What temperature is cone 5 in ceramics?

Also called “middle temperature” by potters, cone 5 (~2160F/1180C) refers to the low end of the temperature range at which most hobby and pottery stonewares and porcelains are fired.

CONE TEMPERATURE CHART (FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NOW WONDERING WHAT CONE MEANS!)

That is not to be ignored!

Cone 6 is about 400 degrees hotter than cone 06! As you can see from the pyrometric chart (above), the “0” serves as a negative sign. Therefore cone 05 is cooler than cone 04 whereas cone 5 is hotter than cone 4. For the most reliable results, it is best to match your clay with your glazes.

Many potters are now discovering a lower stoneware firing temperature at cone 6 (2232°F).

With the Cone 5 clay body, Fire greenware to bisque at 04 slow speed, then to Cone 5 medium speed for the glaze firing. Cone 6 clay body – fire greenware to bisque at 04 slow speed, then to Cone 6 medium speed for the glaze firing.

Generally, bisque firing is done Between cone 08 and cone 04, no matter what the maturation temperature of the clay and of the glazes that will be used later. By cone 08, the ware is sintered and has become a ceramic material. At the same time, the clay body still is quite porous and absorbent enough for easy glazing.

The most common temperature to bisque fire pottery is cone 06 – 04. This equates to around 1830 – 1940F, (999-1060C). However, potters do bisque fire at other temperatures. The right temperature to bisque fire depends partially on the clay you are using.

You cannot just use any cone 6 body And expect to make ware of the same durability at cone 5. White-burning bodies, where the feldspar percentage is already maxed-out to get them to vitrify at cone 6, are most impacted by firing them lower.

For example, most commercial glazes recommend bisque firing to Cone 04, and glaze firing to Cone 06 (which is cooler). The reason for this is to make sure all the carbon and other materials in the clay burn out during the bisque firing.

The acceptable cone range to ensure porcelain clays mature is Between Cone 10 and Cone 13.

The difference is in how many firings you will get before you have to replace your elements. Any Cone 10 kiln should be able to fire to Cone 10 when the elements are new. And Any Cone 10 kiln is sufficient for someone who fires mainly to Cone 6 or 8.

It’s generally fine to bisque fire twice. In fact, provided you are not firing beyond cone 04, it would be ok to bisque fire more than twice. If you bisque at temperatures higher than cone 04, you will have problems applying your glaze successfully.

Unloading the Kiln

Wait until the kiln has cooled below 125°F To open your lid. If you open it to soon, the glaze could craze and will no longer food safe since bacteria can grow in the small cracks.

When a kiln reaches about 660 degrees Fahrenheit, the chemically bonded water will begin to be driven off. By the time the clay reaches 930 degrees Fahrenheit, the clay becomes completely dehydrated. At this point, the clay is changed forever; it is now a ceramic material.

You can Bisque and Glaze fire at the same time, but it isn’t recommended for beginners. Bisque firing is required to increase your pottery’s durability, making it more stable for the following glaze and fire. It takes experience and care in choosing materials and techniques to combine the two.

However, difficulty glazing is not the only problem that can arise from over-firing. If you fire a low fire clay to cone 6, The pottery can either become very dense and brittle. This pottery might look ok when you take it out of the kiln.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER IS, DO NOT OVER-FIRE!

If it says Cone 6, You can fire it to any temperature UP TO Cone 6, but NOT over. (This is unlike glaze which must be fired to the exact specified temperature range.)

You can stack bowls and plates rim to rim. You can put several smaller pieces into a larger piece. For example, load Christmas ornaments into a bowl. The pots can touch, but be conscious of the weight of the pieces you are stacking.

Such clays must be fired at low enough temperatures to avoid this volatility (if accidentally over fired). This clay only reaches a minimum of 1% porosity (between cone 4 and 5), It is not possible to fire it to zero porosity.

A Cone rating means that you can fire that clay at any temperature up to that cone. You cannot fire a clay higher than its maximum rated Cone, or it will melt and become deformed.

Low fire glaze and mid or high fire clay mature at different temperatures. Stoneware clay fired at the right temperature for earthenware glaze will still be very porous. Also, Low fire glaze shrinks more than stoneware clay when it cools. This can cause the glaze to crack and craze.

The first firing, or bisque fire, takes around 8-10 hours. And the second, or glaze firing takes around 12 hours. So, in total, it takes about 22 hours to fire clay in a kiln. Time for the kiln to cool adds to this total too.

Once you have applied glaze to your pot it is Immediately ready for the glaze firing, but leaving it on a shelf for a few weeks until you’re ready to bring it in is fine too.

Also called “middle temperature” by potters, cone 5 (~2160F/1180C) refers to the low end of the temperature range at which most hobby and pottery stonewares and porcelains are fired.

Also called “middle temperature” by potters, cone 6 (~2200F/1200C) refers to the temperature at which most hobby and pottery stonewares and porcelains are fired.

Orton Cone 04 1070’C.