Ceramics Tools

Question 1

Fettling Knife

Answer 1

Special knife-like tool with a fairly flexible blade for cutting into moist and leather-hard clay

Question 2

Loop tool

Answer 2

Special tool with a wooden handle and a wire loop at one or both ends used for carving and hollowing out clay forms

Question 3

Kiln

Answer 3

Furnace designed to heat and harden clay

Question 4

Element

Answer 4

Heating coils of electric kilns (Tired or burned-out elements are those that carry little or no electrical current)

Question 5

Footing

Answer 5

The bottom of a piece that rests on a surface (Two types: Raised and Flush)

Question 6

Glaze

Answer 6

Glass-forming chemicals with colorants (can be opaque, translucent, or matte)

Question 7

Bat

Answer 7

Plaster disk or slab for clay work

Question 8

Cone (Pyrometric cone)

Answer 8

A mixture of ceramic materials designed to soften and bend when the proper mixture of time and temperature is reached in the interior of the kiln

Question 9

Foot

Answer 9

The base or the part of the piece of ceramic on which it rests

Question 10

Gloss

Answer 10

A shiny, glass-like finish

Question 11

Kiln Wash

Answer 11

The refractory coating applied to the top of the kiln shelves to protect them from glaze drips

Question 12

Matte

Answer 12

A soft finish with little or no shine

Question 13

Opaque

Answer 13

Color which does not allow other colors to show through

Question 14

Peep Holes (Vent Holes)

Answer 14

Small holes in the side of a kiln used for viewing shelf cones and ventilating the kiln during the firing process

Question 15

Pin Holes

Answer 15

Tiny holes in the final surface of a glaze or underglaze

Question 16

Plasticity

Answer 16

The ability of clay to be formed into a shape and retain it

Question 17

Posts (Kiln)

Answer 17

Articles made of refractory material which support kiln shelves during firing

Question 18

Semi-matte

Answer 18

A satin-like surface which has a slight sheen to it

Question 19

Semi-opaque

Answer 19

Colors which generally allow only dark colors to show through

Question 20

Semi-transparent

Answer 20

Slightly colors and/or speckled colors which allow most colors to show through with only slight distortions

Question 21

Sponge

Answer 21

Natural sponge used for cleaning and decorating greenware (Synthetic sponges available for ceramics)

Question 22

Transparent

Answer 22

Clear base colors which are free from cloudiness or distortion

Question 23

Underglaze

Answer 23

A color which is usually applied to greenware and in most cases it covered with a glaze

Question 24

Vent Holes

Answer 24

Small holes made by puncturing the wet greenware with a needle tool when the two pieces of ware have been attached. These small holes allow the air and gases to escape during firing. Also refers to the peep holes in the side of the kiln