How to Fire Bisque Pottery in a Conventional Oven

To make pottery, you need to fire the clay in a kiln. Firing clay is usually done in two or more sessions depending on the results you are looking for in the pottery. When making pottery, you need to do a first firing of the clay called a bisque firing. Bisque firing is done so the pottery will harden. When the pottery reaches this stage it is called bisque pottery. Unfortunately, most of us don't have a kiln in our home. Luckily, you can still fire bisque pottery at home in a conventional oven.

Things You'll Need

Polymer Clay
Conventional Oven
Oven Thermometer
Cookie Sheet
Toothpicks

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 275 degrees. Place the oven thermometer into the oven on the shelf you are planning to use to bake your clay.

Step 2

Watch the thermometer after the oven preheats. Conventional ovens vary widely in temperature it will heat up and cool down over and over again. If the temp goes higher than 300 then adjust the temperature a little lower, alternately if is dropping below 210 up the temperature a little. In order for the clay to bisque properly you want to make sure the temperature stays between 210 degrees and 300 degrees.

Step 3

Work your polymer clay into a finished project. Once you bake the clay it cannot be altered, so be sure you have the exact finished deign before moving on.

Step 4

Place the finished clay you designed onto your cookie sheet and put it into the oven. Allow the clay to bake. Baking time will vary on the size of your clay project. For very small items such as beads 15 minutes will do. You will need much longer for larger project. As a rule of thumb you can bake 30 minutes for every ¼ inch in thickness.

Step 5

Check the hardness of the clay when the clay has finished baking. This is done by poking it gently with a toothpick. Bisque pottery should feel firm not brittle.