Above: batch of bisque beads, coated with glaze and waiting to be fired in the kiln.
Unglazed Ceramic Beads
I bought a bunch of bisque beads a couple of years ago to use as a base for metal clay beads. Bisque refers to unpainted pottery which has been fired but has not been decorated/glazed. Bisque firing takes a raw clay item, which has been dried leather hard, and fires it in the kiln to turn it into a hard ceramic item. I still have a ton of beads so I thought I'd buy some glazes and paint a few beads. I have no experience with glazing ceramics and had to do a bit of research. But I taught myself how to fuse glass in the kiln years ago, so I was pretty sure I'd be able to figure out how to glaze and fire beads.
I went on-line to research how-to glaze and fire bisque beads. I couldn't find any information on how to fire bisque beads but I did find lots of information on glazing and firing bisque items, such as bowls and plates, so I used that as a general guideline. Most of the glazes I have don't come with any sort of directions expect to fire them to cone 06, which is around 1798 degrees Fahrenheit. So I did a search on how-to fire to cone 06 and found some basic information.
Above: beads after being fired in the kiln.
Firing Schedule for Bisque Beads
I am posting up this schedule on how I fired my bisque beads after coating them with various glazes. I am assuming you have a basic knowledge on how to operate your kiln. I used a Jen Ken kiln with digital controller. I love that kiln, best piece of equipment I ever purchased for my studio. I can fuse and slump glass in the kiln, fire metal clay projects (i.e. Art Clay Silver or Precious Metal Clay), fire copper enamel or fine silver enamel pieces and even glaze a variety of bisque projects in the kiln.
- RA = ramp temperature per hour
- F = target temperature in degrees Fahrenheit
- H = time to hold at target temperature
- RA1 = 150
- F1 = 300
- H1 - 0
- RA2 = 400
- F2 = 1500
- H2 = 0
- RA3 = 120
- F3 = 1800
- H3 = 10
- RA4 = 150
- F4 = 400
- H4 = 0
Above: my box filled with bisque beads and pendants waiting to be decorated with glaze and fired in the kiln.
Translation of Bead Firing Schedule
Once the kiln is turned on, choose the correct firing program and start the kiln. This firing schedule heats the kiln at 150 degrees per hour until it reaches 300 degrees. Then the kiln heats up 400 degrees per hour until it reaches 1500 degrees. Then it heats up 120 degrees per hour until it reaches 1800 degrees and it holds at 1800 degrees for 10 minutes. Then the kiln cools down 150 degrees per hour until it reaches 400 degrees.
Above: one of my ceramic bead sets which is available on my ArtFire store: Craftdiva.artfire.com.
Then I let the kiln cool down to room temperature before opening it up and removing the glazed ceramic beads. Total firing time takes approximately 17 hours. That seems like a long time but it takes quite some time to safely heat the kiln to 1800 degrees and it takes quite awhile for the kiln to cool back down to room temperature.
Above: my Jen Ken kiln with digital controller. 14 inch diameter interior, I can fit up to a 12 inch kiln shelf in this kiln.
Craft Diva's Ceramic Beads
I'll be selling ceramic bead sets on my ArtFire store: Craftdiva.artfire.com. I'll also be offering a ceramic bead class at the studio, pick out your beads, pick out your glazes, paint/decorate your beads. I fire them in the kiln then you arrange a time to pick them up once they are ready. Complete information on all the classes I offer at my studio can be found here: Craft Diva Classes.
Above: another one of my ceramic bead sets which is available at my ArtFire store.
Take care,
Lynn Smythe, AKA the Craft Diva








