Free pottery kiln timer for bisque and glaze firings. Track ramp-up, soak, and cool-down stages. Prevents thermal shock from opening too early. Start instantly.
Bisque firing to Cone 06 (999°C/1830°F): typically 8–10 hours firing plus 12–24 hours cool-down before opening. Electric kiln programs vary but a standard bisque cycle is 8–12 hours. Always allow full cool-down — opening a hot kiln causes thermal shock that cracks pottery and damages kiln elements.
Glaze firing to Cone 6 (1222°C/2232°F): 8–10 hours firing, 24 hours cool-down. High-fire Cone 10 (1285°C/2345°F): 10–14 hours. Cool-down is as critical as the firing — glaze fluxes need time to harden properly and quartz inversion (573°C) must be crossed slowly on the way down.
Do not open the kiln lid until the internal temperature is below 150–200°C (300–392°F). Opening at higher temperatures causes: thermal shock cracks in the pottery, glaze surface issues from rapid cooling, damage to kiln elements from cold air inrush, and risk of injury from radiant heat.
A soak is a hold period at the target temperature to ensure even heat distribution throughout the kiln load. Typical soak: 10–30 minutes. Without an adequate soak, pieces near the elements fire at a higher cone than pieces in the centre. Timing the soak precisely ensures consistent results across the whole kiln.
Bone dry clay feels room temperature against the cheek (no cool sensation from evaporation) and appears uniformly pale throughout. Firing clay that retains moisture causes steam to build up inside, resulting in explosive fractures ("blowing up"). Use the timer for a minimum 48-hour drying period before loading.