Every page on Home Pottery HQ is research-based. We do not run a test lab and we do not claim to have used every product we write about. Instead we collect the published facts that decide whether a wheel, kiln, clay, glaze or tool suits a home potter, check them against more than one source, and lay them out so you can compare.
Where our facts come from
- Maker spec sheets and manuals: Shimpo, Brent (AMACO), Speedball, Skutt, Paragon, Olympic, L&L, Evenheat, Laguna, AMACO, Mayco and other makers' own pages and PDF manuals come first.
- Authorized dealers: US ceramic suppliers often publish extra detail, such as breaker sizes or shipping weights. We use these when the maker is silent and name the dealer.
- Standards and safety bodies: Orton for pyrometric cone temperatures, NIOSH and OSHA for silica dust guidance, and the US Energy Information Administration for electricity prices.
- Education sources: university ceramics courses, Ceramic Arts Network and makers' lesson plans for technique pages.
How we handle conflicting figures
Sources disagree more often than you might expect. A wheel's centering capacity can differ by 100 pounds between the maker and a dealer, and a kiln's amperage can differ between a spec sheet and a product title. When that happens we print both figures, name both sources and, where it matters for safety, tell you to confirm with the maker or a licensed electrician.
What we will not do
- We will not claim hands-on testing we have not done.
- We will not print wiring instructions. Kiln circuits are a job for a licensed electrician.
- We will not call a glaze food safe on your pots. We report what the maker labels and explain that results depend on your clay, application and firing.
- We will not print exact prices or "deal" claims. Prices change daily, so we give price bands and link to live listings.
How products are chosen
Picks are based on published specs, warranty terms, availability from US sellers and the situation a page is written for. Affiliate commissions do not decide picks; several recommended products are sold only through dealers where we earn nothing.
Keeping pages current
Each page shows when it was last updated and ends with the month its specs were checked. We review buying guides before the holiday season and whenever a reader or maker reports a change. Corrections are welcome at support@homepotteryhq.com.