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About Ric Swenson
Expertise
For nearly 40 years I have been involved with pottery. I specialize in wheelthrown pottery, but spent 12 years as Plant Manager of Bennington Potters, Inc. where I learned all about RAM pressing, slip casting, jiggering, OSHA regulations regarding clay manufacture, safety, etc. I have specific knowledge in forming techniques, texturing clay, clay bodies, glazes and application techniques, as well as firing and kiln building.

Experience
I have taught ceramics and art history at the high school and college level in Anchorage, AK (UAA) and Bennington, VT.for 12 years. I ran Bennington Potters, Inc. for 12 years 1982-94. I was manager of Fine Art Tile Co.,San Antonio, TX for several years and taught Pottery classes in Atlanta, GA. at Elements (Kickwheel Pottery Supply), Currently in JingDeZhen , P.R. China, teaching Ceramics and Oral English.

Organizations
American Ceramic Society (Chair of Design Div. 1985-7)
Current member of Tucker Arts Guild, Tucker, GA. Art Station member, Stone Mountain, GA

Publications
CERAMICS MONTHLY, AMERICAN CRAFT

Education/Credentials
BFA, Drawing and Painting, Pacific Lutheran Univ., Tacoma, WA. 1970 with certification to teach Art K-12.
MFA, Ceramics, University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA. 1976

Awards and Honors
One Man Show of Pottery, Anchorage Historical and Fine Arts Museum.
Alaska Art Bank Collection, Collection U. of Puget Sound, JingDeZhen Ceramics Institute, China.
Over 70 juried entries in State and Regional art shows over 30 years. Solo exhibition, 2006, The Pottery Workshop, JingDeZhen, China. Exhibitor and Conference participant, Wu Yi Shan Univ. China 2007.

You are here: Experts > Arts/Humanities > Visual Arts > Pottery > clay shrinkage between bisque/ glaze firings

Pottery - clay shrinkage between bisque/ glaze firings

Expert: Ric Swenson - 11/4/2009

Question
Wondering if there's a formula for figuring our the amt. of shrinkage between a bisque firing (o4) and glaze firing (cone 6). IF wet clay to glaze firing = 11% shrinkage; what would the percentage of the shrinkage after bisque fire (04). I'm making replacement teapot lids (now bisqued) and wonder how much more shrinking there'll be in the glaze firing. At this point, the lids are still 3/16" (inch) larger than the Tpot opening93 inches).
Thanks.

Answer
Clay bodies vary in their shrinkage. 9 to 13% is normal from thrown to glaze fired. I have not had opportunity to measure anything but wet to fired. Test by making a 12cm bar of clay about 2 inches by 1/4 inch thick. Use a ruler and make off exactly 10cm...dry..then measure...bisque... then measure...glaze - high fire with no glaze...measure then you will know for sure.

your clay supplier may already know this info?

HTH.

Ric

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