Firing Your Pottery
Your pottery kit uses a low-fire clay, so your finished piece needs to be fired in a kiln at a low-fire temperature. If you're new to pottery, don't worry, the firing process is something your local pottery studio can take care of for you!
Pieces cannot be fired in your home oven, as they won't reach a high enough temperature.
1. Let Your Piece Dry Completely
Once you've finished making your piece, it needs to dry all the way through before it goes into a kiln.
This can take several days depending on the size, thickness, and humidity. Don't rush this step! Clay can look and feel dry on the outside while still holding moisture inside.
As your piece dries, turn it over periodically so that air can reach all sides and it dries as evenly as possible. If your piece has a hollow or enclosed area, make sure there is a way for moisture to escape.
Your piece must be completely dry before taking it to a pottery studio for firing.
2. Find a Local Pottery Studio
Once your piece is completely dry, contact a local pottery studio, community ceramics studio, or pottery supply shop that offers kiln firing services.
Tell them that you have a piece made from low-fire earthenware clay and that you need:
A bisque firing first
A low-fire glaze firing after glazing
Let the studio know what clay you are using, which is White Low Fire 105 found here.
Your studio will be able to tell you their current firing fees, drop-off requirements, and turnaround time.
3. The Bisque Firing
Your first trip through the kiln is called a bisque firing. This turns the dried, fragile clay into a stronger, porous ceramic piece that is ready to accept glaze.
For low-fire pottery, a bisque firing is commonly done around Cone 04.
After the bisque firing, your piece will be much more durable, but it will still be unglazed and somewhat porous.
4. Add Your Glaze
After your piece has been bisque fired, it's time to add glaze.
The glaze you choose must be compatible with your clay and its firing temperature. Because this kit uses low-fire clay, look for a glaze specifically labeled for low-fire / earthenware / Cone 06–05 firing.
The Jungle Gems Crystal Glazes are an example, found here
Your local studio may have low-fire glazes available for you to use or purchase. If they don't, you'll need to purchase your own low-fire glaze. Always check the glaze manufacturer's recommended firing temperature before applying it to your piece
5. The Glaze Firing
Once your glaze has been applied and is completely dry, the studio will fire your piece a second time.
The glaze firing is what transforms the powdered or liquid-looking glaze into the finished glassy surface and brings out its final color and effects.
How Long Does Firing Take?
A kiln firing itself can take several hours, but don't expect to drop your piece off in the morning and pick it up that afternoon.
The kiln has to heat up gradually, reach its target temperature, and then cool down slowly and safely. Your studio may also wait until they have enough pieces to fill a kiln before firing.
Because of this, a turnaround of several days to a couple of weeks is normal, depending on the studio's schedule and how busy they are.
Your studio can give you their estimated turnaround time when you drop off your piece.
A Few Things to Keep in Mind
Don't put unfired clay in your home oven. A pottery kiln is required to properly fire ceramic clay.
Never fire a piece that isn't completely dry. Remaining moisture can cause the piece to crack or break during firing.
Tell the studio exactly what clay and glaze you're using. Firing temperatures matter!
Keep the bottom of your piece free of glaze. Glaze on the kiln shelf can melt and permanently stick your pottery to the shelf.
Jungle Gems is intended primarily for decorative use and Mayco does not recommend it for food-contact or lip-and-rim areas because of its surface characteristics.
The Simple Version
Make → Dry Completely → Bisque Fire → Glaze → Glaze Fire → Enjoy!
The most important thing is to let your piece dry completely and make sure both the clay and glaze are fired at the correct low-fire temperature. Your local pottery studio can help you with the actual kiln firing and let you know exactly what they need from you.