How to Fire Clay Pottery
Working with clay pottery in a kiln must be completed very carefully with many safety precautions. Firing clay pottery is the most common activity that a kiln is used for, whether it is electric or non-electric. Although it takes days for clay pottery to set and be complete, the most crucial part of this art for is the kiln process since the kiln temperatures get up to 1,400-2,500 degrees.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Challenging
Instructions
Things You'll Need
- Kiln
- Kiln wash
- Freshly made clay pottery pieces
- Gloves
- Protective eyewear/goggles
- Kiln tools to extract pottery pieces, such as a tray and retriever
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1
Prepare the kiln to heat up by rinsing the bottom with kiln wash. Put on the gloves and, with a cloth, reach down into the kiln and brush the wash in one direction across the bottom, starting at one side and repeating the process four times all the way across.
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2
Leave the wash in the bottom of the kiln and fire it up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. After the kiln is heated, let it cool naturally with the lid on. This helps prepare the kiln so it can be slowly worked up to very hot temperatures.
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3
Wait for the kiln to cool completely. Place your clay pottery into the kiln using a kiln plate, starting to fill it up at the very bottom. It is best to fire full kilns instead of just one or two pieces. Make sure none of the clay pottery is touching.
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4
Close the lid to the kiln. Set the time and temperature for the firing process. The usual temperature for clay pottery to be fired is around 1,600 to 1,700 degrees Fahrenheit.
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5
Keep an eye on the clay pottery from the kiln peep hole to ensure it does not become cracked or blackened. These are signs of "overbaking." Typical time for the clay pottery to fire is usually between 14 and 18 hours.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Always be cautious when working with machinery such as a kiln that reaches excessive temperatures.
