Order Related Questions:

I just placed an order, how soon will it ship?

• about 90% of orders that go out “small package” (UPS, FedEx or Priority Mail) will get packed up and ready for shipment the same business day, if we get it before about 1pm or the next business day if after that.  Please note, our Mail pickup usually happens at around noon, sometimes earlier, sometimes later.  It’s quite unpredictable so there is often a delay in priority mail orders if they miss the pickup time.  
• Orders shipping out freight (generally over 150#) we try to get put together as quickly as possible as we need to call the freight company for a pickup by noon.
• If you are preordering something (kilns, wheels, other large equipment, any new products that we don’t have in yet, or things like that), you should get an email letting you know those items are ordered and IF we have an estimated date, we’ll include that.  if not, we will send an update when we do know when your items may arrive for us to ship out.
• We use a sophisticated order tracking and notification system to keep you informed about the status of your order, and you can always send an email reply at any time with questions or concerns you have and we will get back to you.
• If it’s cold weather season, and your order contains freezable items, we may advise you that we are holding your package for better weather. Check out our shipping in freezing temperatures policy

I just placed an order, how soon will I be able to pick it up?

• We added a new feature of our website for pickup time and date selection, and we will make every effort to have your order prepared by your prepared time.  However, there are a variety of factors that may delay is retrieving, processing or filling your order, so please wait for the email letting you know it is ready before you head over.  
• Orders placed on SATURDAYS might take longer for us to process because we are often very busy with in-store customers.  If you are hoping to pick up an order on Saturday, please place it before noon on Friday if at all possible.
• We use a sophisticated order tracking and notification system to keep you informed about the status of your order, and you can always send an email reply at any time with questions or concerns you have and we will get back to you.

Can somebody else pick up my order for me?

• Yes. You can include this note with your web order so we know, but even if something happens the day you are supposed to pick up your order, you can just send us an email to let us know.  

Do I need to make an appointment to pick up my order?

• No, express pickup is open 11-3 Monday – Saturday, no appointment needed to pick up, however, we are actually here from 9-5 on Monday through Friday, so if you want to pick up earlier or later than our regular hours, we can accommodate that easily, we just like to know to expect you!  

How are you handling items that aren’t in stock (What is your backorder policy)

• TYPICALLY, we will cancel anything under $10.00 (unless it’s a special order), anything over that we will backorder
• If possible, we may offer you a substitution before we just cancel, if we think another product is similar enough

Services, Can you do _____ for me?

Can I get my work fired here?

• Yes! Bracker’s now offers custom firing services for bisque as well as low and mid-fire glaze firings. Please check out our custom firing blog post for more information and to access our firings submission form.

Can you mix my glaze recipe for me?

• Yes. If you provide a glaze recipe Bracker’s will weigh out and dry mix the ingredients for you. While we are not currently mixing wet glazes at this time, please let us know if that is something that interests you as we may include that service at a later date. For more information please read our glaze mixing announcement.

Do you repair kilns, wheels, or other ceramics equipment?

• Yes. Bracker’s has its own ceramics repair technician. David Sturm is knowledgeable about kilns, wheels, slabrollers, extruders, pugmills, and mixers. For more information or to request his help please click here.

Can you make a clay for me?

• Yes. Please email us your recipe and we will figure a price for you.  The minimum quantity is usually around 1000#  When we calculate your price, we will also figure your recipe for a full batch in our mixer and give you an estimated output.

Can you help me _________?

Shipping and Delivery Questions:

Do you offer free shipping or delivery?

• Don’t get Cindy started on the subject of “free shipping”  We’ve known our UPS driver here at Bracker’s for over 25 years and we are absolutely certain that he does not do his job for free.  Anytime you see someone advertise “Free shipping” what that really means is “shipping is included in the price you are paying for the product”  We chose to show you the price you are paying for the product and also the price it costs to get that product to you.  We do not profit on the shipping cost, however.  We charge the regular published UPS, US Mail, or Freight rates, and we try very hard to find the best (not just cheapest, but ACTUAL BEST) way to get the product you want from our door to your door safely. Orders can also be picked up in store for free (or at whatever cost you pay in gas, to be more accurate plus how you value your time), Contactless Express Pickup is available for those who wish to save time and remain socially distant.

