bisque fire temperature question

[neilestrick]

I think that in the last few years we've figured out that fair amount of what we thought were glaze problems were actually clay problems, and bisque firing hotter was the solution. I was raised on 08 bisque, but knowing what I know now I would never do 08 again.

I prefer 04 bisque for my porcelain because any cooler than that and it's too absorbent for my glazing tastes. I think the stoneware bodies we use in my studio are a hair tight at 04, but I do it anyway because I'd rather have the stoneware a little tight than the porcelain a little loose.