I am new to kiln fired ceramics. I am getting my stock up so I can recreate my etsy shop.
I recently bought a small kiln used. It is about 10 years old.
I have been ruining about half of all the ceramics during the 2nd firing. I keep getting a dark(dark blue or black) colored flakes getting stuck in the glaze and its ruining my pieces.
I am using a low fire clay. I fire the greenware to 2008degrees and then fire the glazed bisque to 1875 degrees. In both firings I am noticing dark colored flakes in the bottom of most of my pieces...as well as on the kiln floor.... I can just blow it off after the first firing because the flakes wont stick to the bisque, however the dark flakes ARE sticking during the 2nd firing of glazed pieces.
I used a damp cloth and gently wiped off the kiln floor to clean off all the dark flakes but more flakes keep appearing still.
Any thoughts please