How do you ship?

• Bracker’s ships small orders by FedEx, UPS and USPS, and large orders by freight. We always try to find the most cost-effective shipping service for each order and will choose the service which best suits each shipment. 

If I am having an order shipped out of state, will sales tax be applied?

• At this time, Kansas tax law prevails and does not require us to collect sales tax on orders shipped outside of this state.  

How far do you deliver?

• Bracker’s delivers within a roughly 175-mile radius of our store. With longer deliveries, we strive to group multiple orders in the same region to divide expenses and provide the best possible delivery rate for everyone. For more detailed information or to join our delivery newsletter visit the Bracker’s Delivery Page.

What do I need to know about shipping/ delivering in cold weather?

• Liquids like glaze, slip, and wax resists as well as moist clay will not be shipped out until a shipment window is available during which temperatures in the area will not drop below freezing. This is to protect your purchases from the damage which freezing can cause.  See additional information on our weather policy
• Clay and liquids can still be delivered so long as the destination is not too far away and the roads and unloading conditions are safe for our staff.
• Please note that these restrictions apply to our suppliers as well and can therefore limit our access to liquid products during the winter months.

Kiln and Equipment Questions:

Do you sell kiln or wheel parts?

• Yes, we regularly stock items like thermocouples and relays for most major ceramics equipment brands as well as other frequently needed parts. In addition, because we have our own resident repair technician we can help you figure out exactly what parts you need and often have more obscure parts in stock or can order them in for you. 
• If you know what you’re looking for, try browsing our online Parts Selection. Please note that if you can’t find what you need on our website we may still be able to locate the part for you or suggest a suitable replacement, so please feel free to call or submit a contact form with any questions!
• You can also Request Repair Advice from our Technician Dave Sturm.

Do you sell used equipment?

No, Bracker’s doesn’t stock or sell used equipment, but we can help with your search. We recommend the following Facebook groups as places to check for used kilns or equipment:

• The Ceramicist’s Attic
• Potters Used Tools and Equipment
• Potter’s Attic Again Equipment And Supplies Sales Only

Make sure you check the location of each posting so that you don’t fall in love with a kiln that’s out of your driving range.

If you would like some advice on the used equipment that you find, our Consultation Service is a great resource! We can offer advice on brand, make, and model to help you choose quality equipment and avoid products that don’t match your specific situation or for which parts are no longer made. We can also help you plan for what you will need to install or repair the equipment you find. If repairs are needed our experienced Repair Technician is here to help.

How large are your raku kilns?

• The diameter is approx 18” and comfortably fits a 15-1/2” full kiln shelf. It’s 24” tall on the side, but keep in mind that the bottom shelf will be supported by a 4.5” x 9” x 2.5” soft firebrick.
• To get a better look at the kiln size and standard setup, you may wish to watch this video of Cindy Bracker setting up and firing our raku kiln. It’s on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/2nWH6c3aZ8o

The fiber blanket fell out of my raku kiln, how can I fix it?

There are many reasons why the fiber can fall out of the kiln prematurely, that said, it’s not that hard to put back in place.  Here’s a step by step guide:

1. Place the kiln upside down on a bucket so that it sits flat and stable with the opening upwards.
2. Carefully put the fiber back in place. Remember to line up the cutouts in the fiber with the cage cutouts.
   • You may need to un-bend the little hooks at the bottom just enough to put the fiber back, then re-crimp them.  They should hold the fiber but not pierce it.
3. Once it is in place, you will need to either:
   • Spray the kiln with a rigidizer (50:50 sodium silicate and water applied in three LIGHT coats should do the trick) OR
   • Create “buttons” and wire the fiber to the cage.  If you google buttons for raku kiln, you will see many options and photos of ceramic buttons BUT (and here is the great part) you don’t need to make them out of ceramic,
     IF you have some scrap ceramic fiber laying around, you can make very small rolls of ceramic fiber, and use them instead.  I’ve done this trick a few times on kilns here at the shop, and it works great!! I use an 18ga annealed wire, and the twists are on the outside of the kiln.  Bend them flat against the outer blanket, and make sure you don’t twist them so tight that the wire pulls through the blanket.
   • You can use both methods together for added resiliency.

