Question:
how do I dry my ware?
Ideal clay thickness
Overly thick clay can also cause problems. Very thick pieces must be dried very slowly and very thoroughly before being fired. Thick, heavy sculptures are usually constructed of very groggy clay to aid in drying and to prevent cracking. For the purposes of this class, a piece with walls 1/2" thick should be the limit. By learning to work thinner and lighter your forms will become more expressive, and you'll have fewer problems with cracking.
Drying tiles flat
To keep tiles and other pieces of clay flat as they dry, sandwich them between pieces of drywall. You can stack many layers this way.
Smooth sharp or chipped edges on bisque ware
Smooth sharp or chipped edges on bisque ware before you glaze and final fire your work. Unfortunately pots are very vulnerable at the bisque stage and especially if you work in a community lab or you share a studio your bisqued pots are bound to get chipped or broken at some point. Use sandpaper on broken or chipped areas or they will become razor sharp after a layer of glass has adhered to them! Fortunately many hardware stores carry specially cut and reinforced smaller pieces which are perfect for smoothing over the rough bottom or edge of a bisqued pot. It's a good idea to go over rough spots just before you glaze them. Sandpaper is our friend.
Never bisque a piece that's not completely dry
Never ever bisque fire a piece that's not completely dry. This does not require much explanation. Any piece which isn't completely free of moisture, or bone dry may explode and destroy other pieces in the kiln. If there is moisture in the piece, when you put it next to your cheek it will feel cold.
Handbuilt pieces with thick surfaces will take much longer to dry. When in doubt - wait a day, it certainly won't hurt.
Shrinkage
By far the biggest technical challenge clay will present us with is shrinkage. Clay shrinks as it dries, and it shrinks again when it is fired. Most stoneware clays shrink by 10 to 15 percent from the wet to the fired state. The exposed edges of a pot will dry more quickly than the bottom, and thin parts will dry and shrink faster than thicker parts. If one part of a piece dries and shrinks before the rest, this sets up stresses in the piece that will often crack it either during drying or firing. Try and keep the thickness of your pieces uniform, and dry them gradually and evenly by covering them with plastic and periodically turning them over to dry the bottoms.
Line your shelves
Lining your ware shelves with newspaper is an easy way to keep the shelves from getting stained, and also keeps the pieces free of leftover clay particles. This is especially useful if you alternate between red and white clay.
Ceramics Frequently Asked Questions
What precautions should I take in the studio?
How do I fire an electric kiln?
What are some stoneware glazes?
What Precautions when using dry ingredients?
How do I apply opaque stains ?
What should I keep in mind when designing my studio?
What tools do I need to start potting?
How do I best promote myself and my work?
What safety aspect should I keep in mind when working with glazes?
What should I remember when firing the kiln?
How do I best publicise my business?
How do I make a simple plaster mold?
How do I fire overglazes/lustres?
How do I create fine feature lines?
How and when sholuld I apply underglazes?
Are they Water or oil base stains?
Are any two kilns are exactly alike?
Can I use sand to stop glaze running onto shelves
Does greenware need to be dry before loading?
What is the history of the Potter´s Wheel?
What is The History of the Way of Tea
What is Celadon (Cheong-Ja) - the Stuff of Kings?
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Is there a trick toThrowing Porcelain?
What are some stoneware glazes?
What are some good tools for decoration?
How do I apply texture to my piece?
Do I need kiln wash for bisque?
How do I refire a glazed piece ?
What must I remember when Raku firing?
How do I add decoration to my ceramics?
How do I care for my elements?
Does over firing produce poor colour in coloured glaze?s
What are some Black Firing Tips and Tricks?
What is the safest way to pack my ceramics?
How do I do a reduction firing?
automatic kiln sitter, should I trust it?
What are some tips for draining a mold?
What safety measures should I take with Raku Firing?
How do I attach a bat to the wheelhead?
What tools do I need for ceramics
What are suggested plate clay weights?
What do I need to get started?
What tools do I need to make a coil pot
How do I fire ceramic bisque ?
How do I recycle batches of clay quickly
What is the correct firing time?
How to I prepare and make slabs?
What materials are toxic in Ceramics?
Can Crackle glazes be used for food?
How do I avoid S cracks in wheel thrown ware
How do I get the press onside?
What are the Approx. firing times?
Ho do I avoid pitting and pinholes?
How do I decorate my ceramics?
How do I Bisque fire in an electric kiln?
How do I decorate my ceramics?
How do I apply crackle glazes ?
What effects can I achieve with a brush?
How do I Drain small pour holes?
How do I care for my new Kiln?
can I draw directly onto a piece?
How do I fire different bodies?
What is the humming in my new kiln?
What should I remember when firing a new kiln?
how do I get the best results in glazing?
How do I prevent dirt on my greenware?
How do I accomodate Clay Storage in my studio?
How do I prevent sagging during firing?
How do I load my brush for applying underglaze?
Why should I use pottery plaster?
How do I prevent glazes from settling ?
How do I create a woodtone effect?
What are some Doing well Quotes?
How do I care for my elements?
How do I store my throwing tools?
What is the history of Ceramics?
Why do I get black spots in my glaze?
How do I load my kiln for a glaze firing?
| Guru Spotlight |
| Mary White |
