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MaryJaneDoe

Hey guys, I've been a crafty little smoker as of late and I was wondering if craft porcelain was safe to use for making a bowl. I know Sculpey isn't very good... If you have any advised materials, let me know.

 

420budcut

Saw this thread had 0 replies, so I thought I'd try to help. I searched google for the composition of porcelain, and found this:

The main materials just APPEAR to be other clays and rocks, but you don't have any way of knowing for sure. In my opinion, seeing the list of 6 materials I've never heard before, I'd probably stay away from porcelain just because its better safe then sorry.

Your lungs are a vital part of living on this earth...so I'd hate to say something is safe, when it might not be. Maybe somebody else has some knowledge on porcelain that they can add...

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BuddingArtist

It would help if I knew what type you were using exactly.

If it's like, the kind you use in high school art class, where you have to bake it in an actual kiln, that should be perfectly fine, although I would paint it with a food-safe glaze then fire that in the kiln just to be positive.

If it's something you bought at a craft store, it's probably not the best idea since that stuff generally has chemicals and stabilizers and the like to help it last longer on the shelf so that they don't lose as much money from going bad/hardening.

Any specific product/brand you could give would help a lot.

420budcut

eeeeh, idk about this. While you could be right, I believe you could reach the melting point of the glaze with the lighter if used long enough. I'm pretty sure you'd be better off just smoking out of straight, baked clay.

BuddingArtist

After a quick google search it looks like you're right

David Waln Pottery - Education

says that, "Porcelaineous-Stoneware, with 'high-temperature' glazes, with a moderate amount of glaze compression, are the most durable, and the safest for food....'High-temperature' glazes are the only defined category of glazes that are guaranteed not to contain lead. They are defined as those having a melting temperature above the volatilization temperature of lead - about cone five or 2,185 degrees F. This means lead would not intentionally be used, or be in the finished glaze (if accidentally put in). Stoneware, Porcelain and their hybrids are typically fired well above this point - usually cone 8- 10, or 2,300 - 2,400 degrees F."

And WikiAnswers - How hot does a bic lighter flame get says

"...a Bic flame burns at 1977 F."

That's a little close for comfort to me. The stoneware and porcelain sounds better though.

So, I'd look around your town for some kind of pottery studio or somewhere similar that would definitely know their stuff and could point you in the right direction.