Recommended Equipment, Tools, & Supplies 

 

These are the equipment, tools, and supplies that I use and recommend. Unless noted, you don’t need multiple items, so if you see different product listings for the same type of item, it’s just that you have some options that I have tested and liked. If you get the item, and for some reason have any problems with it, please be aware that I cannot fix it and you should take that up with Amazon because sometimes things happen and sometimes suppliers change their sourcing. That being said, I wouldn’t list it or recommend it if I hadn’t tried it out and found it to be up to my highest standards at the time I last ordered the items listed. If you have any questions about what you actually need or how many, please feel free to email me and I’ll try to help you out. Otherwise, for Set Up, you definitely need 1 of each type of item unless otherwise noted. The rest is your discretion. Please note that the links are Affiliate Marketing Links, which means that I do receive a small percentage at absolutely no additional charge to you. I graciously thank you for using my referral links if you choose to support me in that way, but I mainly wanted an easy way to make a supply list that I can help people get started with. I completely understand how confusing it can be to know exactly what you need to get started and I didn’t have any help back when I started because resources just weren’t available. I hope that I can help others by creating this resource. 

 

Microwave Firing Set-Up

 

*Please note that if your microwave has a turntable, you will need to REMOVE ALL TURNTABLE PARTS. Glass can shatter and plastic can melt when firing a Microwave Raku. Microwave will need to be designated NOT For FOOD USE to avoid consuming any contamination from firing fumes. 

 

Magic Chef 1000 watt Microwave https://amzn.to/40QJpF2

 

Commercial Chef 1000 watt Microwave https://amzn.to/4109fGB

 

Wicand Microwave Kiln Large https://amzn.to/4eEfUt8

 

Love Charm Microwave Kiln Large https://amzn.to/3YRf6LS

 

1/2” Kiln Posts https://amzn.to/3Ok9Yea

(3 to stabilize the kiln box on uneven microwave floor)

 

Twelve inch tongs https://amzn.to/3AOuTD4

 

Thirteen inch tongs https://amzn.to/3OnePv3

 

Twelve inch tweezers two pack https://amzn.to/4fR6Guz

 

ChefBee Kitchen Cooking Tongs (tweezer tongs)https://amzn.to/3Z5IhdY

 

Rainbow Stainless Steel Tweezer Tongs https://amzn.to/4hVgS7n

 

Welding gloves with a 932 degree F heat rating https://amzn.to/4fzueVk

 

Welding gloves with a 932 degree F heat rating https://amzn.to/3ZlBH4k

 

You will need a heat safe surface to place your kiln box, its lid, and your reduction chamber onto. You can use kiln shelf pieces or flat rocks, but the easiest thing is fire bricks. 3-6 bricks are the recommended amount, but it’s a good idea to have a few extra just in case. I have melted a few tables because my heat safe surface wasn’t big enough. 

 

Fire Brick https://amzn.to/4ey1I4X

 

Fire Brick https://amzn.to/4euf0zq

 

Fire Brick https://amzn.to/3Z4gLNV

 

Fire Brick https://amzn.to/4fWM30b

 

SAFETY ITEM! Fire Blanket (I prefer this over a fire extinguisher, but it never hurts to have both and/or a water bucket handy) https://amzn.to/4evlcax

 

Microwave Kiln Paper Rounds https://amzn.to/3AMafU0

 

You will also need a Reduction Chamber and combustible materials. 

*For reduction chambers, I shop thrift stores for a good solid cooking pot that has no coatings or anything on it and a good fitting metal lid that doesn’t have any holes in it. 

*For combustible materials, generally I use newspaper because it is readily available, but wood shavings, dried leaves or pine needles are also great. 

 

Additional Firing Furniture and Supports

 

Kiln Nails Refractory Firing Supports https://amzn.to/3OnG0pS

 

Refractory Kiln Nail Firing Supports https://amzn.to/3OHtxgV

 

Refractory Bead Rods Firing Supports https://amzn.to/3V4S1nU

 

17 Gauge Nichrome Wire for making Earring support hooks for firing https://amzn.to/3ZghGMF

 

In addition to these items, I also use 2” and 3” tall 1” square small size kiln posts, which I buy from New Mexico Clay. Other suppliers may carry them, but not all suppliers will have the small size kiln posts designed for tester sized kilns. These are the size that works well for inside the microwave kiln. The regular size kiln posts will be too big. 

