Cutting bisque tiles?

I'm totally new to ceramics... I was originally thinking about making my own tiles (outdoor, decorative) but now am considering glazing commerically available bisque tiles. I have a kiln. I need to end up with tiles 7" by 7

3/4". Is it possible to buy 8" square bisque tiles, cut them to size, and then glaze them? I've never seen a bisque tile so I don't know how tough they are to cut.

Thanks, Steve

Reply to
Steve Noll
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First bit of information - 8" bisque tiles do not measure 8" finished. Depending upon the clay you lose generally around 12% of the size from start to finish (wet clay piece to glaze fired).

Second bit of information - you have to know what temperature you are firing to. Do you know what your kiln fires to? You should check locally for a bisque supplier because they would be able to help you through the process. They will also supply the glaze and what you need for 'color'.

Have you done an internet search?

Reply to
dkat

I am aware of that.

There are no suppliers in this area. I have already checked.

Yes, I have, and I've not found anything about cutting bisque tiles. And there's nothing in my copy of Giorgini's Handmade Tiles.

So, is it difficult to cut bisque tiles?

Reply to
Steve Noll

In article , Steve Noll writes

No, use the same process that you use to cut finished tiles:

Score across using a tungsten tipped tile cutter or similar, place a pair of matchsticks or wooden toothpicks under the tile at both ends of the score, and press down firmly on both sides of the tile. It should snap cleanly along the score (a couple of strong passes with the scoring tool will ensure a clean break). Clean the edges with a sanding block, wearing a GOOD quality dust mask or respirator when you are doing this, and there you are. It takes less time to do it than it took to write this!

Steve

Reply to
Steve Mills

Thanks, just what I needed!

Steve

Reply to
Steve Noll

I'm sorry - I misunderstood you. I thought you wanted to buy premade bisque tiles. Now that I read your post again I see that you want to cut already bisqued tiles. I would not recommend this. The only hard part of making your own tiles is keeping them from warping.

My memory of tile making was simply slicing clay off a squared block of clay. Wedge the clay really well. Beat it into a block shape of the size you want. Take sticks the thickness of what you want your tile to be, placed around the block, hold the wire tight on the sticks and pull it through the clay. Repeat until you run out of cutable clay. You want to do this on the board you are going to be drying the tiles on so that you don't move the tiles. Use a cardboard cut to the size you want the tile to clean up the edges of the tiles (there is no way your block of tile is going to be perfectly square). The tiles I have that I like the most were not trimmed and the imperfect edges add interest for me. Use a really heavy twisted wire to cut with and this will leave nice grooves on the back of the tile. You need to use a rubber scraper to smooth the top (don't do this on the first tile). put a heavy board on top of your tiles and dry them slowly.

Reply to
dkat

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