handmade ceramics, clay, pottery, sculpture using no kiln, oven bake or no bake supplies?
Question by Her name is Rio: handmade ceramics, clay, pottery, sculpture using no kiln, oven bake or no bake supplies?I have a project with clay/ ceramics/ sculpture I want to get underway. I am planning on making a set of “functional items”: plates, bowls, cups etc. I would really like to use a kiln, (you know, the whole glazing and firing deal) but I don’t have the resources where I live.
1) Is there any sort of non bake or low bake clays that will allow me to make these projects at home?
2) I also want to paint them, and hopefully glaze them. by doing this, will I also be able to use them “functionally”? and what is the best glaze for this?
3) Can I heat them and wash them without ruining the pottery or without causing safety hazards?
4) How is the comparison in quality as opposed to finishing them with a kiln?
Thanks in advance! Best Wishes!
Best answer:
Answer by mike1942fThe reason a high temperature kiln is used is to take the clay above the temperature above the point that it vitrifies – part of it becomes glassy. that is what makes clay waterproof/tight and strong. The glazes used for decoration and to seal the surface from leakage/absorption of water are also a variation on glass. The vitrification temperature varies but is always above 1100F anything (with one exception I know of) that hardens below 1000F or at air temperature has basically just dried and if wetted will get soft again. anything that is applied is painted on and does not enjoy being under moisture or hot stuff. The exception is the polymer clays that are baked in a home oven and become PVC plastic. whether they are food safe I don’t know for sure but should be. Painted glazes have the same problem. and PVC softens at higher than the baking temperature.
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handmade ceramics, clay, pottery, sculpture using no kiln, oven bake or no bake supplies?