Baking

The box the the clay comes in, and the recommendation from the company that makes the clay, suggests that you bake at 275 for 15 minutes per quarter inch of thickness. This equals one hour per inch of thickness.

Thickness is calculated from the skin of the thickest section to the core of that section.

I tend to bake at a lower temp for a longer period in three steps:

• Step 1: 225-250 (225 for shallow pieces on up to 250 for the thicker ones) Double the time of baking. (2 hours per inch of thickness)
• Step 2: Drop the oven temp to the lowest setting after the 225-250 bake for an additional time that is equal to half of the higher bake. Example- If I have a piece that is two inches thick, I bake at 225 for four hours then reduce the heat to the lowest setting and bake an additional two hours.
• Step 3: Turn oven off and allow to cool over night or for a period in which the maquette cools to the temp of the room with out being removed from the oven. A quick cool can result in cracks.