Repair labor charge, per hour. Minimum of 1 hour

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Please enter the time for a round trip as calculated by Google Maps between us and the destination. Because our website deals in whole numbers for the quantity, please round up to the nearest hour and we'll adjust it when we receive your order. Whenever possible, David will try to combine repair visits to the same area on the same day. If you have an emergency and need him as soon as possible, please add the Repair Tech Emergency Surcharge item to your order to move to the top of his docket when the parts are available.

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Do you have a kiln or wheel that is misbehaving, but you don’t live close enough for Dave to come fix it?  Do you need help with installing a new part or running a test on your kiln?  Do you have more questions about your equipment than a basic consult covers, or need more in-depth information? Are you willing to work with Dave over zoom to do a diagnostic, and you have basic hand tools? If you answered YES to any of the above questions, then this is the right service for you! Just fill out the form below (please be as specific as possible), click submit, add this item to your shopping cart, and complete your checkout process. This is the ‘next step up’ from a basic consult.  You get the same great Dave service and access to his years of knowledge and experience* but brought to you by the magic of technology, rather than the magic of the combustion engine and the industrial revolution. *More than 25 years of experience and multiple certifications in ceramic equipment repair ensure that Dave is the go-to-guy for anything kiln or wheel-related….(plus slabrollers, pugmills, mixers and more) What to Expect: We know that your equipment is important to you, and a broken wheel or kiln can cause a lot of stress.  Physical and virtual repairs are scheduled on a first-come-first-served basis, Mon-Fri from 9am-4pm Central time. Rest assured that we will strive to schedule your virtual appointment as soon as possible, and we will work with you to find a time/date that works for both of us.  [Often, virtual repair services are faster to schedule as they do not require Dave to drive to your location].   We offer both remote diagnostic consultations and remote part installation walk-throughs priced in fifteen minute increments, to fit the needs of your ceramic equipment.   Basic Remote Diagnostic : $25* for the first half-hour$10 per 15 minute increments thereafter30 min minimum  *NOTE: This fee must be paid prior to your appointment. In the event that your issue can not be effectively diagnosed remotely, the fee will be pro-rated/refunded or applied to a physical service call, as applicable. Service Description: Our remote diagnostic service is a one-on-one phone call or video chat (via Facetime, Zoom, or Google Meet) with Dave. We can schedule diagnostic appointments for a variety of equipment including, gas and electric kilns, wheels, slab rollers, and pugmills. If your diagnostic is electric kiln-specific, please perform a glow test prior to talking with Dave. Include the results of your glow test along with the brand, model, and type of equipment you need serviced in the email when you schedule your diagnostic appointment. During the diagnostic, Dave may need you to open the panel to show him something, so please make sure you have a Phillips head screwdriver and a flat head screwdriver handy during the call. Once your virtual call is done, the virtual repair is complete. Remote part installation walk-through, or in-depth repair question and answer session $50/hour billed in 15 min incrementshalf hour minimum *NOTE: Based on the model and part installation, you will be given a time estimate and price quote for remote installation assistance.  This amount will be collected up front.  In the event that the repair is completed in less time, any excess will be refunded, if it takes longer, the balance will be charged to your credit card at the end of the repair session. Service Description: Our remote part installation service is a one-on-one video call (on Facetime, Zoom, or Google Meet) with Dave. Prior to your appointment, we will need to verify that you have the correct part and all the correct tools to service your equipment. Please include your list of tools and part(s) along with the brand, model, and type of equipment you need serviced in the email when you schedule your remote part-installation walk-through. For a detailed list of what tools you may need for kiln maintenance, please click here. (You won’t need the multi-meter for parts installation, so don’t worry if you don’t have one)  Once your virtual call is done, the virtual repair is complete. NOTE: Virtual Kiln/Wheel Repair services are specifically for equipment repairs. If you need advice on how to load a kiln or how to fire ceramics, check out our Consultation Services   This initial fee must be paid prior to your appointment. The fee will be refunded in full or applied to a physical service call if we cannot diagnose the problem with your equipment.

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We now offer Glaze Mixing Services here at Bracker’s! Provide us with a recipe (in grams) and we can dry blend it for you. Each dry blend glaze recipe will be returned in one clear plastic bag with the glaze name and date mixed written on it. If you struggle with math and converting your recipe from parts to pound to grams etc. we can help with that as well, just select the box for "nerd service" above . If not selecting nerd service, please provide your test batch recipe in grams with the total weight falling between 400-500g and the smallest amount no less than 1g Full batch recipes should be in pounds with increments no further than 2 decimal places Price Details: Test batch $15.00 per 400-500 gram batch, includes materials Full batch (approx 5000g) fee: $15 per 5000 grams* Nerd Service (mathematic conversion of your recipe for mixing): $2.50 *Materials used in full batches are sold separately. Please add all ingredients to your cart along with your mixing service selection(s). Use the file upload for your reciepe, or type it in directly to the order comments at checkout or send it via email to mail@brackers.com or call us (888.822.1982) with it

