Porcelain is a ceramic material made by heating raw materials, generally including clay in the form of kaolin, in a kiln to temperatures between 1,200 °C (2,192 °F) and 1,400 °C (2,552 °F)The toughness, strength, and translucence of porcelain arise mainly from the formation of glass and the mineral mullite within the fired body at these high temperatures .Porcelain derives its present name from its resemblance to the cowry, which in old Italian was called porcella, meaning little pig[1] Properties associated with porcelain include low permeability and elasticity; considerable strength, hardness, glassiness, brittleness, whiteness, translucence, and resonance; and a high resistance to chemical attack and thermal shock.I am shocked.
If you're going to cut it on a miter saw make sure you are holding it firm against the backplate, and that the blade is at full speed before you make the cut.
For less than $10 you can buy a steel cut off blade from home depot.or if you only have a few cuts, use a hack sawAluminum is very easy to cut.
A hacksaw or if you clamp it down real good,use a saws-all with a metal fine tooth blade,always wear safety goggles.
Either of the above, or just throw a carbide tipped in thereAny blade should have more than 24 teethWhichever you chose, when using the chop saw, be sure to wear gogglesProtect those eyes.
Very enlighteningDid you ever throw (shape) any porcelain on a potter's wheel? Potters sometimes say things like that about porcelain because, despite its other charming attributes, it doesn't have particularly good working propertiesThis is due to the relatively large grain size of the kaolinFiner grained clays, usually referred to as ball clays, which would impart better working characteristics must be kept to a minimum to retain the whiteness of the fired productPersonally, I love the feel of porcelain clay and simply adapt my throwing technique to deal with the floppiness of the clayOften that means partially forming a piece and then allowing it to dry and stiffen up a bit before continuing to refine the formToo fussy for many potters, especially production potters.
