To bake clay do you need a special type of furnace or a normal home one can be used?

Question

I need to do small souvenirs not vases or anything big

Answer 1

It depends on the type of clay you are usung. Polymer clay can be baked in your home oven. Air dry clay is just that... air dried. Porcelin or cermic clay must be fired in a kiln. If you are doing small items polymer clay would probably be the best clay to use. It comes in lots of great colors and allows you to create fine detail.

Answer 2

I agree with Ericcart, the answer to that question depends entirely on the *type* of clay you're using!

If you're using the type of clay that comes from the ground (ceramic, porcelain, earthclay, greenware, etc.), you'll need a kiln and very high heat.
If you're using a polymer clay, you'll just need a home oven or a toaster oven (or there are a few other things you could use instead) at about 275 degrees for about 30 min or so.
If you're using an air-dry clay (homemade or purchased), you don't need an oven at all but using one will speed up the "drying" of the clay to less than one day.
(Polymer clays are stronger and much more versatile than homemade air-dry clays though, and even than purchased ones... plus they don't shrink when they harden, and can be used in many, many cool ways that are fun to play with.)

My website is a polymer clay "encyclopedia" so you can find loads of info on anything relating to polymer clay there if you decide to use that type of clay .

I'd suggest starting with the brand of polymer clay called Premo if you know nothing about polymer clay... it's a good middle-of-the-road clay in softness, but it's also strong in thin areas after baking, which Sculpey and FimoSoft are not --I'd recommend FimoClassic or Kato if you have really hot hands though. This page at my site has lots of info on all the brands of polymer clay:
http://glassattic.com/polymer/Characteristics.htm

And this page has loads of info on baking polymer clays:
http://glassattic.com/polymer/baking.htm
It also talks about other things that can be used to cure the clay if you don't have an oven, and ways to "enclose" the clay in the oven if you want to do that too:

(btw, polymer clays never *dry* out like air-dry clays... they must be heated to harden)

Check out the Table of Contents page too for all the other topics covered at the site --including maybe the Sculpting, Miniatures, or Kids/Beginners pages for making "small souvenirs" etc:
http://glassattic.com/polymer/contents.htm
(...scroll all the way down to browse... then when you find a page you want to go to, click on it from the alphabetical navigation bar on the left side of the page)


HTH,

Diane B.

Answer 3

Unless the item has been fired in a sufficiently hot kiln ( appr. 1800 degrees, especially for glazing) it will be know as greenware. It will most likely not be usable for any liquids. Many towns and cities will have places that will fire you projects for you .

Doing the small items, you probably could use Playdoh or craft clays ( not oil based) in an oven if they will not be exposed later to moisture.

Answer 4

Craft "clay" such as Fimo and Sculpy, can be baked in a home oven. You can get these products at your craft store. Directions for use are on the packages.

Answer 5

I baked my clay in the oven on a cooking pan..umm it was sculpy.

Answer 6

a kiln is best