  Joe is everything he says he is and more. Very responsible, very professional, he diagnosed the problems with my kiln and wrote up what was needed immediately, including what could be deferred and what I needed to do to keep it in working order. This was so important because I work in a public school where the kiln is overused and abused. He works in collaboration with you so you can understand how not only the kiln works but also all the wheels. It made it so much easier to plan the repair and maintenance into a school budget. On top of that he is really genuine. He really spent time. He felt comfortable in my classroom and even took the time to answer questions from my students. Highly recommended.

  – Sarah

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