How Ceramic Cups Are Made from Clay

Ceramic cups are timeless works of art that are both durable and aesthetically pleasing, playing an important role in our daily lives. This article will reveal how ceramic cups are transformed from clay into exquisite pottery.

Choosing Raw Materials

Currently, the best quality clay suitable for making ceramics is kaolin, known for its excellent plasticity, refractoriness, and purity.

Throwing

Using a potter's wheel, clay blocks are placed on a rotating platform and shaped by hand. All Cheralle coffee cups are hand-thrown, using a ruler to measure and ensure uniform size and rim consistency.

Initial Drying

The formed cups are placed in a ventilated area to dry for 3-4 days to remove excess moisture and prevent cracking. Drying time is affected by the weather and the thickness of the clay. Typically, there should be a gap of three to four days before coloring, as the glaze will adhere better to cups that have been air-dried. This natural drying reduces internal moisture and air, avoiding issues during subsequent coloring and firing.

Attaching Handles

After the cup body has dried, the handles are glued onto the cups.

Second Drying

The cups undergo a second drying process.

Glazing

The dried cups have glaze applied evenly to their surfaces. The glaze is not only decorative but also provides protection. Common glazing methods include dipping, spraying, brushing, and rolling. Cheralle's coffee cups use the spraying method.

Third Drying

Glazed ceramic products need to be left to dry for 1-2 days to ensure the glaze layer is completely dry. The specific time depends on environmental temperature, humidity, the absorbency of the ceramics, and the thickness of the glaze layer.

High-Temperature Firing

The main types of kilns used for firing ceramics include electric kilns, gas kilns, wood kilns, and coal kilns. In electric kilns, the firing time generally ranges from 10 to 20 hours, depending on the firing temperature, type, size, and shape of the ceramics. Cheralle's coffee cups feature two different glazes on the interior: the clear glaze is fired at 2336°F, while the kiln change glaze is fired at 2408°F.

Natural Cooling

After firing is complete, the ceramic pieces are allowed to cool naturally in the kiln to avoid cracking due to temperature shock.

Inspection and Refinement

Quality inspection: Check the finished products for defects, such as cracks and bubbles.

Packaging and Sales

Packaging: Safely package the qualified ceramic cups.

Cheralle's ceramic coffee cups are handcrafted through a meticulous process, imbued with a unique warmth. Each cup's glaze is as distinctive as ocean waves, making every piece one of a kind. Whether for birthdays, weddings, Thanksgiving, or Christmas, they are beautiful and practical gifts. Using different colors together with family or friends will create a wonderful experience!