From cone to °C
On American glazes, the firing temperature is often indicated in cones. This can be confusing if you’re used to setting your kiln in degrees Celsius.
With the Firing Guide, you can quickly see the approximate temperature range for your cone and which glaze lines fall within that firing range.
Cone 06 → ± 1000 °C
Cone 05 → ± 1030 °C
Cone 04 → ± 1060 °C
Cone 5 → ± 1185 °C
Cone 6 → ± 1220 °C
Please note: 06 is not the same as 6
Cones not only indicate temperature, but also the amount of heat your piece has absorbed during firing. The temperatures listed are therefore a practical guideline. Always check the recommended cone for your glaze as well as the firing temperature for your clay.
1,000–1,060 °C
Do you fire your pottery? If so, look for glazes that are suitable for low-fire kilns.
Mayco offers several glaze lines in the Low Fire category, including:
Some Mayco glazes can also be fired at higher temperatures. Therefore, always check the cone number listed for the product. Please note: this may cause changes in color and stability.
AMACO offers a variety of glazes for low-fire work, including:
Studio Plus — coming soon
Cone 06–6
Most colors in the Studio Plus line can be fired at both Low Fire and Mid Fire temperatures.
Glow in the Dark
Fast cone 06 · approx. 1000 °C
The Glow in the Dark glazes are fired specifically around cone 06. If you fire them at too high a temperature, the glow will burn off.
approx. cone 5–6 · 1185–1220 °C
Do you fire stoneware? If so, when using American glazes, you’ll usually end up with a mid-fire temperature and cone 5–6.
Stoneware
The Mayco Stoneware collection was developed for stoneware and includes, among other items:
AMACO offers several stoneware lines, including:
Coyote is primarily designed for cone 5–6. The product line includes, among other things:
Cone 5–6 · approx. 1185–1220 °C
Developed for stoneware and mid-fire.
Studio Plus
Many Studio Plus glazes can also be fired at cone 5–6. The final effect may differ from that of the same glaze fired at low temperature.
At Penguin, you’ll find various Mid Fire lines for stoneware, including:
These are used at cone 5–6 · 1185–1220 °C.
Some glazes require a separate firing curve: slow cool.
0–105 °C in 2.5 hours
105 °C – 1095 °C in 5.5 hours
1095 °C – 1205 °C in 0.5 hours + 15 minutes of holding
1205 °C – 1176 °C in 0.5 hours + 15 minutes of temperature stabilization
1176 °C – 760 °C in 8 hours
allow to cool further until the temperature drops below 50 °C
It’s important to note that you’ll need to adjust this schedule to fit your own stove and heating system. Every stove is different, so there’s no single schedule that works for every heating system.
The tip of your self-supporting Cone 5 must be level with the base, and the tip of Cone 6 must not touch the shelf.
Often suitable for multiple firing temperatures
Underglazes usually have a wider firing range than regular glazes. As a result, you can use many underglazes on both earthenware and stoneware.
Please note: Colors may change or become less intense at higher temperatures.
Wide fuel range
Many colors can be used on both earthenware and stoneware. The result may vary depending on the temperature. Learn more about the Velvets.
Cone 06–10 · approx. 1000–1305 °C
Suitable for a wide range of temperatures, from low-fire to high-fire. Learn more about the Fundamentals.
Cone 5–10 · starting at approximately 1185 °C
Designed for use at higher firing temperatures.
Wide fuel range
Suitable for various firing temperatures. Check the recommended cone for each color. Learn more about Speedball Underglazes.
