Professional potters, don't really like the word "food safe" as it is not a defined term. Different governing bodies have their own set of standards, that test for certain things. Many only look at the obvious culprits like lead, cobalt, cadmium, but not other like copper or iron. The latter two can still affect people, with certain medical conditions, but as it's a small percentage we don't concern ourselves much with those materials. What potters aim for are durable, stable, non-leeching glazes. Colors are surfaces that don't dull, and worst of all, give off some of their material into the food/ drink. There are simple ways to test glazes for this, like the lemon test and by repeatedly washing them in a dishwasher. For glazes you make yourself, you want to find tried and true, reliable recipes. For commercially made glazes, the companies rigorously test them, before they go on sale. In either case, it is still a good idea to test them, on your wares yourself.
A couple of extra notes. Cones don't exactly measure temperature, like a thermometer, or in this case pyrometer, but instead measure "heatwork". This is the amount of heat, over a certain amount of time. The classic example is cooking a roast. If you put it in a cold oven, and set it for 350 degrees, you don't take the roast out, when the oven reaches temperature, as it hasn't fully cooked yet. Instead, it has to be at that temperature over a given amount of time. The same is true for ceramics. A lower temperature, held for longer can equal a higher cone. And a higher temperature not held long enough can equal a lower cone. Also, for kiln sitter controllers, they have pyrometric bars, that are recommended over the traditional cones. The bars melt more consistently, and with less error. The cones can trip the sitter too soon, or worse not at all, if placed incorrectly. The bars don't have this issue. By the way, I love the outtakes, you've had in the last couple videos.
Why is it soooo hard to actually see what a witness vone looks like when it meets the desired temp? Search and search and pics mostly show the overlapping of a series like a witness cone at 5, one at 6, one at 7 all together. Yet if you fire a 5, use a single witness cone for 5, the result should be relatively consistent-toe touch! I’m trying to settle a disagreement with a pottery mate. I say it should touch, within 20%. She says if the cone moves at all, it’s right on but if it touches it’s too hot. How do I settle this?? I need pics! Thanks!
I would like to see a video on ways to recycle clay. Now there I way better than another. Tricks and hacks. Also ways to fix cracks that appear in the drying process.
Thank you! I'd love to see a video about different types of ceramic and stoneware, strengths, weaknesses and general experience throwing/slabbing and finished... Do you ever work in porcelain?
Hi, great video on the orton scale but I still don’t really understand how you use cones? Like do you put them in the kiln every time you fire something to test that your kiln is reaching the correct temperature? Or are cones used more for detecting errors or cold spots in the kiln if and when they occur? How often do you put cones in your kiln? Also how do you stand the cones up in the kiln and where are the best places to put them in the kiln? Loads of questions! Perhaps my questions are valid for a part 2!
If you want to be sure you know whats going on in your kiln, you use them every time. You can be confident your pottery is done well and can help troubleshoot problems if something does go wrong.
You mentioned that you started bisquing at 04 to eliminate pinholes, but what are the advantages/disadvantages/reasons for doing glaze firings at different cone values?
I wish he had responded to your question. That’s what I was going to ask. But if he can’t answer when you asked he’s not going to answer if I ask it now, 7 months later. 😒 Seriously dude, don’t just ask us to comment below and enjoy the perks of the comments but not reply to them within the comments. That’s poor quality YouTubing. 👎🏼
Thank you for sharing! Just got my kiln but not used yet. How do we know if the cone temperature is right for the glazes? How do you know to set temperatures hotter than cone 6 or less get desired effects of glazes? Love watching your videos! 😊
I would like to know what glaze you used on the mug. Love it. Also, I love what you are doing with the colored clay, and I have also been experimenting with mason stains. I'd love a video on the colored and marbling of clay. :) Love the videos and always look forward to the next one. You are amazing.
Sorry if you've already covered this but I'd like to see a video on how to get started at home? What to buy/needed to start a home studio. Also LOVE the videos, I've learned so much.
I would like to know your opinion about different potter's wheel. why do you always stand up while you are throwing? What is the advantage and disadvantage
Hi Jon. I have recently had to use cones as my new kiln was over firing. Even with a modern controller its handy to use cones to check actual temp your kiln is firing at. My controller was set to cone 7 and it actually burned at cone 9! so now I set my controller lower :-)
Thank you!!!! Totally understand cones so much better now. Haven't used my kiln because I didn't understand them at all. I will be looking forward to more videos like these basic ones. I love all your vids. Thanks!
