Firing Large Ceramic Sculpture

**mturnerclayart** · 06-09-2010, 07:32 AM

i WOULD LIKE ANYONE'S INPUT ON THE FOLLOWING ISSUE: WE ARE FIRING A LARGE CERAMIC SCULPTURE IN A GAS KILN. THE QUESTION IS WHETHER WE CAN USE ONE LARGE SHELF (18X24") OR WOULD IT BE BETTER TO STRADDLE TWO CONVENTIONAL SIZED SHELVES.

THANK YOU,
mturnerclayart

**Andy Clift** · 06-09-2010, 07:36 AM

Is the piece really heavy, what are your concerns?

**mturnerclayart** · 06-09-2010, 08:48 AM

Thanks for the quick reply. Our concerns are regarding even firing/air circulation. The piece is at least 50-70 lbs, and is made of a brown clay body with grog in it. The piece is about 24 inches long by about 30 inches high.

mturnerclayart

**Andy Clift** · 06-09-2010, 04:25 PM

Its really hard to say without seeing the kiln and what you are up against but my first thought is to use the two conventional shelves, just because the weight is divided by two shelves. Air flow is always good when firing a large piece but most importantly fire very slow.

Here is an article that might help you our a little. Firing Large Scale Sculpture - Nan Smith