Fort Walton Beach.

Bisque firing is a critical process that requires utmost attention. It involves taking greenware, which is known for its extreme fragility and porosity, to a hardened state which is popularly referred to as bisque. This process seeks to alter the structure of greenware to ensure that it can withstand further processes without breaking or cracking.

To achieve this, I use my electric kiln.  I set various parameters that influence the temperature at which the bisque firing will take place. These parameters include preheating time, delay time, hold time, and the desired temperature of the kiln. For instance, in my case, I usually set my bisque firing to Cone 04, with no delay or hold time, unless I want to make sure the clay is thoroughly dry, then I will set a preheat time of around two hours. When the firing process starts, it usually take around 12 hours for the kiln to reach the top temperature, then another 12 hours for it to cool down to 150 degrees, which is a point where it is safe to open it. 

The next step in the process is glazing, followed by glaze firing. Stay tuned because a page detailing this process is coming soon!