Firing clay churchwarden pipes

Hi! I have recently started experimenting with making Churchwarden pipes out of white earthenware clay. By what I have read the pipes are not glazed, and must be fired at a low enough temperature to retain the clay's porosity. I really have no idea at what temperature this should be as it is the first time I use clay since highschool so I would really appreciate your help.

Thanks and sorry for the bother.

They're usually fired to a high bisque temperature, so that they are physically strong, but retain porosity; partly to help withstand thermal shock, and partly to retain heat within the bowl and not transmit it down the stem. The mouthpiece was usually coated with sealing wax.

Steve Bath UK

In article , Nibin writes

How are you making the churchwardens? pressed or slip? A pressed or formed clay pipe can be fired to a cone 6, if you have used a slip mold you should probably stay with a cone 4. the slip cast pieces tend to be slightly less porous at cone 6. You can glaze them if you would like, just keep the glaze out of the bowl. If you do glaze it inside and out, you essentially have a glass pipe...not good for tobacco but great for other smoking materials, if you know what I mean. I have made many clay pipes, including churchwardens using both methods, I'll be happy to give you any advise I can. It's great fun and in my opinion clay is the best type of pipe to smoke as it requires no breaking in period, and contrary to popular opinion the smoke much cooler than a briar pipe. Just know that you will break a LOT of pipes...a greenware pipe will simply fall apart in your hands.

rickei

in article snipped-for-privacy@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com, Nibin at snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com wrote on 9/8/05 7:40 PM: