Tenyoh Posted April 28, 2021 Report Share Posted April 28, 2021 Have any of you fired a sculpture with a piece of drywall underneath? I heard you could do it when the piece is large or delicate. In this way, I don't need to touch the actual piece, while loading it into the kiln. I'm thinking of doing it if you think it is safe. Appreciate your advice in advance. Tenyoh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Kielb Posted April 28, 2021 Report Share Posted April 28, 2021 Seems like a bad idea, paper burns off, drywall contains about 3% water and 21% chemically bound water, ablates around 1000c, expands quite a bit, thermal conductivity and emissivity not great for kiln use......... For large and or delicate pieces we just put the sculpture on a nice straight shelf grogged or alumina for movement and place it nicely in the kiln. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted April 28, 2021 Report Share Posted April 28, 2021 Drywall is a good surface for building on if you need the bottom to dry slowly, as it will soak up moisture from the clay. I would not put it in the kiln. In addition to the burning of the paper, I wouldn't expect it to retain its shape. Once the paper is gone it will probably crumble. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callie Beller Diesel Posted April 28, 2021 Report Share Posted April 28, 2021 A guy back in college built a sculpture on a wooden ware board, and he couldn’t get it into the kiln without ruining it, so he fired it, board and all. Figured it would be ok because the room was actually pretty well ventillated. When the security guard came in the morning to open the kiln room doors, a wave of noxious green smoke rolled out and nearly knocked him out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Min Posted April 28, 2021 Report Share Posted April 28, 2021 To lift and load the piece I'ld put strips of old cotton bedsheets on top of the board then build on those so you can lift the piece with the strips of sheet to lower it into the kiln leaving the board behind. If the kiln is segmented and the piece is large I'ld take the sections apart for loading too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tenyoh Posted April 28, 2021 Author Report Share Posted April 28, 2021 Thank you all for the advice. I'll not use a drywall cutout. I don't want to knock myself out with the fume. My kiln is not segmented, but I will try to lower my sculpture using strips of bedsheet. I'll make sure to put glog underneath, too. Thanks a bunch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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