Standard Firing Schedule
Let your decals dry at least 12 hours before firing. Yes, you can push this time, but be ready for disappointment.
Vent the kiln well during the firing -- especially from room temperature up to 1100°F. Poor ventilation can cause a cloudy appearance on the surface of the fired decal.
The firing temperature is the same for either type of covercoat.
At ECD we fire 200°F per hour to 220°F and hold for 30 minutes.
--then 300°F per hour to 500°F and hold for 20 minutes.
--Lastly we go 400°F per hour till a large cone 017 is touching, and then we soak it for 10-15 minutes. Cone 016 should just barely start bending, with cone 017 already down. Essentially, we fire between a hot cone 017 and a cold cone 016 for optimum results. If you overfire, the reds and oranges start to fade, which causes your image to look bluish. Underfiring can also drastically affect colors, but the firing range isn't too hard to hit. Your particular glaze (or lack of glaze) can also have interesting effects on how the fired decal looks.
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