Adding oil to clay

[Thebuttonlady]

Hello,

I am new to clay. I am making my own clay cookie presses, or "stamps". I am having a devil of a time getting a nice finish on the clay, prior to stamping my positive into the clay. I took a bit of salad oil and it went perfectly. My positive impression is perfect, it released from the mold exactly as I hoped.

Now - when I put this in the kiln, am I going to start a fire? After the item dries in a few weeks, I could gently wipe any remaining oil away. Would the item be fine to put in the kiln at a cone 6? Am I going to ruin my kiln?

I like using the bit of oil with the clay! It works awesome. I plan on cooking in these clay items.

Thanks!

Thebuttonlady

[fritchie]

Button - I'm having to guess here, but I've done a modest bit of clay firing, about cone 6, as you will. If you have the option of "cooking" these clay pieces at a lower temperature first, with a bit of air exchange, that might be safer. The firing oven will be fairly tight, and you could move oil vapor from the clay to oven surfaces, possibly corroding them. I doubt you’d have a serious fire problem, though. Hope someone with more experience comments.

Let us know the outcome ! (And welcome, BTW!)

[Thebuttonlady]

Thank you Fritchie!!! I certainly was worried. I have to let these dry, and even in Vegas, it's cold!!! Burrr!!!! I have the heater on a bit. I know,68 degrees inside is not cold to some! LOL!!!

Come this summer, my pieces ought to dry in a few days and I can fire them. I will do the lower temps first with the air exchange. I will let you know!

Thanks!

Button

[fused]

If you are using an electric kiln the lid should be cracked
when you begin to fire it and closed tight later when you
finally turn it up to high.

If it's a gas kiln the salad oil won't matter, some people
use PAM the cooking spray as a release agent.