 

Kanthal Wire/Heat Safe Wire

 

22 Gauge Kanthal Wire https://amzn.to/3AWa8oW 

 

(I also use 20 gauge, which is currently unavailable on Amazon, but they might have it back in stock so I will watch for that and post it if they do. 22 gauge is fine for most jewelry and ornament making)

 

Clay

 

I like Kentucky Mudworks Kota Porcelain but I encourage you to test your own clay choices and see how it works for you. Just about any clay will work for Microwave Raku. 

 

Glazing

 

Penguin Pottery Raku glazes set https://amzn.to/4extEpz

 

Penguin Pottery Raku Glazes large size sold individually (choose color underneath the image) https://amzn.to/48UEBQO

 

Mini Whisks for Mixing Glazes https://amzn.to/4fXWO2k

 

5 inch whisks for mixing glaze https://amzn.to/4fOOO3C

 

Penguin Pottery is currently sponsoring my workshops, and I have been a huge fan of their products even before that, so I highly recommend them. They primarily sell through Amazon. I also use and recommend Spectrum Raku glazes and Mayco Raku glazes, as well as a few others. Check with your local suppliers to see what they carry. 

 

Tools for Jewelry Making in Clay

 

Thickness Guides for rolling out clay in millimeters multiple sizes set https://amzn.to/40NPMZL

 

Thickness Guides 1 set only, available in 2mm, 3mm, 4mm, 5mm, and 6mm https://amzn.to/4ft0vNF

 

Thickness Guides 2mm only or 3 mm only https://amzn.to/3OnwjYo

 

Small rolling pins https://amzn.to/3CuFvaF

 

Mini silicone rolling pins https://amzn.to/4fXVWuA

 

9” rolling pin https://amzn.to/3V3qVgN

 

Heat gun https://amzn.to/3YX0RFh

 

Heat gun https://amzn.to/3UXQ3pf

 

Heat gun https://amzn.to/3OnNclA

 

Heat gun that I use at home https://amzn.to/4hLnSDA

 

Mini Extruder https://amzn.to/3AJVD7T

 

Mini Extruder https://amzn.to/494uvNq

 

Mini Extruder https://amzn.to/3ZlDaaQ

 

Penguin Pottery Portable Wedging and Work Board Large 18”x24” https://amzn.to/4ePblfz

 

Penguin Pottery Portable Wedging and Work Board Small 12”x18” https://amzn.to/490VNUZ

 

I use both the small and large sizes, and have marked a set of each size for Porcelain Only and a separate set for Red Clay as well. This helps me avoid any issues with leaving orange residue on my boards I use for porcelain. I’ve been using mine for over 5 years and they still look great. 

 

 

Jewelry Pliers & Tools

 

BeadSmith 6 Step Bail Making Jewelry Pliers https://amzn.to/4eGIJoR

 

6 Step Bail Making Jewelry Pliers https://amzn.to/40UKMT7

 

Jewelry Pliers set Needle Nose Pliers, Round Nose Pliers and Wire Cutter for Jewelry Making https://amzn.to/3Ok9sNg

 

Spring Loaded Precision Wire Flush Cutters https://amzn.to/495btXg

 

Jewelry Pliers Set: Needle/Chain Nose Pliers, Round Nose Pliers and Wire Cutter for Jewelry https://amzn.to/3AUKuB0

 

Tweezer Nose Jewelry Pliers https://amzn.to/3OlGUmA 

 

BeadSmith Bent Chain Nose Jewelry Pliers https://amzn.to/40VoqAU

 

Bent Needle Nosed Jewelry Pliers with Serrated Jaw https://amzn.to/4fDdg8w

 

Flat Nylon Jaw Pliers for straightening wire https://amzn.to/3ZnOUZB

 

