Sorry I was not able to retrieve the rest of the discussion I started.  At any rate, I taught 3 classes a week, 2 adult, beginning to intermediate class as well as a children's handbuilding class along with demo veneus in my geographical location.

It has taken me the last thre years to get where I am today in using clay bodies I can handle.  I am still looking for that elusive clay body which I have been searching for to futility.  I know it is out there for me.

My journey back to clay has been slow and I have learned a lot about myself and that was I did not have very much patience with myself.  I am happy to report I am way over that.  

I had a long military career in the Air Force and perhaps that allowed me to adapt and overcome.

Next time I will include photo's of some of my work past and present work.

Views: 198

Replies to This Discussion

I love working with a cone 10 porcelain from Plainsman as it handles really well with the way I work but can't fire my gas kiln where I live and my little electric kiln only goes to cone 6.  I'm using a smooth, buff stoneware that vitrifies at cone 6 now (M340 from plainsman) but it just doesn't behave the way the P700 does and I'll never be able to work as thinly or get the translucence I love.  If only you could mix and match to get exactly the qualities you need in the perfect clay!

It is difficult to know your limits and work within new parameters, patience with yourself would be a very valuable skill!

Clay in and of itself can be very fickle indeed.  Currently I find using Highwater "Little Loafers" offer me a porcelain feel (easy to throw and center) and a white body that takes most of my ^6 glazes for happy results. 

I cannot throw soldate anymore which I used for many years making large raku pieces.  Having said that I am looking for an alternative I can use that would give me raku opportunities.  I used porcelain once for raku and did not like the results.  Perhaps B-mix (when fresh I can throw it), have you any experience using it and or for raku for that matter.

I've used a plainsman stoneware that has quite a bit of grog and is formulated for pit firing. I quite liked it but I coiled with it and couldn't even imagine the wear and tear on my hands if I attempted to throw it!  I haven't tried raku, yet but intend to.

I have a cone 6 porcelain that fires translucent but doesn't hold up to hndbuilding as well as the cone 10 porcelain does.  I have used a cone 6 b-mix and found it very smooth and nice for hand building but lacking that translucency that I want. My studio has been a bit of a mess with different clays that all look pretty similar whether wet, dry, or bisqued so I am trying to settle on one clay and using slips to change things up a bit. 

I love B-mix too.  Weather B-mix will hold up to the rigers of raku I do not know, I am up to the challenge for my test goals.  My test kiln is small enough for a couple small bowls and  a few beads which has been invaluable for my needs.

 

My slab roller has been working overtime in using up heavy grog clays in my inventory.  I love making tiles and I have turned out some very nice pieces along the lines of Majolica or sprigged impressed, and slip trailed.   I still get my clay addicition taken care of and less issues with hands, arms and back.

 

Has anyone ever tried once fired raku?

 

 

I would try the single firing group for your rake question Ann.  You'll find it in the interest group drop down menu at the top of this page and you need to request to join but that is just a formality that is done quickly.

I've made a few tiles and am very interested in making murals for the wall/fireplace surround/backsplash etc.  I really enjoy them as well as small pieces such as pendants, beads, ornaments etc incorporating stained glass in them.  I found working in stained glass very hard on my hands so have a lot of it to use.  The fit doesn't work with clay so it cracks but is very pretty for decorative use and I think it would be terrific in tiles. 

RSS

Videos

  • Add Videos
  • View All

Use These Links to Support Us

Low cost flat lapping disc can be used on you potters wheel if you, drill bat pin holes in it, and provide a trickle of water to cool it. At amazon.com, 120 grit for aggressive material removal. Click the image to purchase 

Members have had great things to say about John Britt's new book, Mid-Range Glazes. Click the image to buy from Amazon.com

Purchase Glazes Cone 6 by Michael Bailey, The Potters Book of Glaze Recipes by Emmanuel Cooper, or Making Marks by Robin Hopper, all available at amazon.comMastering Cone 6 Glazes by John Hesselberth & Ron Roy is now out of print.

Harbor Freight is a great place to find unbeatable prices for better HVLP spray guns with stainless steel parts and serviceable economy models, as well as detail guns, all tested by our members for spraying glazes, as well as compressors to power the guns. As yet no one has tested and commented on the remarkably inexpensive air brushes at harbor freight.

The critter siphon gun is a spray alternative that is well liked by some of our members, and is available at amazon.

Amazon is also a competitive source for photo light tents for shooting professional quality pictures of your work. They also have the EZ Cube brand favored by several of our members. You might also want to purchase the book Photographing Arts, Crafts and Collectibles . . .

If you are up to creating videos of your work or techniques you might want to invest in a flip video camera

Following are a few scales useful for potters. Ohaus Triple Pro Mechanical Triple Beam Balance, 2610g x 0.1g, with Tare $169.00

And finally a low cost clone of the OHaus. The Adam Equipment TBB2610T Triple Beam Mechanical Balance With Tare Beam $99.62

ebay is a great alternative for many tools and the equipment used in the ceramics studio - kilns, wheels, extruders, slab rollers are often listed there both new and used.

Tips for Members

If you just want to spout off, it is best accomplished as a blog posting. If you want to get more guidance and ideas from other members, ask a question as a new discussion topic. In the upper right corner of the lists for both types of posting, you will find an "+Add " button. Clicking it will open an editor where you create your posting. 4/16/2014

© 2024   Created by Andrea Wolf.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service