Cress FX - Glossary

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assume any other obligation or liability in regard to Cress kilns.
NOTICE
The information contained in this guide is subject to change without notice.
Cress Manufactruing Company, Inc. shall not be liable for technical or editorial omissions made
herein; nor for incidental or consequential damages resulting from the furnishing, performance, or
use of this material. This guide contains information protected by copyright. No part of this guide
may be photographed or reproduced in any form without prior written consent from Cress
Manufactruing Company, Inc.
Firemate is a Registered Trademark of Cress Manufactruing Company, Inc.
Kiln Sitter is a registered trademark of W.P. Dawson Co.
Firemate Kilns Operations Guide. First Edition March 1987. Cress Manufactruing
Corporation, Inc.
GLOSSARY
BISQUE – Any fired undecorated clay object.
CERAMICS – A general term applying to any fired piece of clay material.
CHINA – A translucent high fire ceramic body.
CLAY – Earth that is relatively pure silica and alumina; usually a blend of different clays and
minerals, combined to achieve various effects and different properties.
CONE – see pyrometric cone.
CRATERING – Imperfections in glaze caused by rapid cooling, which “freezes” bubbled glazes
before they can smooth out, leaving pits.
CRAZING – A network of hairline cracks in a glazed surface which appears after firing.
DECAL, CERAMIC – A design or picture, usually overglaze, which is applied to and fired onto
the ware.
DRY-FOOTING – Wiping glaze off of the base of objects before firing. This is an alternative to
stilting glazed ware to keep the piece from sticking to the shelf when firing.
EARTHENWARE – Porous ware made of low fire clays.
ENAMELING – Application of finely ground colored glass to metals (usually copper or silver)
resulting in a glaze-like finish after firing.
FIREBRICK – Refractory blocks used in making the insulating firing chamber of the kiln.
FIRING – Applying heat to ceramic materials to cause a change in their chemical composition
(see maturity).