Hey JTP, strong cartwheel and a big fan over here in the UK where it is NOT snowing. Is raining though, obviously. I’d like to know about functional tableware, whether it has to be stoneware and if an electric kiln can really cope with the temperatures needed to make that? If I do earthenware and glaze it really well is that going to stand up to the stresses my mugs have to (I love coffee and they certainly do get a battering)? As a newbie, what kind of kiln/clay do I use to make stuff I can use for years?
If you are doing BASICS..... it would be cool to have one related to the information on clay boxes and glazes...... related to your CONE BASICS..... it was a good segway, now into >>>>. 1. clay body. you buy one that says 06-04 on the box, what temp should the bisque be at? the glazing? if the clay box says 06-05, that means you cannot use any glazes on it that are higher than 05? .....do you see where I am going with this?
Hi Jon, good info. Doing just a Single Fire I am only concerned with the glaze firing and I like to do a slow firing so my cone values fall under the heating rate of 27(slow) .....my ^6 would be set for 2165 F, not 2232 F which is at the 108 rate(medium)....... Hopefully this will inspire folk to take the time to watch the Orton videos as well, to get a better understanding of how the cones work. Thanks for sharing this good reminder of how important it is to use witness cones!
Is it important to use witness cones on each shelf/level? Do you put one lower, one temperature, and One higher? How exactly does that work? Are they different cones than what goes in the cone setter? If you have a cone setter is there really a need for witness cones?
You don't *Have to* put cones on each level, but many potters do, to ensure that each area of the kiln is reaching the correct temperature. This is especially helpful, if you have glazes that are not turning out, because you can figure out if you have cold or hot spots. In regards to other cones, it is common practice, especially for those firing, only by cones, to have three or four cones in a pack ( cone pack). The have the cone they are firing to. a cone or two, lower than they are firing (Guide Cone) and one hotter (Guard Cone) . Thos lets the potter know, when the firing id getting close, and whether or not things were over/ under fired.
We have a kiln at the hospital where I work for people with mental illnesses. We've been casting molds with slip and bisque firing them which has been really awesome, but then they just paint them with acrylic paint which seems like a shame because we do actually have some glazes, but no one knows how to run the kiln for glazes. The cone situation makes much more sense now! ….but I'm still a little confused. You said your kiln automatically starts turning off when the cone melts? Do most kilns do that? So if I put the right cone in, it should work?
First, that's awesome. Art is so good for mental health. There are a few different types of kilns. Older kilns often use a temperature controller called a kiln sitter. It has a lever that reaches into the kiln and rests on a cone or bar. When the cone or bar melts, the lever drops releasing the on/off switch. You'd know if you had one because it won't work without the little bar or cone. You just need a cone that's right for your target temperature. Newer kilns typically have an electronic control panel that manages the process. They can be confusing if you haven't used one before. I might recommend that you use low fire glazes. Some glazes (check the packaging) are designed to work at cone 06-04. These are called "low fire", and produce really consistent results. They are easily painted on or dipped. This is the same temperature range that you're likely bisque firing at, so you can do this with the same process. The glazes you have might also be mid or high fire. These are intended to be used at cone 6 or higher. Whatever you use, do a test run with the kiln first.
How about a video on starting your own studio? Such as what to look for in a space, what to look for in a kiln, what's reasonable to spend on start-up supplies, etc?
So... what factors do you need to consider to make you decide which cone level you go up to.? Is it the type of clay or the glaze or the effect in the glaze???
Your firing temps, depend on the type of clay and glaze you use. Pretty much all types of clay are bisque fired to Cone 04 or 05. Mid fire clays are glazed and glaze fired to Cone 5-7 and high fire to Cone 8-10+. Low fire clays are generally fired one cone cooler than their bisque temp. What clay and glazes you use depends on what goals you have for your work. Decorative, functional, sculptural, etc.
Not sure if this is exactly the answer you're looking for but here goes. Porcelain is very smooth, when you're throwing with it, kind of feels like butter, it's pretty difficult to build tall things with, because it can cave in since there's no sand holding the Clay together (like Stoneware has) porcelain is just very thin and light. Stoneware is a bit tougher, it has the sand particles in it to hold it together more, & make it stronger, which means you can make pretty big things usually, stoneware is also less expensive it's less valuable too.
You crack me up. You make learning fun, thank you. So hard right now. I got my own wheel and kiln right before Covid hit and so now I can not continue to take the in person classes that I was intending to.... still haven’t fired the kiln... Wish I lived down the road from you guys!! Thank you for continuing to educate me... hoping to have the nerve to plug the kiln in soon as my green ware shelves are getting full - lol!!
Got a lot from the cone how to video. Is there also cones 07, 08, 09 and 010? Our instructor's kiln is a low temp kiln. At least she tells us to buy low temp glazes which cook at 980 to 1050. What cones are we talking about in the case of these. Thank you.
