how to build a rack for glazing ceramics

If you are a ceramic enthusiast like me there will come a time when you’ll need to glaze ceramic beads or Christmas ornaments in your pottery kiln. Since the glazed parts can’t touch anything during firing in the kiln you’ll have to hang them on something. You can buy something or you can make your own rack made out of clay and wire to suit your specific needs and desires.

The best wire for this use is kanthal wire or you can use nichrome wire as a substitute. Usually you can buy them online or in a craft supply store. But if you can’t find them for some reason, you can always ask in a manufactory that does electrical heathers.

The process is very simple, you’ll need to make a rack out of clay. I did it shaped as a box with the bottom just in case some of the glaze drips. That way it’ll catch the drips and it won’t ruin your kiln. A lesson I learned the hard way:).

You’ll need to cut the holes on both sides for the wire.

Once it is dry you need to do bisque firing and after that it is ready to use.

The wires do bend a bit in firing but you can always straighten them back

If you’d like more details on how I did it, you can watch my YouTube video