glaze firing

what is the second firing of clay called

What is the Second Firing of Clay Called? – Glaze or Glost?

The most common practice when making ceramics is to fire pottery twice.  The first fire is the bisque or biscuit fire.  But what is the second firing of clay called? The second firing of clay is called the glaze fire.  After the first fire, liquid glaze is applied to the bisque fired pottery.  This is…
how to fire clay at home

How to Fire Clay at Home – 7 Simple Ways to Fire Pottery

If you’ve started making pottery, you may be wondering how to fire clay at home.  The good news is that you don’t need a fancy art studio to fire your own pottery.  There are some simple, inexpensive ways to fire clay at home.  This article covers 7 ways of firing pottery and some of the…
what is glaze firing

What is Glaze Firing? – All About Glaze Firing Pottery

Firing clay is the process of turning it from clay into ceramic material.  Most of the time pottery is fired twice, and the second firing is called glaze firing.  So, what exactly is glaze firing? The first step in firing pottery is the bisque fire when clay turns into ceramic ware.  After the bisque fire,…
stages of firing clay

3 Stages of Firing Clay – A Beginners Guide to Firing Pottery

Firing pottery can seem like a mysterious process to the new potter.  There are lots of technical terms that can sound quite foreign.  So, I thought it would be helpful to write an overview of the stages of firing clay.  Here is a guide to the 3 stages of firing clay. There are 3 main…
potters choice glaze problems

4 Potter’s Choice Glaze Problems – And How I Solved Them

I really like the look of flowing glazes, so when I first saw the Potter’s Choice range, I loved them.  When I began to use them, I had a few difficulties and I wasn’t getting the results I wanted.  With a bit of research, and with trial and error, I have worked through these.  Here…
can you refire underfired glaze

Can you Refire Underfired Glaze? – Rescuing Underfired Pottery

A lot of heart and soul can go into making your pottery.  So, it can be gutting when your glaze doesn’t turn out how you wanted it to.  If your glaze is underfired, you might be wondering if you can do anything to salvage your work.  The question is, can you refire underfired glaze to…
how long should glaze dry before firing

How Long Should Glaze Dry Before Firing? Drying Pottery Glaze

When I first started glazing my own pottery, I wondered how long should glaze dry before firing?  I was well aware that greenware can explode in the kiln if it is fired when damp.  But what about glazed bisque ware?  Glaze contains water, so does that water need to be given time to evaporate before…
firing pots with lids

Firing Pots with Lids – How to Dry and Fire Lidded Pots

I recently made my first pot with a lid on it.  I was at pains to make sure the lid was a perfect fit.  But I know that clay shrinks when it dries and can warp when it’s fired.  And I didn’t want my perfect lidded pot to be ruined.  So, before I let it…
kiln cookies are used for dripping glazes

What Are Kiln Cookies? Protect Your Shelves with Kiln Patties

You may have heard of kiln cookies and wondered what they are and what they do.  This post is all about the humble kiln cookie.  Also known as patties, the kiln cookie is firing essential and handy kiln saver.  Once you start using them, you won’t look back! Kiln cookies are thin flat slabs or…