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From: Mike Smith
Date: 05 Jan 2003
Time: 05:11:38
Remote Name: 63.208.166.248
The hotter the firing, the harder the bisque becomes. Dinnerware is ideally done (as most kiln manufacturers will tell you) in a cone 02-03.
The hotter the firing, the more vitreous the clay body will become also. If you've never seen what happens to earthenware slip when a kiln overfires, it sort of comes out looking like somebody took a gallon of ice cream and let it melt in the kiln and then froze it when it has flattened itself out pretty much. Not a pretty sight, and it is virtually impossible to remove from the kiln brick-- not to mention your shelves will be ruined.
I can't imagine any possible reason for a ceramist pouring molds to take a clay body that isn't stoneware or porcelain up to anything higher than an 02, but there are always exceptions to rules, and I'm sure there is some highly specialized reason someone wants to take the clay that hot.
Hope this helps to eliminate some confusion, I'm sure it also added to it too though!
Mike