[Clayart] bisque firing

[paul gerhold]

Ken,
Of course you belong on this board. My pottery started out as a hobby and then went full time for thirty years and now since my muse is gone is back to a hobby. You never know the future so if you enjoy it keep potting. 

paul 

Sent from my iPad

> On Nov 26, 2020, at 11:35 AM, Ken Chase <kchase235 at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> I really learn a lot from and appreciate your replies. I really don’t belong on this board though. Pottery is a hobby for me. I throw fairly well but never more than one pot in a day. No way I’ll ever be great at it.
> Seldom fire my kiln. I just don’t have the energy or ambition to acquire the education and skills you all have. I don’t sell my work but do give most of it to relatives and friends.
> 
> Sorry my questions are so pedestrian.
> Thanks all
> Best.
> Ken
> 
> Sent from my iPad
> 
>> On Nov 26, 2020, at 5:07 AM, mel jacobson <melpots at mail.com> wrote:
>> 
>> i cannot help myself.
>> if you understand what bisque is for, why you do it?
>> it makes the whole process clear.
>> 
>> you are partially firing your pots so they can be
>> more easily handled and glazed.  it also eliminates water from the clay.
>> glazing green-ware means huge losses, unless you have gobs of
>> time to dink with it.
>> 
>> the timing for firing depends on the potter, not a chart or book.
>> 
>> you have to consider your location. if you live on a desert, 5% humidity
>> each day, and temps in the 80's...pots dry really fast. and most often they
>> are totally dry.
>> 
>> if you live in minnesota, humidity about 50% and cold weather, it can
>> take days to dry.  get a rainy period as i had last early summer and it
>> took ten days.  i had to drag boards of pots into my living room, turn on
>> the furnace and three fans.
>> 
>> it all depends. you make choices. there is no chart.  that is that old
>> story. `one size fits all.`  not good for jockey shorts and bras. or bisque.
>> 
>> my advice is, if your pots crack and blow up slow down.
>> or, be lazy and load your kiln, turn it to the lowest setting and do something
>> else for the entire morning.  then jack it up a bit.  then again...then turn to hi.
>> and, stack green-ware on top of your firing kiln. then you know they are dry tomorrow.
>> load again and fire.
>> 
>> i get tired of eco people that preach...and waste kiln heat. same for firing times.
>> the heat coming off the top of your electric kiln can be used twice. fast fire glaze firings,
>> and don't pre heat glaze kilns for hours. get to it.
>> 
>> i rather use the term wasting time and money. the big waste is often one you don't see.
>> it is more important than saving that beer can.
>> 
>> i know, you got a chart in 1960 and still use it. gospel. one size fits all.
>> 
>> the tech at cress has no idea where you live, or how thick you make your work.
>> you get a standard generic answer.  or, someone writes the program for you.
>> that is why the controller on my big paragon is on the wall, a foot away.
>> i can convert that kiln to manual control in 3 minutes. turn the plugs around.
>> and i ripped the controller off my tiny kiln and threw it in the dumpster.
>> manual only.  i do the thinking, not a computer with programs written by others.
>> mel
>> ps, and i hated that computer telling me. "you are firing too fast" and me
>> yelling...F U  /and i hate some lady in my car, hidden and saying "your door is a jar"
>> it's a door, not a jar.  talking cars, what is the world turning into.?
>> and where is Alexa?  she lives in my living room. i always say thank you however.
>> can she see me? does she see me scratching my butt as i cook?
>> 
>> 
>> website: www.melpots.com
>> www.melpots.com/CLAYART.HTML
>>