Thank you!!! I just did my 1ST TEST firing at Cone 04, and the kiln over fired the cone. Any chance you can create a video on how to make adjustments to your kiln for over + under firing? Thanks so much!
Thank! Could you do a video for firing test tiles? I will be getting my first kiln (electric) soon and want to use Amaco PC glazes cone5-6. If I were to fire just test tiles - so the kiln would be relatively empty - would results closely replicate what I would see with a full kiln? So many questions...
Hi Jon, I'm learning so much from your videos thank you! I have a few questions. What is the difference between stoneware / porcelain. Is it clay and cone temp? or is it just clay that makes porcelain well porcelain? The other is what is the minimum cone temp to be marked as food safe? Thanks again
Hey Jon! I wanted to know if the cone of the clay itself needs to match up perfectly with the cone of the glaze itself. For instance, I wanted to do a mother of pearl coat (020) on a white clay (06). How does any of that work? I’m not trying to make anything explode lol
I have many more questions! You said that the old kilns will use the cones to be turned off, but what about the new ones? What do you use cones for now? Why can’t you just set the temperature you want on your kiln if cone = temperature? Is the cone you fire to what determines if your pot is food safe? If firing to cone 04 fixes problems like pin holes, why fire at 06 in the first place? Is there pros and cons to fire at lower or higher cones? And can the same glaze be fired to different cones with different results or do they only work at a specific cone? I would love another video on this subject because I feel like you left a lot of questions unanswered in this one. I’m also waiting for a video on that gorgeous marbled clay! Keep up the good work ♥️
Only old kilns with a kiln sitter use the small cones and are then turned off when the cone melts. In a New kiln (with electronic pyrometer/controller) we use the cones to calibrate our kiln. We ideally place different groups of 3 cones in a small mass of clay or in a stand on shelves inside the kiln so they are visible from the peep holes. The 3 cones in each stand should be a gradation of your projected firing temperature (ex:one of each cone 5-6-7 for glazed stoneware that should fire at cone 6 ). If your firing is successful and oven well calibrated the cones 5 will be melted, cones 6 will be parabolic and cones 7 slightly bended. This way you can avoid a misfire or trouble shoot why you are misfiring (burnt out elements, fracture in kiln, drafts).
Skutt and L&L are big brands in the US. I own a small Evenheat which I've been super happy with. Bigger issue is making sure the kiln will get hot enough for the type of clay you like to work with and making sure you have the power at your house for the kiln. You may need to hire an electrician to run power for you, since almost all kilns draw more power than a standard plug can provide.
Would love you to make a video about how to run a kiln. Take care of kiln shelves and furniture. I'm about to get a kiln, but know nothing about how to run one. Thanks for all you do, Jon! These videos are so appreciated!
WooHoo! Yay for Pottery Basics videos ('cause basic is definitely where I'm at now)! P.S. October 23, the day this video was posted, it was 95° here. Yowie-Zowie! ~Debz
Hi, Thanks for the info and awesome videos! Do you have any idea why my electric kiln is firing 06 in like 2.5 to 3 hours? Is this a problem? I did put a test 06 cone and it did show that it got up to the correct temperature. FYI , the kiln was pretty empty. Perhaps that's the reason?
thank you for your video about cones. I am a new kiln owner and here are my questions: One. I bought an L&L with the genesis control, do I need to use pyrometric cones since it's so new and digital etc.? The owner of the store where I bought it said "you don't need any pyrometric cones, this kiln is digital." Secondly, if I do need to use the cones do I need 04, 05 and 06 (all 3?) standing in a piece of clay (like a base) in front of the top open peep hole or near the middle of the kiln or on the top and bottom shelves near the thermocouples or not at all? Last question, Is it best to use the cones both for bisque fire and glaze fire?
Hi I watched this wanting to learn how to use witness cones to calibrate my new electric kiln. It has the latest greatest touch screen computer, but wanted to make sure I didn’t have to calibrate it. So can you please explain how to calibrate an electric kiln using witness cones?😊
I use low firing glazes, cone 05/06 do you have experience with any like that? Sometimes I get tiny surface bubbles, what causes this? I was thinking maybe I need to fire at a slightly hotter temperature? Thank you so much for your awesome videos!
I love how basic you explained this. Can you explain how to set a kiln program for Bisque and then how to set for Glazing? I want to make a small plate in my kiln. New to this. I love simple explanations :) I do fuse glass so have some idea of how to program. Thanks so much.
Wow great summary. I never knew cone ten was more common range for cone ten. I a complete beginner and building a gas fired kiln lol be happy to do low fired clays and glazes.
