Ok -Gang - here is how I made the ceramic tile for fusing - again you can make this in your glass kiln but its important that the piece is totally dry and try and keep it flat - so lets start
Preparing the clay tile
Step 1 - get the right clay that we can work with - a low fire cone 04 clay
I get a product from Tuckers Pottery called Low White cone 04 clay - It comes in a box and two huge bags of clay - around 25.00 (there is enough clay to make tons of tiles- its a pre pugged clay which means well mixed
Step 2 - take a large chunk and I am lucky to have a rolling table but after rolling i transfer to a piece of drywall - I use that to roll out about 1/4" thick - I also use a silicone rolling pin to work finish it before I apply the stamp
Step 3 - check your thickness - no more than 1/4" thick
check your diameters so its large enough - to fit
Step 4 - lay stamp pattern side down - pat down a bit a bit- ok a lot - just lift a corner to make sure its deep - then slowly start from centre roll to top - then to bottom- you can peek a bit to see if the stamp is impressing - worst case you pull off and roll up the clay and rework it- I push down all over with my fingers and palm just to be sure
Step 5 - Once rolled - take a clay knife and trim the edges - if a bit ragged just run the knife down the edges to true them up
Step 6 - start to peel off the rubber stamp - it should come away pretty cleanly without lifting your clay -
Step 7 - do not move it from the drywall - -let it get leather hard - if interrupted at any time just put a damp cloth over your work- the drywall will suck the moisture out evenly from the bottom while the top drys
Step 8 - after about a day it should have hardened up a - if it starts to curl - place some weighted objects around the edges - not heavy enough to squish the pattern
The hard part is waiting for it to dry - need about 1 week so that its totally dry - its important before firing that the piece is totally dry
Step 1 - get the right clay that we can work with - a low fire cone 04 clay
I get a product from Tuckers Pottery called Low White cone 04 clay - It comes in a box and two huge bags of clay - around 25.00 (there is enough clay to make tons of tiles- its a pre pugged clay which means well mixed
Step 2 - take a large chunk and I am lucky to have a rolling table but after rolling i transfer to a piece of drywall - I use that to roll out about 1/4" thick - I also use a silicone rolling pin to work finish it before I apply the stamp
Step 3 - check your thickness - no more than 1/4" thick
check your diameters so its large enough - to fit
Step 4 - lay stamp pattern side down - pat down a bit a bit- ok a lot - just lift a corner to make sure its deep - then slowly start from centre roll to top - then to bottom- you can peek a bit to see if the stamp is impressing - worst case you pull off and roll up the clay and rework it- I push down all over with my fingers and palm just to be sure
Step 7 - do not move it from the drywall - -let it get leather hard - if interrupted at any time just put a damp cloth over your work- the drywall will suck the moisture out evenly from the bottom while the top drys
Step 8 - after about a day it should have hardened up a - if it starts to curl - place some weighted objects around the edges - not heavy enough to squish the pattern
The hard part is waiting for it to dry - need about 1 week so that its totally dry - its important before firing that the piece is totally dry
Bisque Firing schedule
Once the clay is dry - the firing of the clay makes it a bisque what is needed for slumping -
Its what is called a Med cone 04 Bisque Firing
5 segments
Seg 1 325/hr to 1024 Hold 0
Seg 2 153/hr to 1112 Hold 0
Seg 3 180/hr to 1837 Hold 0
Seg 4 108/hr to 1945 Hold 0
Seg 5 150/hr to 1000 Hold 0
Once the clay is dry - the firing of the clay makes it a bisque what is needed for slumping -
Its what is called a Med cone 04 Bisque Firing
5 segments
Seg 1 325/hr to 1024 Hold 0
Seg 2 153/hr to 1112 Hold 0
Seg 3 180/hr to 1837 Hold 0
Seg 4 108/hr to 1945 Hold 0
Seg 5 150/hr to 1000 Hold 0
Its a long fire so be patient - dont peek and dont take out till under 100°F
Once you have it - if your using Boron Nitride spray as per instructions
Great clear instructions, thanks
ReplyDeleteSo i can make this mold and slump glass on it?
ReplyDeleteYes - I do - you can see this is an intricate patter - I also did a nutcracker stamp and skull stamp but make them about this size so the bottle can flatten out
DeleteThis looks great. I think I bought the same clay. I have made many slumping molds with this. Yes, waiting for it to dry is the hardest part. Where can I get rubber stamps this size ? Thanks for your tips !!
ReplyDeleteHavnt been updating in a while and just saw your question on the stamps - they are my own stamps I used to sell on Etsy but have not sold in over a year (hated etsy ) I may just start selling privately off my site by end of this year again
ReplyDeleteThis is very helpful, Thanks!!
ReplyDeleteDeborah, I purchased a different clay some time ago. Do you feel it will work also?
- AMACO 45047J High-Fire Moist Stoneware Clay, 38 White
https://a.co/d/bE7UJSt
-White stoneware clay that has some characteristics of porcelain
-Contains no grog, yet it has the strength for throwing large pieces
-The firing range is from cone 5 - cone 10
-Recommended glaze firing temperature at Cone 10
-Non-toxic and talc free
Thanks, Alan L
I was told that as long as the fired clay is higher than what your slumping on it should be fine - you could start with a smaller sampler
DeleteVery interesting technique. How did it come out in the end when you fired it into ceramic bisque?
ReplyDeleteCan you fire the clay only to 1700? That is as high as my glass kiln fires.
ReplyDelete