Stove top bisque?

I hate to be the type of guy who asks a question first then goes and
does a google search, but...

I have been doing a bunch of tiny carvings (less than one inch in any
direction) and driving them 20 miles away to have them fired and refired and
refired. No, I can't afford a kiln yet (semi-retired/independently just
scraping by) but it's getting so that I can't afford the drive either in gas
or time.

Is it possible to do bisque firing on my gas stove? Maybe some small
fire bricks balanced on the stove? If not, cqn it be done with a propane
torch? Any plans, ideas or slaps upside the head for even thinking of such a
thing appreciated...

If they is tiny carvings then you could use a fire to fire them.... First
make sure they are REALLY dry and then place them beside the fire ...
GRADUALLY bring the fire out to the pots (should take about 2 hours) until
they is covered and then build the fire up for about 1 hour.... let it cool
and jobs done... Alternatively you can use a gas burner in a brick box...
Again SLOWLY heating up to a nice bright orange (about 1000 deg
Centigrade)....
Hope this helps
Eddie
ps use a groggy/sandy clay to make it easier to fire....
"Sam" wrote in message
om...

I hate to be the type of guy who asks a question first then goes and
does a google search, but...

I have been doing a bunch of tiny carvings (less than one inch in any
direction) and driving them 20 miles away to have them fired and refired
and
refired. No, I can't afford a kiln yet (semi-retired/independently just
scraping by) but it's getting so that I can't afford the drive either in
gas
or time.

Is it possible to do bisque firing on my gas stove? Maybe some small
fire bricks balanced on the stove? If not, cqn it be done with a propane
torch? Any plans, ideas or slaps upside the head for even thinking of such
a
thing appreciated...

I have been doing a bunch of tiny carvings (less than one inch in any
direction) and driving them 20 miles away to have them fired and refired
and
refired. No, I can't afford a kiln yet (semi-retired/independently just
scraping by) but it's getting so that I can't afford the drive either in
gas
or time.

Is it possible to do bisque firing on my gas stove? Maybe some small
fire bricks balanced on the stove? If not, cqn it be done with a propane
torch? Any plans, ideas or slaps upside the head for even thinking of such
a
thing appreciated...


Sam:
I've successfully bisqued things in my oven, set for 500, and left for a few
hours.
Go slow through the 200s to allow water to evaporate.
Wouldn't recommend it for things that will have food contact, but since you
mentioned small carvings (I am assuming decorative only here), I don't see
why that won't work.

Since you mentioned that you're on a limited budget, have you considered
trying to pit-fire them? Scrap wood is easy to come by, and a hole in the
ground costs only time, unless (like me) you have an overzealous "nazi"
building department watching everyone like hawks. (sorry, I'll stop ranting
now)

You can also use a woodstove or a fireplace .

Hope that helps,
Wayne Seidl

In article ,
wayneinkeywest wrote:


Sam:
I've successfully bisqued things in my oven, set for 500, and left for a few
hours.
Go slow through the 200s to allow water to evaporate.
Wouldn't recommend it for things that will have food contact, but since you
mentioned small carvings (I am assuming decorative only here), I don't see
why that won't work.

Since you mentioned that you're on a limited budget, have you considered
trying to pit-fire them? Scrap wood is easy to come by, and a hole in the
ground costs only time, unless (like me) you have an overzealous "nazi"
building department watching everyone like hawks. (sorry, I'll stop ranting
now)

You can also use a woodstove or a fireplace .

Hope that helps,
Wayne Seidl

How about a minigama kiln? I've seen them being made at the craft
center I attend and take classes, but I've never actually seen one in
action. They look small enough for the OP's purposes, and use
charcoal to fire them.

Has anyone here used or made one?

Deb R.

Wayne Seidl

How about a minigama kiln? I've seen them being made at the craft
center I attend and take classes, but I've never actually seen one in
action. They look small enough for the OP's purposes, and use
charcoal to fire them.

Has anyone here used or made one?

Deb R.


The year before last the Auckland Studio Potters made and fired a Mercedes
gama and the year before a Mazda gama. In each case a load of pots and
combustable material and was set on fire. Sort of an above ground pit
firing. Exiting and with some pleasing results.

