Copper Clay is the Pits!

Just kidding. I love it ... but I did have a problem today, twofold with a batch of lotus leave pendants that I fired.

First problem, all of the bails fell off! I think I know why. I fired the copper at the schedule for up to six cards thick, with a hold of two hours, because they were only 4 cards thick. But .... I forgot that the bail is another 3 cards, folded in half, so six cards in and of itself. Added to the pendant, makes .. 10 cards thick. So I should have used the longer firing schedule, with a hold of 3.5 hours.

Also the surfaces were pitted. I took such pains when rolling the clay to get it smooth - with no air bubbles. After the clay was dry, I sanded the surface to a very smooth polish, before firing, with no blemishes. But after firing ... pit marks that can't be sanded out, as they are too deep. The pieces pictured have already been worked on somewhat - that's why so shiny (see photo at left. The one in the center, on right has carved lined in it that I put there before firing, but on all the others, the pit marks are still there. Hmmmm. Not sure what to do about that. The marks seems to be on both sides, so it won't work to just flip the piece over. It obviously has to do with the charcoal on the surface of the clay as it fires. I can't think of any way not to have this happen.

I did a search on line. Didn't find any helpful info yet.

Help! If you can, I'm listening.