Clay and Slip Questions:

What does the “plus” (+) mean in the name Buff+, Earthenware Red+, etc.?

• The + represents that it is a version of that clay body which contains the addition of something else. In most cases, this is grog. It might also be silica shot, paper pulp, or other additions. In the case of our Kansas Wheat Plus (which we call Peppered Wheat), the plus indicates the speckles.

What is the minimum amount I can buy of any one moist clay?

• We sell clay by the 25# bag, that is the minimum quantity we can provide. We also sell 50# boxes which contain two bags each and stack nicely.

Do you sell your Clay in dry blend form?

• Yes. We regularly stock several of our Flint Hills clays in dry form including Buff and White Earthenware, and sometimes have and can create upon request most of the rest of our clays in dry form (though some advancer notice is required). 
• We also sell dry materials for making your own clay.  

Is your slip sold in liquid or dry form?

• Both! The slip which Bracker’s manufactures in-house is sold in liquid form, however, we also sell wet and dry slips from other manufacturers. Browse our selection of slips here.

Can I safely over or under fire your clay?

• Maybe! Brackers has recently been making over and under fired samples of many of our clays. Below is a list of clays we have tested and what range we were able to take them to so far.
  • Terra Blanc – Works at Low and Mid Fire Temperatures
  • Raku – Works at Low and Mid Fire Temperatures
  • Terra Cotta – Works at Low and Mid Fire Temperatures
  • Earthenware Red – Works at Low and Mid Fire Temperatures
  • Buff – Works at Mid and High Fire Temperatures
  • 6 Black – Works at Mid and High Fire Temperatures
  • Redstone – Works at Mid and High Fire Temperatures

Do you sell B-Mix?

• Yes. We sell both Mid and High-fire B-Mix both with and without grog.

What clay do you recommend for ______?

• Cone 5-6 standard, light tone clay: Flint Hills Buff
• Cone 04-05 white clay body: Earthenware White
• Something new and exiting (Cone 5-6): Peppered Wheat

Do you sell a bright white Cone 5-6/ Mid-fire Porcelain?

• Yes and No. A Cone 5-6 porcelain will never be as bright or semi-translucent as a Cone 10 Porcelain because less vitrification happens at lower temperatures. We do however sell a variety of Mid-fire porcelains that range in color from grey to different temperatures of white. Aardvark’s Nara Cone 5 and Laguna’s Cone 5 Frost are some of the whitest mid-fire porcelains we sell.

Dry Materials and Weight Outs:

Do you sell plaster?

• Yes. We sell pottery plaster in 50# bags.

Do you sell raw materials?

• Yes. We sell 50# bags of many Raw Materials and Chemicals.
• We will also weigh out smaller quantities of many materials on an as-needed basis. Most materials are weighed out by the 1pound or quarter-pound increment depending on the cost and purpose of the material.

Do you sell Mason Stains?

• Yes. We offer a large selection of Mason Stains® both in pre-measured quarter-pound bags and in larger quantities.

Other Ceramics Questions

Why is my glaze…?

• Blistering and bubbling in and on the surface?
• Fading in color?
• Cracking in irregular patterns?
• Drawing up into clumps, leaving some bare areas on the ware?
• Frosting and crystalizing?
• Super glossy?
• Running down my piece and pooling at the bottom?
• Supposed to be opaque but instead is translucent, super glossy, losing color, or thinning?
• Filled with tiny pinholes on the surface?
• Rough, sandy, or grainy?
• Scumming over on the surface?
• Breaking away from the ware?
• Marred by specks?
• Opaque with a rough, gritty surface and immature colors?

Solutions to these common glaze problems can be found in our free PDF, “Glaze Defects and Adjustments.”