Hi there. I just got my super old kiln. Its a sitter kiln lt3 I think and it came with these tiny red cones amd I have NO idea what number they are as the number is not clear. Please please help.
Nice! I didn't know you were in Minnesota! Me too! This Christmas Minnesota didn't seem to know if it wanted to be cold or not it seems! Anyway, I recently started working at a mug manufacturing shop... which is great because I haven't worked with pottery since high school and it's really inspiring me to get back into the craft. However when I was in highschool, my school was so small I don't think we even had glaze outside of one color. So I'm working at this place and I'm glazing and setting the kilns to cone 5 (which is what our glaze uses) and I don't even know what cone means haha. But it is inspiring me to learn more about pottery because I really enjoy clay sculpture. Do you have another video explaining the difference between cones and temperature? I'm starting to get a rudimentary understanding but I think you'd be great at explaining it.
Can cones be reused? Help…! I was using cone 6 and my kiln turned off after the 3rd hour during the firing process. The kiln has cool down now, and I would like to know if I need to replace the cones before I restart the kiln again or should I use the same cones that are in my kiln right now? .
Please make videos showing different kinds of clay, I’ve been hoping to get speckled clay pretty soon. And also please explain the kiln sitter. And please explain whatever you know about an old kilns (like the one I bought today and may end up throwing away, which is a Cress B23H. )
If you fire at cone 04-06 for bisque if that is the range does it matter which one you pick? like what would change between 05-06? Also for glazing... if I had a glaze at cone 7 and fire at cone 6 is that ok? whats the range allowed before it's too far off? do I HAVE to fire a cone 7 glaze at cone 7 or can it vary a little?
Please share one about the whole drying process and how long clay takes to get to leather hard (depending on the year and variables), then adding a handle/etc, and firing/glazing. I am still fuzzy about timing for all of this and the variables that can change this process to longer/shorter.
It might be cool to show how it bends in the kiln. And how to program properly. I just did my first glaze to cone six. But my witness cone said it got to cone 7. So how to deal with this.
Please, Oh please do a "how to know if your pottery is food safe" video!! That would be so helpful.....
Professional potters, don't really like the word "food safe" as it is not a defined term. Different governing bodies have their own set of standards, that test for certain things. Many only look at the obvious culprits like lead, cobalt, cadmium, but not other like copper or iron. The latter two can still affect people, with certain medical conditions, but as it's a small percentage we don't concern ourselves much with those materials.
What potters aim for are durable, stable, non-leeching glazes. Colors are surfaces that don't dull, and worst of all, give off some of their material into the food/ drink.
There are simple ways to test glazes for this, like the lemon test and by repeatedly washing them in a dishwasher.
For glazes you make yourself, you want to find tried and true, reliable recipes.
For commercially made glazes, the companies rigorously test them, before they go on sale.
In either case, it is still a good idea to test them, on your wares yourself.
Food safe glaze isn't food safe if it's put on a high fired bisque and crazes.
I wanna see the basics of a running a kiln! My wife is doing homework on what kiln she wants to get
I want one of these too.
A couple of extra notes.
Cones don't exactly measure temperature, like a thermometer, or in this case pyrometer, but instead measure "heatwork". This is the amount of heat, over a certain amount of time. The classic example is cooking a roast. If you put it in a cold oven, and set it for 350 degrees, you don't take the roast out, when the oven reaches temperature, as it hasn't fully cooked yet. Instead, it has to be at that temperature over a given amount of time. The same is true for ceramics. A lower temperature, held for longer can equal a higher cone. And a higher temperature not held long enough can equal a lower cone.
Also, for kiln sitter controllers, they have pyrometric bars, that are recommended over the traditional cones. The bars melt more consistently, and with less error. The cones can trip the sitter too soon, or worse not at all, if placed incorrectly. The bars don't have this issue.
By the way, I love the outtakes, you've had in the last couple videos.
This was exactly what I was looking for in this video. Do you have your own channel, or web site?
Why is it soooo hard to actually see what a witness vone looks like when it meets the desired temp? Search and search and pics mostly show the overlapping of a series like a witness cone at 5, one at 6, one at 7 all together. Yet if you fire a 5, use a single witness cone for 5, the result should be relatively consistent-toe touch! I’m trying to settle a disagreement with a pottery mate. I say it should touch, within 20%. She says if the cone moves at all, it’s right on but if it touches it’s too hot. How do I settle this?? I need pics! Thanks!
You should be given an award for making this video. This helps so much for neophyte potters
I would like to see a video on ways to recycle clay. Now there I way better than another. Tricks and hacks. Also ways to fix cracks that appear in the drying process.
