graybeard Posted November 26, 2016 Report Share Posted November 26, 2016 Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving Well, I finely had the chance to fire the clay Neil recommended (STANDARD #630) at home. My kilns are old electrics that have been well used and I don't feel they would stand up to many ^5/6 firings before the elements gave up the ghost, so everything I do has been low fire (^04/05). The problem is the clay Neil used in his classes, it's a ^5/6, it was like butter, way easer (nicer, softer, less dense, smoother) to work than the Standard 105 and 103 I have been using ( so this is really all his fault.) Cutting to the chase: I bisque fired the clay to ^02, the hottest sitter cone I have and there doesn't seem to any problem at all. I glazed a couple pieces (lowfire glaze) and fired them and again, no problem that I can see. The question: what am I missing here, is this something I can continue to do? Or will I come home to find out that my mugs and bowls have turned to muddy slime or dust. I really do like that clay, THANKS Neil! Graybeard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Campbell Posted November 26, 2016 Report Share Posted November 26, 2016 What you have is clay that is not vitrified, not closed up. You will find items will absorb water in unglazed areas. Not a great idea for functional wares ... for instance a mug might dangerously overheat in a microwave due to that water boiling up in the cllay. And, yes you could actually get smelly bottoms. I would also expect them to chip more easily as they would be softer. For decorative items meant to be displayed indoors, no problem. Actually, some people fire Cone 6 clays that way for Raku as the openness of the body give all kinds of nice little crannies for glazes to do their magic in reduction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted November 26, 2016 Report Share Posted November 26, 2016 As long as your glazes don't craze, it's no different than working with the low fire clay which also won't vitrify at that temp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denice Posted November 26, 2016 Report Share Posted November 26, 2016 Chris your comment about smelly bottoms made me smile. Denice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted November 26, 2016 Report Share Posted November 26, 2016 You could put new elements in the old kilns and start vitrifying your clay -it would be much stronger -less weeping issues and hold up better in use . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glazenerd Posted November 26, 2016 Report Share Posted November 26, 2016 If budgets are tight and new elements are not on the list. Do very long extended holds at peak: it will jump heat work or cone or so. Still not vitrified, but a bit more sturdy. Nerd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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