Ceramics Info - Making "Cookies" for your art

If you work in the Ceramics area you have no doubt heard people talk about “cookies”. These are not the sweet kind that you eat but a little slice of heaven to the kiln team nonetheless :slight_smile:

If your ceramic art piece is large, wider than a small mug as in a tray/plate, or a different shape than round, it may be a good idea to provide your own cookie for the firing process. Why, you ask? If the kiln team does not have a cookie that fits the profile of your art, then your piece may not make it into the next kiln firing. We are not able to glaze fire your art until we can find a cookie or a series of cookies that fit your piece.

A cookie, simply put, is a piece of clay that is the shape/size that fits the profile of your piece. Slab roll your clay to approximately 3/8" thickness and in the shape of your piece (full profile not just the foot) place it in between two ware boards and let it dry alongside or under your art piece. It is important to make sure that your cookie stays flat and does not warp in the drying process. If you want your cookie to be given back to you make sure you put your name on it.

If you would like to make cookies for DMS for general use, we always appreciate the effort. The cookies should be the same size slab thickness 3/8", dried in a way that they stay flat and DMS somewhere on the edge of the cookie so the kiln team knows to keep these.

You are welcome to use the 3d printed forms available in the gray cabinet (pic below) and the clay in the bag that is labeled “DMS Cookies”.

You may also use the round Cookie cutter forms for cookie shapes. The largest shape is the most used size.

If you are not providing your own cookie, please do not pull a DMS cookie to put under your piece on the kiln staging shelves. The kiln team will pull the cookie needed for your piece.

Thank you all and happy making!

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