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Pricing:Handling/kiln loading fee: 30¢/item for bisque, 40¢/item for glazeStilt fees: 25¢/stilt used NOTE: There is a minimum firing fee of $1.50 per item and a $15 minimum firing fee per customer. You will be charged for actual costs, less the $15 minimum firing fee, when you check in your pieces for firing. Pieces are generally fired within 2 to 4 weeks. You will receive automatic email updates of the progress of your piece throughout its visit to Brackers. Once you get that final email letting you know your piece is cooled and ready, plan to pick up you work promptly as our space is limited (despite the fact that our warehouse looks enormous). See Online Booking Page

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Even before Covid-19 shut down many clay centers, we were often asked to provide unique and individual services to meet a variety of needs ranging from one on one throwing lessons to valuation services for estate sales or legal proceedings, to in depth analyses of glaze or clay body formulas or what raw material will best represent "wild old west" dust on a film set (no kidding). We have always provided a vast array of free information and advice and we will definitely continue to do so. From maintaining a website full of resources you can read/watch/download/click on to providing answers in store or over the phone, we are still committed to excellent customer service and in most cases, a 5 minute explanation is all someone needs to solve their problem. We have realized though, especially with the amount of home-studio work now happening, that some people want or need more in-depth and personalized answers, examples, demonstrations, or solutions. So here we are... In order to continue to provide excellent service to all of our customers, we are asking that these more in-depth Q&A sessions be scheduled in advance, whether here in our store, via an electronic/remote (zoom, facetime, etc) connection. During your session, we will be completely focused on you and your needs. Things we can’t do:Q: I broke an antique ceramic thing. Could you repair it?A: No, we don't do repairs on finished artwork. Ask yourself if it's dear to you because it's a sentimental object or is it something that is monetarily valuable? Sentimental repairs can often be made with Superglue, but if you’re looking for something a little more special, check out the Japanese technique “kintsugi.” For something monetarily valuable, search for art restoration services online. Q. Do you buy or sell used equipmentA. No but we can help. check our list of things we can do at the left for information about our equipment valuation/assessment options. We can also help you find the best place to list your equipment or look for a used item to purchase. Q. Do you buy used molds?A. No, sorry. We just don't have the space to store them.   Start your personalized service by filling out the form below and we will be in touch soon!  

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Complete diagnostic of your kiln (or wheel), includes drive time within an hour of Lawrence. Just add this item to your cart, fill out the form below, and complete the checkout process to get on Dave's queue. If you have a specific, known-issue, you can help speed up the repair process by providing that specific information on the form in the 'What needs attention' field.   What to Expect: Once your form has been received, and the checkout process has been completed, our tech will begin the process by gathering any additional needed information. They may ask questions of you via email, or provide directions for a test to be performed prior to the diagnostic trip.  Our hope is that we can determine what the issue is without having to come onsite to perform diagnostic.  IF we can quickly determine what needs to be done prior to coming out,  then we can quote the full repair instead and apply the cost of this diagnostic to the required repair.  This will save you time and money in the long run. Diagnostic trips are scheduled as quickly as possible, but there can be longer lead times during the busier times of the year.   If it is found that a simple, no-parts-needed, repair is able to be done during the diagnostic visit, we will get that done at that time at no additional charge.  We do not, however, carry extra parts with us in the repair vehicle..there are simply too many different options out there.  If we determine that we are going to need parts or further labor to do the full repair, we will email you a quote based on the diagnostic findings within the next 3 business days.   The Kiln Diagnostic is complete once this quote has been sent.

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Repair labor charge, per hour. Minimum of 1 hour Drive time billed on round trip

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If you have just a Quick Question, need a double-check on what you think you need to do next, or if you just don’t know what to do or where to start, then this is the service for you.  Just fill out and click ‘submit’ on the form below, then add this item to your shopping cart and complete your checkout.   Don't worry, If we can immediately tell that you will need a longer virtual session or a full onsite service, your $15 service starter fee will be applied to that service.     If you already know you will need more in-depth service, have a number of repair questions that need answers, or just need Dave to come onsite to give your equipment a once-over, then please choose our Virtual Repair or Diagnostic Services instead. WHAT TO EXPECT:  Once your completed form is received, and the service has been paid, our techs will begin by gathering any additional information needed.  Some times of the year are much busier than others, but we try to respond within 2 business days.   They may ask questions of you via email or phone, provide directions for a test to be performed, or consult with the manufacturer if needed. They will then provide you with you with the answer to your question, or suggest a “next step”.  Your ‘next step’ may be, a referral to a virtual consult,  a link to (or a quote for),  the appropriate parts (with a link to a video on how to install it yourself if available).  It might be also be a quoted in-person repair, whichever is appropriate.    Think of a Repair Consult as taking about 15 min of the tech’s time gathering information, doing any necessary research, and responding back with next steps or a quote.   Once you receive that information, the repair consult is complete.

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Is your equipment not working properly? Do you have questions and have no idea where to start? Don’t worry, our Repair Team is passionate about helping artists and schools like yours to keep their equipment up and running.   Just choose the type of service you need,  Fill out and submit the form by clicking on it below.   Once you complete your checkout, our techs will help you get back up and running as quickly as possible.

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