To determine shrinkage take a slab of clay and incise a line 100 millimeters long.
Making clay tiles.
The key factor is that the clay has a high amount of grog a material in clay which contains a high quantity of silica and alumina.
Make sure to add an extra 1 4 inch in all directions when making your tiles because the drying process will cause them to shrink some.
Roll out the clay so it forms a flat slab that is about a 1 4 inch thick.
Making ceramic tiles or flat slab forms without the right equipment and process knowledge can be very disappointing mostly due to warpage.
Make a moat around your tiles by putting bars of clay around their edges.
Then cut out your tiles.
Generally this means tiles that have a high amount of grog.
What clay bodies are good to use.
I have worked with several clay bodies rated up to cone 6 but found them to be best vitrified at cone 5 and what i would consider over fired at cone 6.
The clay should be heavy duty as it will need to be durable and most importantly completely waterproof when fired.
Make your own diy decorative tiles with this craft tutorial.
Here is how to make a clay tile using carving subtractive and additive methods.
Remember that clay will shrink and you have to adjust for this when making your tiles.
Having the right type of clay body is important when making ceramic tiles.
The following tutorial could help you in making tiles successfully.
Sometimes tiles are prone to warping and cracking because the clay body is unsuitable for tile making or the clay body is being fired a little too hot.