Russel Fouts on sat 29 jun 96
Bill,
>> Have you ever tried getting the clay to shrink BEFORE burnishing?
Specifically, what if you were to bisque to 08 or higher, THEN apply several
coats of engobe to the bisqueware, and THEN burnish the engobe before
refiring? You might then achieve a high-gloss burnished pot that is more
durable than one fired to only 018. What do you think? Is it possible to
burnish an engobe applied to bisque to a high gloss? <<
That's exactly what I do with my sigs. I HATE brushing and very much prefer
dipping but my breakage was too high so I tried bisqueing the pots first.
Works really well. People say that you can tell the difference whether the sig
was applied to bone-dry or bisque but I can't, I think it's a myth like being
able to tell whether a photo was taken with a Zeiss lens or not (read on the
photographer's forum on Compuserve).
I actually WANT to limit the amount of smoke that my pots take so I bisque to
1000c then I apply about 6 layers, burnish, bisque again to 1000c to seal that
coat and apply more layers. The sig takes more or less smoke depending on
whether it's burnished or not so some layers are burnished and some aren't. I
think the depth of the layer also affects the amount of smoke taken. And of
course, the depth of the layer affects the fired color of the sig.
Also the clays used to make the sigs have different firing ranges. The white
is a ball clay that matures much higher than 1000c, stays open and REALLY
takes the smoke. The orange is from an earthenware clay and is very closed at
1000c.
Vince's comment about the lard actually struck a cord. Lard's kind of yucky
but I've been using olive oil (extra virgin, of course) with big success.
The final smoking fire is at 500c with a single sheet of newspaper and the
pot wrapped in aluminum foil AND IT'S ALL DONE IN AN ELECTRIC KILN!!!!.
BTW, I had my first show (not solo) a month ago and managed to sell almost
every piece ($60 a plate is NOT bad)! First show, first sales and several
local shops interesed! YES!!!!
Russel (back in the studio after too long an absence due to work and romance!
(not in that order)).
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* Russel Fouts, CI$: 100021,23,
Bruxelles, Belgium
Internet: 100021.23@CompuServe.Com
"It took more then one man to change my name to Shanghai Lil."
MD
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