Mini Flat Nose Pliers https://amzn.to/40WNtnf

 

Needle Nose Pliers https://amzn.to/3ZiR6T0

 

Jump Ring Opener Tool 4 Pieces https://amzn.to/3V60aZf

 

Jump Ring Opener Tool 4 Pieces https://amzn.to/3Zi3m6u

 

Jump Ring Opener Tool 2 Pieces https://amzn.to/4fDZ1A1

 

Loop Closing Pliers for opening and closing Jump Rings https://amzn.to/4eEvBAI

 

Chef Tweezers for positioning wire https://amzn.to/3YUHb4E

 

Curved 8” Precision Culinary Tweezers https://amzn.to/40WLrDD

 

Offset 8” Precision Culinary Tweezers https://amzn.to/3V1S2J2

 

Plating Tweezers for positioning wire https://amzn.to/4fDIRXH

 

Assorted Tweezers for jewelry making https://amzn.to/3CHyqUp

 

Tweezers for jewelry making https://amzn.to/3OmE1BZ

 

Mosquito Hemostats Curved and Straight for jewelry making https://amzn.to/4fF6ijk

 

Jewelry Findings and Bits & Bobs

 

Stainless Steel Jump Rings with Jump Ring Opener Tool https://amzn.to/4eIVvDh

 

4mm Earring Post Blanks Stainless Steel https://amzn.to/3OpDbVb

 

Stainless Steel Ear Wire Hooks https://amzn.to/3V4nyX1

 

Stainless Steel Earring Hooks https://amzn.to/4eRsDZS

 

Stainless Steel Cut to Size Chain with Clasps https://amzn.to/40YDFcg 

 

Clear Silicone 4mm Earring backs https://amzn.to/49b9tg7

 

Magnets in 3 sizes https://amzn.to/413U6UH

 

Adhesive for finishing jewelry & magnets

 

JB Weld Clear Marine Grade Epoxy https://amzn.to/4eHbp11

 

Let’s Resin UV Resin for attaching jewelry findings https://amzn.to/3Z9HusO

 

Let’s Resin Refill https://amzn.to/48ZXRwx

 

Other Tools I use for working with clay

 

Slice Ceramic Ergonomic Knife https://amzn.to/4fGTWHg

 

Slice Knife Replacement Blades https://amzn.to/4eLTRAK

 

Slice Precision Cutter Pen Knife https://amzn.to/412yCYi

 

Slice Precision Cutter Pen Knife Replacement Blades https://amzn.to/417mV2q

 

Excel Fit Grip Knife https://amzn.to/3ZjBKxB

 

Excel Replacement Blades https://amzn.to/4939vqd

 

Books I like

 

Lark Ceramics Alternative Kilns & Firing Techniques by James C. Watkins and Paul Andrew Wandless https://amzn.to/4i5MI1l

 

Fired Up with Raku by Irene Poulton https://amzn.to/3OoFIyS

 

Other stuff I like for Workshops

 

Hey Soola Studio Bag (perfect for going to Workshops!) https://amzn.to/3OlpQgr

 

Name Badge Covers https://amzn.to/3V4pS0b

 

Name Badge Magnets https://amzn.to/3CB9vSc

 

Name Badge Clips https://amzn.to/4eGJ2A1

 

Small Resealable Mylar Bags I use for handout kits https://amzn.to/4fE4zul

 

Containers for sugar (for Horse Hair Raku) https://amzn.to/40ZMvXm

 

Mr. Clean Magic Erasers for cleaning Raku work https://amzn.to/4eJnTFv

 

Lots of Mr. Clean Magic Erasers for clean cleaning lots of Raku https://amzn.to/3V6BqQu

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I have so many more tools and equipment that I use and love and either bought from Ceramics Suppliers or at NCECA and other Clay Conferences. Mostly what I have listed here are the things that are specifically for Microwave Raku or Jewelry Making and are mostly only available online or in local big box stores, and for which an Amazon link is available and makes the most sense. However, please do consider buying whatever you can from your local pottery supplier or local businesses. 

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