Thank you! I'd love to see a video about different types of ceramic and stoneware, strengths, weaknesses and general experience throwing/slabbing and finished... Do you ever work in porcelain?
I too would welcome a video regarding types of clay and the various characteristics for both hand building and wheel throwing.
Hi, great video on the orton scale but I still don’t really understand how you use cones? Like do you put them in the kiln every time you fire something to test that your kiln is reaching the correct temperature? Or are cones used more for detecting errors or cold spots in the kiln if and when they occur?
How often do you put cones in your kiln?
Also how do you stand the cones up in the kiln and where are the best places to put them in the kiln?
Loads of questions! Perhaps my questions are valid for a part 2!
Good question! I know potters who put multiple cones in to see if there are hotter spots in the kiln.
If you want to be sure you know whats going on in your kiln, you use them every time. You can be confident your pottery is done well and can help troubleshoot problems if something does go wrong.
I found your videos about a month ago and I'm taking my first pottery class this Thursday!!
A basic video on clay types would be awesome!
You mentioned that you started bisquing at 04 to eliminate pinholes, but what are the advantages/disadvantages/reasons for doing glaze firings at different cone values?
I wish he had responded to your question. That’s what I was going to ask. But if he can’t answer when you asked he’s not going to answer if I ask it now, 7 months later. 😒 Seriously dude, don’t just ask us to comment below and enjoy the perks of the comments but not reply to them within the comments. That’s poor quality YouTubing. 👎🏼
How to set up/start the kiln
Thank you for sharing! Just got my kiln but not used yet. How do we know if the cone temperature is right for the glazes? How do you know to set temperatures hotter than cone 6 or less get desired effects of glazes? Love watching your videos! 😊
Hahahaha love the bloopers/extras at the end!
You told us what they were not how they actually worked.
I thought of another video. How about one on selling on Etsy? Or doing one on social media and selling pottery. You do so well at it.
I would like to know what glaze you used on the mug. Love it. Also, I love what you are doing with the colored clay, and I have also been experimenting with mason stains. I'd love a video on the colored and marbling of clay. :) Love the videos and always look forward to the next one. You are amazing.
Sorry if you've already covered this but I'd like to see a video on how to get started at home? What to buy/needed to start a home studio.
Also LOVE the videos, I've learned so much.
OMG NEEDED THIS SO BAD! THANK U SO MUCH
What happens if the temperature is too high or low when doing the bisque or glaze?
Good info. Wish you had shown how you place the cones in the kiln...
Agree. Where do you put them?
I would like to know your opinion about different potter's wheel. why do you always stand up while you are throwing? What is the advantage and disadvantage
Hi Jon. I have recently had to use cones as my new kiln was over firing. Even with a modern controller its handy to use cones to check actual temp your kiln is firing at. My controller was set to cone 7 and it actually burned at cone 9! so now I set my controller lower :-)
Hi Jon, What are the issues you had with pin holes what does that look like?
Maybe talk about food safe glazes
Thank you!!!! Totally understand cones so much better now. Haven't used my kiln because I didn't understand them at all. I will be looking forward to more videos like these basic ones. I love all your vids. Thanks!
Hey JTP, strong cartwheel and a big fan over here in the UK where it is NOT snowing. Is raining though, obviously. I’d like to know about functional tableware, whether it has to be stoneware and if an electric kiln can really cope with the temperatures needed to make that? If I do earthenware and glaze it really well is that going to stand up to the stresses my mugs have to (I love coffee and they certainly do get a battering)? As a newbie, what kind of kiln/clay do I use to make stuff I can use for years?
If you are doing BASICS..... it would be cool to have one related to the information on clay boxes and glazes...... related to your CONE BASICS..... it was a good segway, now into >>>>. 1. clay body. you buy one that says 06-04 on the box, what temp should the bisque be at? the glazing? if the clay box says 06-05, that means you cannot use any glazes on it that are higher than 05? .....do you see where I am going with this?
I live in Florida, where the tropics begin. You can come stay with us, and teach this newbie a few things about pottery. I love your videos!
Wow! Thank you so much. Would love more on basics of firing your clay.
Just finished Basic kiln firing class here in Seattle. Suggestion: next video, show how to make cone packs! This will really help beginners.
I really would love a class like that.
Hi Jon, good info.
Doing just a Single Fire I am only concerned with the glaze firing and I like to do a slow firing so my cone values fall under the heating rate of 27(slow) .....my ^6 would be set for 2165 F, not 2232 F which is at the 108 rate(medium).......
Hopefully this will inspire folk to take the time to watch the Orton videos as well, to get a better understanding of how the cones work.
Thanks for sharing this good reminder of how important it is to use witness cones!
