How to Dry Pottery Clay at Home in the Oven

Use your home oven in place of a pottery kiln.

Most types of clays will need to be dried using a process called firing. Firing clay is traditionally done in a controlled fire, or in a special oven called a kiln. The heat inside a kiln can reach 1,000 degrees F and higher. Many people do not own a kiln, nor the space to set one up. However, special types of clay have been developed especially for use in kitchen ovens for this reason. The lower temperatures of a traditional oven can also reduce the risk of the clay fracturing from intense heat.

Things You'll Need

• Wet Oven Craft piece of pottery
• Baking rack
• Baking sheet
• Timer

Instructions

1. Place the sculpted pottery inside of a clear plastic bag while it is still wet. Set it aside to begin the drying process. Check the pottery periodically until it the surface appears to be bone dry. Do not skip this step -- the clay will shatter in the oven if it is not first air dried.

2. Move the rack in your oven to the center place setting. Heat the oven to 325 degrees F.

3. Remove the pottery from the plastic bag and place on a baking sheet. Put the pottery in the preheated oven, and set a timer for 30 minutes. This baking will remove all the water molecules found inside of the clay pottery piece.

4. Remove the pottery from the oven after 30 minutes and allow the piece to dry completely before touching it. Once the pottery has completely cooled it is safe to apply acrylics or other paint decorations to its surface.

References

• Cultivating Life: Oven Bake Clay
• Nursing Home Activities Resource: Make Homemade Cold Porcelain Sculpting Clay
• Goshen College; How To Rework Clay & Fire Without A Kiln; Marvin Bartel