Tips on Kiln Firing from Mini World

Firing Chart
Orton Cone in Sitter	Witness Cone on Shelf	Degree F	What to Fire
020	021	1157	Some special china paint techniques
019	020	1234	Lusters (mother of pearl, etc.)
018	019	1285	Soft fire and normal china paint fire
017	018	1341	Soft fire breast plates
06	07	1816	Mid fire (post soft fire - still "cleanable")
2	1	2088	Glazes on porcelain
6	5	2194	Porcelain bisque fire for flesh tones, tans, browns
7	6	2219	Porcelain bisque fire: white clay ranges

Recommendations for Seeley Slip soft-fired ware to bisque	Cone 6 - Colored, Bone & Lady White
	Cone 7 - Other white porcelains

Tips on Firing
Make sure you don't "crowd" your kiln. There needs to enough space between your pieces to ensure even heat when firing. When adding another shelf make sure there is at least one heating element between shelves and/or the kiln lid to provide adequate heating of each section.
FYI	Underfired -- an object fired to a temperature not high enough to properly mature the clay body. Pieces appear chalky, have a porous feel, and color "off". Black specks can also appear on porcelain.
	If it's necessary to "refire" your bisque due to an underfire, be sure to refire to one cone lower in temperature than the bisque was originally fired.(if you first fired at Cone 6 then refire at Cone 5)

Place doll heads with their faces turned toward the center of the kiln.		Did You Know.....
Silica Sand This acts as a lubricant prop for your unfired pieces, and keeps the shrinking porcelain from adhering to the kiln shelf during firing -- preventing warpage and cracking. Keep silica sand away from the kiln elements to keep your kiln healthy and prolong its life
	Silica sand is insulating - don't bury your pieces in this material as the buried portion may be underfired. An eighth-inch or so on the shelf is sufficient.		A half-inch "nest" is usually enough to hold a domed head.
	Silica sand can be reused again and again.	FYI	Don't pack prop into your pieces too tightly -- this can cause splitting when the porcelain shrinks.
	Only use silica sand sold for this purpose -- all sands are not alike.
Blanket Prop is made of the same material as loose prop but sold in compressed 12" x 24" sheets. Blanket prop can be used as is on the kiln shelf or cut into any shape you want.			Make sure you clean your kiln well between firings - especially when going from a bisque firing to a china paint firing.
Loose prop may be loosely molded to support heads and limbs during firing. Prop is also insulating and if packed very tightly around your pieces it will also prevent proper firing.