Dalva88 0 Report post Posted October 7, 2018 Hello, I just finished modeling some clay for ceramics (it's called Faïence in french, which translates to earthenware in english ?) and I would like to know if I should hollow it out more or if it might break/crack when firing ? The object (which is a grenade) is about 1 to 1.5 inches thick, and the top isn't hollow at all. ( see it in picture 1 : the circled part is all full mass) I'm a beginner, bur I worked a long time on this and now I'm starting to panic because it's pretty dry and I don't know if I should have hollowed it out more or if after all this work it might break when firing..... Thanks for your help. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mark C. 3,712 Report post Posted October 7, 2018 less clay is safer in terms of cracking .thats a thick wall either way it needs a slow firing and before fired it needs to be VERY DRY I would put it in a warm dry place for as long as you can afford time wise Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
neilestrick 3,330 Report post Posted October 9, 2018 I wouldn't fire it in my kiln. Too great a chance of explosion, even if it's really dry. It will probably explode in a typical firing schedule, so it would need a very long, slow firing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
liambesaw 1,550 Report post Posted October 9, 2018 If it blows up in the kiln, at least it will have gone down doing what it loved. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mark C. 3,712 Report post Posted October 9, 2018 In a few weeks after drying I would put it in the oven at 200 degrees(this is under 212 water boiling point) for a night-next night 250 degrees and so forth until it really dry . Once it survives a 500 degree night in the oven I would say you are on the way-during firing the 800 mark is the next threshold but not will be a live grenade at that point. 1 Rae Reich reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
graybeard 29 Report post Posted October 12, 2018 Hmm, I thought they were made to explode. all the ones I used did. Looks great though! nice job! graybeard 1 Rae Reich reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites