Bisque Firing                                                                 

While the whole batch of triangles is drying, I’m (with husbands’ help) resurrecting an old kiln. It looks great from the inside, but the outside is so rusty that the box with wiring has nothing to hold on. The whole thing is literally held by duct tape. I am also waiting for the new controller to arrive.

Patience.

It looks almost new now:

Old kilns never die. Wiring gets replaced quite regularly, inner brick work sometimes, outside gets a new sheet of metal when the previous one rusts out (like in this case) .....but in its hart it is the same kiln.

Getting ready for first bisque firing 

·      Bisque firing is the first firing of clay object, to a temperature lower than vitrifying temperature of clay. It changes it from clay object to ceramic object – which means that it won’t dissolve in water, and it is much stronger than when just dry. Main reason for bisque firing is to make the object sturdier, so that it doesn't break while glazing. Or dissolve in bucket of glaze, or under a tap when you make a mistake or three.

I bisque fire to 1000^oC and estimate that the firing will take about 14 hours. I don’t know how long it will take for the kiln to cool down enough to open it. Every kiln is different, and I’m just getting acquainted with this one.