I know this is probably somthing that has been explained a dozen times but if you could please help me out
I would like to know how to slump bottle, how to keep them from rolling and I saw somthing about wire,, what is this for.
thanks so much
Cathie
There is a great tutorial for bottles at the above site. You will find firing schedules and a lot of things in the archives. There is a lot of information from Judy Schneibel (I hope the spelling is correct). The wire you use can be copper wire but nichrome high temperature wire works really well and can made into a loop and inserted into the neck for a hanging loop.
I notice someone is selling a 15" sagging mold for bottles now. I don't know much about it. It might make bottles into a cracker type dish...I'm just not sure!
Dione
I always fire flat on 110-J sprinkled with dry BE kilnwash.
You'll have to experiment with a firing schedule for your appropriate kiln. In two of my kilns I fire to 1530 for a nice finish. I fire my oval kiln only to 1450 for the same finish.
I use stainless steel wire in the neck for a hanger.
I didn't address your question regarding the bottles rolling.
It really doesn't matter if it's a plain wine bottle. You just let it roll until it finds its center of gravity then move it back to where you want it.
The problem with rolling comes when you have liquor bottles with print on them, i.e., Absolut, Grey Goose, Chopin, etc. These can be tricky.
You know, I was at the liquor store the other day and noticed all those huge bottles of cheap wine.... you know, like cider bottles with handles? Wouldn't those make good bread trays? I'd give it a try if I wasn't afraid of turning into a win-o. I did finally try wine bottles myself and have also been etching stuff on them. (Take a wild guess what... starts with a "P" )
The problem with rolling comes when you have liquor bottles with print on them, i.e., Absolut, Grey Goose, Chopin, etc. These can be tricky.
I've found that if I have a bottle that wants to roll a little, I just put a small piece of 110-J at the base and it will hold it in place and won't really show too much when finished.