Should I use the Fast Glaze or Slow Glaze or Fast Bisque or Slow Bisque?
- When in doubt it is almost always better to fire slower than faster.
- A slower firing allows for more time for water vapor, fumes, and gasses to escape from the body of the clay body.
- A slower firing minimizes the differences in temperature from the inside to the outside or across the surface of a piece of pottery. Bigger differences in temperature in the same piece of pottery can result in cracking or exploding.
- The thinner your ware is the faster you can fire; conversely, the thicker it is the slower you should fire.
- Also - if the standard programs don't work don't be afraid to use the Vary-Fire programs.
- One caveat - firing a slow glaze will add in more heat work and you may have to do a Cone Offset so you are not overfiring.
December 2, 2024
