How to Fire a Clay Bowl With a Kiln

Making pottery can be a creative and rewarding experience.

Making pottery is a fun, creative experience. You can produce cups, plates, bowls, vases and sculptures as gifts or as works of art for sale. Firing pottery is a crucial part of the overall process and, though it's not particularly difficult, it's important to pay close attention to proper preparation and execution for the best outcome. You will first need to allow your newly created clay bowl, or "greenware" to completely dry. After that, your "bone dry" piece will need to be fired in a kiln. This is known as bisque firing. Nowadays, electric kilns are popular for their ease of use.

Things You'll Need

• Freshly constructed clay bowl
• Electric kiln
• Kiln wash
• Paintbrush

Instructions

1. 

   Fresh pottery contains a lot of water, so it's important to let your piece dry thoroughly.

   Allow your newly constructed clay bowl to completely dry. Reaching the state of "bone dry" can take at least 48 hours, depending on the bowl’s size and thickness.

2. Use a paint brush to apply a generous coat of kiln wash to the top surface of the middle kiln shelf and allow to dry. This protects the shelf from any clay that may harden on it during the bisque firing.

3. Put the dry, kiln-washed shelf at the middle level of the kiln and place your bone dry clay bowl at the center of it.

4. Set the kiln time and temperature controls for a bisque firing. Follow any instructions supplied by the kiln’s manufacturer. A standard bisque firing can reach a temperature of around 1700° and last for several hours.

5. Allow the kiln and your clay bowl to cool before removal. This process could take 8 to 24 hours.

Tips & Warnings

• Newly created pottery contains a lot of moisture. If this greenware is not allowed to fully dry, it will likely crack or break during the firing process. Bone-dry pieces should resemble room temperature when touched to the cheek. If the pottery remains cool to the touch, it still contains moisture.

• Handle bone dry greenware with great care, as it’s brittle. Picking a piece up one-handed by its rim or side can cause it to break.

• Never open the kiln door during the firing process, as this will change the temperature within the kiln and possibly destroy your work.

• Kilns fire at extremely high temperatures, so don't touch your pieces until they've fully cooled.

References

• Lakeside Pottery: Firing and Electric Kiln
• Ceramic Arts Daily: Ten Basics of Firing Electric Kilns
• Warm Glass: Preparing the Kiln for Firing
• How to Make Pottery: Glazing and Firing Pottery

Resources

• "Clay, Fire and the Potter"; Sohaila Zivari; 2011
• "Pottery Basics: Everything You Need to Know to Start Making Beautiful Ceramics"; Jacqui Atkin; 2005
• "The Complete Potter"; Steve Mattison; 2003