Hardness of bisque based on drying time

I recently read on the back of a bag of grout that we should be
spritzing it with water so that it cures at a slower rate. Does the
same stand true for drying clay bodies? If I figure out the fastest way
to get a piece of clay to greenware without it cracking or warping, will
the bisque eventually be more brittle because it didn't have as long to
'cure'?

Thanks

John

John Rigler wrote in message ...
I recently read on the back of a bag of grout that we should be
spritzing it with water so that it cures at a slower rate. Does the
same stand true for drying clay bodies? If I figure out the fastest way
to get a piece of clay to greenware without it cracking or warping, will
the bisque eventually be more brittle because it didn't have as long to
'cure'?

Thanks

John

I don't think so.
Sandi

Very different things ... apples / oranges... The grout is going through a
chemical change that generates heat and requires water as part of the change
in chemical structure. Clay drying to be fired is simply losing water. As
it does so the body shrinks and you want this process to be slow enough that
you do not create stress points by one part of the body losing water faster
than another part (leading to cracks or warping). This is why you use a
damp closet to allow pieces to keep uniform amounts of water when you have
added a handle or why you wrap in plastic to keep the piece from drying to
quickly. Greenware is unfired clay. You want the water out of your clay as
much as possible when you fire it (bone dry) so that the H20 going from
liquid (water) to gas (steam) does not make the pot explode. There is no
'curing' involved. There is always some water in the clay no matter how
long you let it dry. This is why it is so important to bisque fire slowly
(heat soak) to the point that the water has completely turned to gas. There
are other points that you have to go through slowly as well (when chemical
changes occur and the body will be expanding or contracting). The below
site is a wonderful place to get information from.

http://www.digitalfire.ab.ca/cermat/...index.html#XML


"sandi" wrote in message
om...
John Rigler wrote in message
...
I recently read on the back of a bag of grout that we should be
spritzing it with water so that it cures at a slower rate. Does the
same stand true for drying clay bodies? If I figure out the fastest way
to get a piece of clay to greenware without it cracking or warping, will
the bisque eventually be more brittle because it didn't have as long to
'cure'?

Thanks

John

I don't think so.
Sandi

"dkat" wrote in message
. net...

http://www.digitalfire.ab.ca/cermat/...index.html#XML

Heyyy! Why did you go give that link??? It is quarter to one at night here,
and I just looked at it! HOW am I going to get any sleep tonight with all
that stuff to read???? ;-P

Marianne

Bad idea... never look at potentially interesting links, or start reading a
good book late at night... many a time has dawn greeted me with "You Idiot
you missed a night's sleep!"
"Bubbles" wrote in message
...

"dkat" wrote in message
. net...

http://www.digitalfire.ab.ca/cermat/...index.html#XML

Heyyy! Why did you go give that link??? It is quarter to one at night
here,
and I just looked at it! HOW am I going to get any sleep tonight with all
that stuff to read???? ;-P

Marianne