Is it important to use witness cones on each shelf/level? Do you put one lower, one temperature, and One higher? How exactly does that work? Are they different cones than what goes in the cone setter? If you have a cone setter is there really a need for witness cones?
You don't *Have to* put cones on each level, but many potters do, to ensure that each area of the kiln is reaching the correct temperature. This is especially helpful, if you have glazes that are not turning out, because you can figure out if you have cold or hot spots.
In regards to other cones, it is common practice, especially for those firing, only by cones, to have three or four cones in a pack ( cone pack). The have the cone they are firing to. a cone or two, lower than they are firing (Guide Cone) and one hotter (Guard Cone) . Thos lets the potter know, when the firing id getting close, and whether or not things were over/ under fired.
We have a kiln at the hospital where I work for people with mental illnesses. We've been casting molds with slip and bisque firing them which has been really awesome, but then they just paint them with acrylic paint which seems like a shame because we do actually have some glazes, but no one knows how to run the kiln for glazes. The cone situation makes much more sense now! ….but I'm still a little confused. You said your kiln automatically starts turning off when the cone melts? Do most kilns do that? So if I put the right cone in, it should work?
First, that's awesome. Art is so good for mental health.
There are a few different types of kilns. Older kilns often use a temperature controller called a kiln sitter. It has a lever that reaches into the kiln and rests on a cone or bar. When the cone or bar melts, the lever drops releasing the on/off switch. You'd know if you had one because it won't work without the little bar or cone. You just need a cone that's right for your target temperature.
Newer kilns typically have an electronic control panel that manages the process. They can be confusing if you haven't used one before.
I might recommend that you use low fire glazes. Some glazes (check the packaging) are designed to work at cone 06-04. These are called "low fire", and produce really consistent results. They are easily painted on or dipped. This is the same temperature range that you're likely bisque firing at, so you can do this with the same process.
The glazes you have might also be mid or high fire. These are intended to be used at cone 6 or higher.
Whatever you use, do a test run with the kiln first.
How about a video on starting your own studio? Such as what to look for in a space, what to look for in a kiln, what's reasonable to spend on start-up supplies, etc?
Thankyou very useful....specially about the 06 and just 6....clarified !!
Thank you! Liked and subscribed! Nice to find another vibrant teacher in my youtube education xP
Should do one on testing for vitrification
So... what factors do you need to consider to make you decide which cone level you go up to.? Is it the type of clay or the glaze or the effect in the glaze???
Your firing temps, depend on the type of clay and glaze you use. Pretty much all types of clay are bisque fired to Cone 04 or 05. Mid fire clays are glazed and glaze fired to Cone 5-7 and high fire to Cone 8-10+. Low fire clays are generally fired one cone cooler than their bisque temp.
What clay and glazes you use depends on what goals you have for your work. Decorative, functional, sculptural, etc.
Ben Patterson thank you Ben 👍🙂
@@pahooper99 Not a problem!
Absolutely Brilliant! Thank you so much!
Did changing your bisque fire from 06 to 04 make any difference to the overall piece and/or glazing process other than fixing the pinhole issue?
I would like to know more about clay please. Like what the difference between stoneware and porcelain 😊
Not sure if this is exactly the answer you're looking for but here goes. Porcelain is very smooth, when you're throwing with it, kind of feels like butter, it's pretty difficult to build tall things with, because it can cave in since there's no sand holding the Clay together (like Stoneware has) porcelain is just very thin and light. Stoneware is a bit tougher, it has the sand particles in it to hold it together more, & make it stronger, which means you can make pretty big things usually, stoneware is also less expensive it's less valuable too.
Throwing porcelain is not a clay body for beginners. You can throw tall forms but it helps to add grog to the clay body to help it stand up.
digitalfire.com has articles for porcelain and stoneware that are very good.
Please do How to load a kiln (what should go top vs bottom, judging pieces to place together, tumble stacking, etc) ...bisque and glaze loads. Plz! TY
You crack me up. You make learning fun, thank you. So hard right now. I got my own wheel and kiln right before Covid hit and so now I can not continue to take the in person classes that I was intending to.... still haven’t fired the kiln... Wish I lived down the road from you guys!! Thank you for continuing to educate me... hoping to have the nerve to plug the kiln in soon as my green ware shelves are getting full - lol!!
What good coneage description right there.
Got a lot from the cone how to video. Is there also cones 07, 08, 09 and 010? Our instructor's kiln is a low temp kiln. At least she tells us to buy low temp glazes which cook at 980 to 1050. What cones are we talking about in the case of these.
Thank you.
This explained a lot, thanks. But why fire at one cone
vs. another?
