Question for all you fusers out there

[Amber]

So I've been playing again with the kiln at a local store, it sure is pretty *smiles*. He's willing to let me work with his equipment and actually get hands on with the firing process, so far I've just been designing/layout and he fires it for me. Now I'm looking at maybe getting a mold so I have something new to try and we have a local Clay Cafe that you can go in a paint pre-made pottery pieces. What I'm wondering is since it's still in raw form can I buy something there and use it as a mold in a glass kiln over and over? They have a nice variety of bowls and trays and this way I don't have to pay shipping for a single item, which would be a waste when buying online.

[Becki]

You can use them but they need to be bisque fired first...the pottery place will probably do that for you for a small fee or may have something already bisque fired.  Drill a few small holes in it, kiln wash it and it's good for many firings!

[Anne]

Oh Amber, you're so lucky to have the greenware access. We have none left in our area.  Stock up on the molds you like before you get moved, you may not be so lucky to find them in the next spot.  Plus, you'll probably end up paying much less for them this way.  Just be sure that before they're fired that any seams are removed. When I was doing ceramics it generally cost 1/2 the price of the mold to have it fired - to give you an idea of what your costs will likely be.  I'm envious!!

[Becki]

Another thing you may want to pay attention to when looking at these molds is the bottom...make sure you take a good look at the bottoms.  You want your finished glass to sit level on the table.

[Amber]

First I'm doing the happy dance to have an inexpensive and read option   , now another question for you fantastic ladies who bring me good news *lol. What is bisque fired and is it something I can do in a glass kiln or is it something that easier for them to do because it means applying a coating and then firing?

[Amber]

So I just called the shop, Clay Cafe, and asked about the bisque firing fee and it's already done to the pieces on the shelves so that means no extra fee :) . The other fun news is they have a stamp card, when you buy say 10 pieces you get one free (based on overall average in what you buy) and I've got a card started from last fall when I was there with my nephew *smiles*.

[Becki]

First I'm doing the happy dance to have an inexpensive and read option  , now another question for you fantastic ladies who bring me good news *lol. What is bisque fired and is it something I can do in a glass kiln or is it something that easier for them to do because it means applying a coating and then firing?

Better to let the pottery people do it.  Bisque firing is done to harden and strengthen the pieces.  It has to be done at higher temps than some glass kiln go to.  Most pottery shops have bisque fired wares on the shelf as you've found out!

[Anne]

if everything on the shelves is already bisque fired ask them about any other molds they have that might be of interest to you Amber.  When clay is poured into a mold and taken out it's called greenware.  Once it's cleaned (seams) and has its' first fire it's bisque! Make sure the molds you buy have small holes in the bottom - if they don't (and probably won't) ask them if next time they're doing a pour if they'll pour the molds you want, make holes in the bottom - easy to do in greenware,  and fire to bisque for you. Just google molds - or look at the ones in the shop you fuse at to get an idea of what we mean about the holes.

Edited to add:  or take the bisque molds and drill holes in them - that works too, but I think I'd rather do it in greenware myself - but then I worked with greenware for a long time too!