JW

I have a small electric kiln I purchased through e-bay to fire test tiles.
It is 110 volts and measures about 7" square inside. I have not unpacked it
and probably will never use it. If you are interested, I can send you
additional specs. I bought it for about $120. I will gladly sell it for $100
plus whatever shipping and insurance costs. It is complete except for the
peep hole plug/bung. Those can be bought via mail order cheaply. Let me know
if you are interested. I don't know if my return e-mail has any anti-spam
additions. If it does, my address is
Steve in Tampa, FL


----- Original Message -----
From: "Sam"
Newsgroups: rec.crafts.pottery
Sent: Sunday, April 04, 2004 11:43 AM
Subject: Stove top bisque?



I hate to be the type of guy who asks a question first then goes and
does a google search, but...

I have been doing a bunch of tiny carvings (less than one inch in any
direction) and driving them 20 miles away to have them fired and refired
and
refired. No, I can't afford a kiln yet (semi-retired/independently just
scraping by) but it's getting so that I can't afford the drive either in
gas
or time.

Is it possible to do bisque firing on my gas stove? Maybe some small
fire bricks balanced on the stove? If not, cqn it be done with a propane
torch? Any plans, ideas or slaps upside the head for even thinking of such
a
thing appreciated...

i like that: minigama, Mercedes, Mazda gama. perfect names to modernize the
concept, but also the idea of making a small wood fire stile kiln is useful. a
mini beast, or baby dragon to fire! fix the size based on what can be done in
a day.

add that to my list of home projects...

see ys

steve






Subject: Stove top bisque?
From: Uncle John
Date: 4/4/2004 5:43 PM Pacific Daylight Time
Message-id:


Wayne Seidl

How about a minigama kiln? I've seen them being made at the craft
center I attend and take classes, but I've never actually seen one in
action. They look small enough for the OP's purposes, and use
charcoal to fire them.

Has anyone here used or made one?

Deb R.


The year before last the Auckland Studio Potters made and fired a Mercedes
gama and the year before a Mazda gama. In each case a load of pots and
combustable material and was set on fire. Sort of an above ground pit
firing. Exiting and with some pleasing results.

JW








steve graber

In article ,
Uncle John wrote:

Wayne Seidl

How about a minigama kiln? I've seen them being made at the craft
center I attend and take classes, but I've never actually seen one in
action. They look small enough for the OP's purposes, and use
charcoal to fire them.

Has anyone here used or made one?

Deb R.


The year before last the Auckland Studio Potters made and fired a Mercedes
gama and the year before a Mazda gama. In each case a load of pots and
combustable material and was set on fire. Sort of an above ground pit
firing. Exiting and with some pleasing results.

JW

I'm picturing loading up some old cars with pots and combustibles and
firing them! Is that what you mean by Mercedes and Mazda gamas? If
so, it's an interesting thought... I'd hate to do that to one of
those nice little Minicoopers, though.

The minigama kilns I saw being made were kind of sculptural little
table-top sized kilns made from clay and fired with charcoal.
Something big enough for a cup and saucer, or some saki cups. That's
why I thought of it when the poster was asking about a way to fire his
one-inch carvings. I'm tempted to try making one of these kilns if
the class is offered again.

Deb R.

"Deborah M Riel" wrote :

The minigama kilns I saw being made were kind of sculptural little
table-top sized kilns made from clay and fired with charcoal.

This would be perfect, but my search for "minigama" sent me to images of
room sized ovens. I would appreciate any additional details you can
remember.

"Mud Dawg" wrote in message
news
I have a small electric kiln I purchased through e-bay to fire test tiles.
It is 110 volts and measures about 7" square inside. I have not unpacked
it
and probably will never use it. If you are interested, I can send you
additional specs. I bought it for about $120. I will gladly sell it for
$100
plus whatever shipping and insurance costs. It is complete except for the
peep hole plug/bung. Those can be bought via mail order cheaply. Let me
know
if you are interested. I don't know if my return e-mail has any anti-spam
additions. If it does, my address is
Steve in Tampa, FL

Well, I have been thinking about it (I have to agonize over every
decision). I have saved up a few bucks for a kiln, but if I am going to make
that kind of investment, I think I should think a little further ahead. Once
I get past the testing phase, I will be wanting to fire 20-30 of these
things at a time. So I think I should save my money for a larger kiln.

But thanks for the offer! I live fairly close to you, do you mind if I
keep it under consideration for now?