Thank you!!! I just did my 1ST TEST firing at Cone 04, and the kiln over fired the cone. Any chance you can create a video on how to make adjustments to your kiln for over + under firing? Thanks so much!
Thank! Could you do a video for firing test tiles?
I will be getting my first kiln (electric) soon and want to use Amaco PC glazes cone5-6. If I were to fire just test tiles - so the kiln would be relatively empty - would results closely replicate what I would see with a full kiln? So many questions...
Thanks. I'd like to know how to keep a kiln LOG why is it helpful? why some potters have cones on different shelves?
Can you show how you place the cones and how you monitor them during the process. When they look a certain way you turn off the kiln?
Hi Jon, I'm learning so much from your videos thank you! I have a few questions. What is the difference between stoneware / porcelain. Is it clay and cone temp? or is it just clay that makes porcelain well porcelain? The other is what is the minimum cone temp to be marked as food safe? Thanks again
Hi John, very good advice about pinholes 😀
Thank you!!! These videos are so helpful!
How many cones do you typically use? how many per shelf or is it per unit? do you use the 3 level that alerts etc or is it not necessary?
Hey Jon! I wanted to know if the cone of the clay itself needs to match up perfectly with the cone of the glaze itself. For instance, I wanted to do a mother of pearl coat (020) on a white clay (06). How does any of that work? I’m not trying to make anything explode lol
I have many more questions! You said that the old kilns will use the cones to be turned off, but what about the new ones? What do you use cones for now? Why can’t you just set the temperature you want on your kiln if cone = temperature? Is the cone you fire to what determines if your pot is food safe? If firing to cone 04 fixes problems like pin holes, why fire at 06 in the first place? Is there pros and cons to fire at lower or higher cones? And can the same glaze be fired to different cones with different results or do they only work at a specific cone?
I would love another video on this subject because I feel like you left a lot of questions unanswered in this one. I’m also waiting for a video on that gorgeous marbled clay! Keep up the good work ♥️
Only old kilns with a kiln sitter use the small cones and are then turned off when the cone melts. In a New kiln (with electronic pyrometer/controller) we use the cones to calibrate our kiln. We ideally place different groups of 3 cones in a small mass of clay or in a stand on shelves inside the kiln so they are visible from the peep holes. The 3 cones in each stand should be a gradation of your projected firing temperature (ex:one of each cone 5-6-7 for glazed stoneware that should fire at cone 6 ). If your firing is successful and oven well calibrated the cones 5 will be melted, cones 6 will be parabolic and cones 7 slightly bended. This way you can avoid a misfire or trouble shoot why you are misfiring (burnt out elements, fracture in kiln, drafts).
VERY HELPFUL! I'm getting ready to purchase my first kiln....... Any suggestions??
Skutt and L&L are big brands in the US. I own a small Evenheat which I've been super happy with.
Bigger issue is making sure the kiln will get hot enough for the type of clay you like to work with and making sure you have the power at your house for the kiln. You may need to hire an electrician to run power for you, since almost all kilns draw more power than a standard plug can provide.
Would love you to make a video about how to run a kiln. Take care of kiln shelves and furniture. I'm about to get a kiln, but know nothing about how to run one. Thanks for all you do, Jon! These videos are so appreciated!
What equipment did you start out with when you first started doing pottery? Wheels, kilns, clay?
what about low fire and highfire
WooHoo! Yay for Pottery Basics videos ('cause basic is definitely where I'm at now)!
P.S. October 23, the day this video was posted, it was 95° here. Yowie-Zowie! ~Debz
When using stains and oxides, do you first bisque, then stain? Or first stain, then bisque? If first mentioened - at what cone do you fire oxides?
Hi, Thanks for the info and awesome videos! Do you have any idea why my electric kiln is firing 06 in like 2.5 to 3 hours? Is this a problem? I did put a test 06 cone and it did show that it got up to the correct temperature. FYI , the kiln was pretty empty. Perhaps that's the reason?
I’d love to learn a little about mixing glazes ~
thank you for your video about cones. I am a new kiln owner and here are my questions: One. I bought an L&L with the genesis control, do I need to use pyrometric cones since it's so new and digital etc.? The owner of the store where I bought it said "you don't need any pyrometric cones, this kiln is digital." Secondly, if I do need to use the cones do I need 04, 05 and 06 (all 3?) standing in a piece of clay (like a base) in front of the top open peep hole or near the middle of the kiln or on the top and bottom shelves near the thermocouples or not at all? Last question, Is it best to use the cones both for bisque fire and glaze fire?
What’s 0-5 good for then? I bought a small old electric kiln and want to paint bisque /glaze as a hobby . Which cone do you use for clear glaze?
