[~janie]

I made a serving spoon of Laguna B Mix 5. I wanted it to serve shrimp salad, thus I used a big shell for a mold. The handle curves back under slightly, and is textured to mimic the shell also. This spoon is bisque, waiting to be glazed, but I have been putting it off because I can't figure out how I am going to fire it once it is glazed!

I have been told to not use stilts with stoneware, as it will warp. Is this true? How can I fire this spoon, so it is usable? I really like my spoon, I am going to be so disappointed if I can't make it functional.

[ThisIsMelissa]

~janie, on 21 April 2012 - 09:27 PM, said:

I made a serving spoon of Laguna B Mix 5. I wanted it to serve shrimp salad, thus I used a big shell for a mold. The handle curves back under slightly, and is textured to mimic the shell also. This spoon is bisque, waiting to be glazed, but I have been putting it off because I can't figure out how I am going to fire it once it is glazed!

I have been told to not use stilts with stoneware, as it will warp. Is this true? How can I fire this spoon, so it is usable? I really like my spoon, I am going to be so disappointed if I can't make it functional.

What if you used a stand made for firing beads? You could put a hole in the tip of the handle.... just a thought.

[Pres]

~janie, on 21 April 2012 - 10:27 PM, said:

I made a serving spoon of Laguna B Mix 5. I wanted it to serve shrimp salad, thus I used a big shell for a mold. The handle curves back under slightly, and is textured to mimic the shell also. This spoon is bisque, waiting to be glazed, but I have been putting it off because I can't figure out how I am going to fire it once it is glazed!

I have been told to not use stilts with stoneware, as it will warp. Is this true? How can I fire this spoon, so it is usable? I really like my spoon, I am going to be so disappointed if I can't make it functional.

B-mix. isn't that ^6? If so you can use wire stilts, or you can use ceramic stilts. They will leave a small mark that can be ground and buffed out with varied dremel grinders and rubber polishing wheels.

[Mark C.]

Back when I did production soup tureen spoons at cone 10 thetrick was to wax a small spot where the spoon handle and spoon bowl touch. Thenplace them on a soft brick piece at those two contact points and fire. The softbrick snaps off easy even if the glaze runs and you can grind down the glaze orbrick chunks easier than shelves or hard bricks. Try this and you will see itworks well.

Mark

[INYA]

Mark C., on 22 April 2012 - 07:15 AM, said:

Back when I did production soup tureen spoons at cone 10 thetrick was to wax a small spot where the spoon handle and spoon bowl touch. Thenplace them on a soft brick piece at those two contact points and fire. The softbrick snaps off easy even if the glaze runs and you can grind down the glaze orbrick chunks easier than shelves or hard bricks. Try this and you will see itworks well.

Mark

Mark what is soft brick?
You mean low fire clay? would`t that melt if fired too high?

[DAY]

"Soft Brick" is what lines the inside of your electric kiln!<div>(and pieces all too often break off, so a little chunk may be waiting somewhere. . .)</div>

[Marcia Selsor]

When I was doing production, I made ladles and balanced them to fire on a loop of the
handle and a lower end of the handle with the spoon up off the shelf and fully glazed.

Sounds like your shrimp ladle is balanced differently.

Marcia

[~janie]

Thanks for all the advice. All sound good and workable.

I think I will make several more spoons, so I can try all the different ways suggested!

[Mark C.]

INYA, on 22 April 2012 - 02:48 AM, said:

Mark C., on 22 April 2012 - 07:15 AM, said:

Back when I did production soup tureen spoons at cone 10 thetrick was to wax a small spot where the spoon handle and spoon bowl touch. Thenplace them on a soft brick piece at those two contact points and fire. The softbrick snaps off easy even if the glaze runs and you can grind down the glaze orbrick chunks easier than shelves or hard bricks. Try this and you will see itworks well.

Mark

Mark what is soft brick?
You mean low fire clay? would`t that melt if fired too high?

Inya
When it comes to fire brick there are many different types-The kind that is very dense and hard and heavy are (hard bricks) Need a brick saw to cut them-then there are the light easy to damage soft bricks -Electric kilns are made of these-these are easy to cut with anything
Soft bricks come in many different K #s which are the bricks firing points and also reflect how they insulate
The k#s I know are
K 23=2300Fahrenheit
k25=2500F
K 26=2600F
K28=2800F

Most electric kilns are made of K 23s
My high temp. car kiln is lined with 26-and 28s as they hold up better than 23s over time at cone 10-11.
I could talk about hard bricks but most here fire in electrics and use soft bricks.
I hope this helps
Mark