Can I use kiln paper (kiln fiber paper)for ceramic kiln to fire ceramic and glaze?
This might/will sound stupid, but how do you check your cones? Do you open the kiln or after you're done firing? Thanks!
Thanks, I’m just getting set up w/ my g-kids. You’re very helpful ( I used to do a lot of pottery but that was 1975!!
What is the lense you normally use for videos??? Is it wide lense? Looks very cool 😎
basics to better understand glazes. enjoy your videos. thank you.
Hi I watched this wanting to learn how to use witness cones to calibrate my new electric kiln. It has the latest greatest touch screen computer, but wanted to make sure I didn’t have to calibrate it. So can you please explain how to calibrate an electric kiln using witness cones?😊
I use low firing glazes, cone 05/06 do you have experience with any like that? Sometimes I get tiny surface bubbles, what causes this? I was thinking maybe I need to fire at a slightly hotter temperature? Thank you so much for your awesome videos!
Is the "cone" glaze dependent or clay dependent?
can you use gas stove .... what temperature to use with brown stone clay ..... if I can use it
I want to make my own wall tiles with cobalt & glazed. Which clay works best? Would terracotta work?
I love how basic you explained this. Can you explain how to set a kiln program for Bisque and then how to set for Glazing? I want to make a small plate in my kiln. New to this. I love simple explanations :) I do fuse glass so have some idea of how to program. Thanks so much.
Do you switch off kiln once cone bends - and let it cool down - or do you keep it at that temperature for a while?
Omg I really hope she didn't fire at cone 6 either! eek
Wow great summary. I never knew cone ten was more common range for cone ten. I a complete beginner and building a gas fired kiln lol be happy to do low fired clays and glazes.
Do you have a pugmill? How do you reclaim your clay
What cone is good to fire sculptures?
What was the cartwheel for... 😂
Do you need the big cone or little ones
Does they Clay type matter for cone levels?
Yes they do see first comment
It was short but I hope it helped
Hi there. I just got my super old kiln. Its a sitter kiln lt3 I think and it came with these tiny red cones amd I have NO idea what number they are as the number is not clear. Please please help.
How long on average does it take for a kiln to get to cone 6 temp? 5hours? 7 hours?
Nice! I didn't know you were in Minnesota! Me too! This Christmas Minnesota didn't seem to know if it wanted to be cold or not it seems! Anyway, I recently started working at a mug manufacturing shop... which is great because I haven't worked with pottery since high school and it's really inspiring me to get back into the craft. However when I was in highschool, my school was so small I don't think we even had glaze outside of one color. So I'm working at this place and I'm glazing and setting the kilns to cone 5 (which is what our glaze uses) and I don't even know what cone means haha. But it is inspiring me to learn more about pottery because I really enjoy clay sculpture.
Do you have another video explaining the difference between cones and temperature? I'm starting to get a rudimentary understanding but I think you'd be great at explaining it.
what if my cone 5 does not fully bend?? my kiln is more than 10 years old, moderate hobby use, should i fire to cone 6?
Can cones be reused?
Help…! I was using cone 6 and my kiln turned off after the 3rd hour during the firing process. The kiln has cool down now, and I would like to know if I need to replace the cones before I restart the kiln again or should I use the same cones that are in my kiln right now?
.
Please make videos showing different kinds of clay, I’ve been hoping to get speckled clay pretty soon. And also please explain the kiln sitter. And please explain whatever you know about an old kilns (like the one I bought today and may end up throwing away, which is a Cress B23H. )
This video has helped me a lot. Could plz make a video about how to make a slurry for casting including the ingredients?
Do you ALWAYS need to use pyrometric cones?
This video helped me a lot. Im taking a ceramics class and we are learning about Cones this week 🙂
If you fire at cone 04-06 for bisque if that is the range does it matter which one you pick? like what would change between 05-06?
Also for glazing... if I had a glaze at cone 7 and fire at cone 6 is that ok? whats the range allowed before it's too far off? do I HAVE to fire a cone 7 glaze at cone 7 or can it vary a little?
Why do we choose the cones we choose? Which cones make pottery food safe or does it matter?
Please share one about the whole drying process and how long clay takes to get to leather hard (depending on the year and variables), then adding a handle/etc, and firing/glazing. I am still fuzzy about timing for all of this and the variables that can change this process to longer/shorter.
It might be cool to show how it bends in the kiln. And how to program properly. I just did my first glaze to cone six. But my witness cone said it got to cone 7. So how to deal with this.
Do the different glazes tell you what cone to fire to? (Horrid grammar but you understand, right?)
Any clue to why 04 Bisque does not pinhole and the 06 does?