gambaru on wed 24 sep 97
I have a few questions re B-Mix Clays. Re BMix 5 and 10 : Has anyone used
either of these bodies for an extended period for functional work: ie:
teapots, casseroles and mugs. Assuming well formulated glazes, have there
been any problems with thermal shock (again, assuming normal usage)
reported to you by your customers? Did you have any difficulty formulating
craze free glazes? Does anyone use B-Mix 5 in gas reduction ? Does
anyone use B-Mix 10 in gas oxidation? Also, How high do you successfully
fire B-Mix 5 , electric or gas and how low do you fire B-Mix 10 in
oxidation electric or gas reduction . Thanks a bunch. MB.
cobbeldi on thu 25 sep 97
MB--I use B-mix 5 for dinnerware, mugs, oil lamps, and serving dishes. I
have also handbuilt some decorative pieces with it. I fire to Cone 6 in
electric oxidation. I've used it for 2 years now and have been very
pleased with it. The drying of large pieces must be done very slowly as it
has a tendency to crack in the center of platters. Also test glazes on one
piece and run through the dishwasher to check for crazing--I had that
problem in the beginning. Here is a good clear glaze that does not craze
on this clay at Cone 6.
Gerstley Borate 495G.
Silica 320G.
Kaolin 160G.
Whiting 15 G.
Bentonite 10G.
I have not tried using this glaze for ovenware--it just seems too "fine"
for that, however, I have successfully used it on microwaveable ware and it
worked out just fine. Hope this helps you. It's a very nice clay. Oh,
also, handles need to be applied fairly moist to a piece before it is
leather hard or there will be lots of cracking at the join.
Debra in Alabama
cobbeldi@peop.tdsnet.com
Rick Sherman on thu 25 sep 97
---------------------------Original message--------------------------
I have a few questions re B-Mix Clays. Re BMix 5 and 10 : Has anyone
used either of these bodies for an extended period for functional
work: ie: teapots, casseroles and mugs. Assuming well formulated
glazes, have there been any problems with thermal shock (again,
assuming normal usage) reported to you by your customers? Did you
have any difficulty formulating craze free glazes? Does anyone use
B-Mix 5 in gas reduction ? Does anyone use B-Mix 10 in gas oxidation?
Also, How high do you successfully fire B-Mix 5 , electric or gas and
how low do you fire B-Mix 10 in oxidation electric or gas reduction
.. Thanks a bunch. MB.
-------------------------------reply----------------------------------
MB: I have used ^10 B-Mix for 5 - 6 years. It stands up well at a
hard ^11 unless you are making thin, flaired forms. These will distort
a bit after ^10. It is not a true white either in oxidation or
reduction. It shows a slight tan under a clear white semi-opaque
glaze. In reduction, the color is a bit darker. It contains a lot of
ball clay and throws like a charm. Since it is so fine, handles and
attachments tend to crack at point of attachment of pull off. Solve
this problem by drying slowly, overnight, under plastic.
It is a good untilitarian ware which can be used for cookware. Since
it is fine rather than course, you must formulate glazes accordingly.
My old stoneware glazes tended to shiver on B-Mix.
RS
San Jose, CA
debra ulland on thu 25 sep 97
I have been using B-Mix ^10 in both oxidation and reduction for about 15 years.
I have crazing with a clear glaze sometimes. No problems with thermal
shock(at least no customers have complained) I have only fired it to 10.
Debra Ulland
Calif.
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>I have a few questions re B-Mix Clays. Re BMix 5 and 10 : Has anyone used
>either of these bodies for an extended period for functional work: ie:
>teapots, casseroles and mugs. Assuming well formulated glazes, have there
>been any problems with thermal shock (again, assuming normal usage)
>reported to you by your customers? Did you have any difficulty formulating
>craze free glazes? Does anyone use B-Mix 5 in gas reduction ? Does
>anyone use B-Mix 10 in gas oxidation? Also, How high do you successfully
>fire B-Mix 5 , electric or gas and how low do you fire B-Mix 10 in
>oxidation electric or gas reduction . Thanks a bunch. MB.
>
>
Marni Turkel on thu 25 sep 97
I used c5 B-Mix for about 2 years for jiggering dinnerware a few years
back. I really liked it. I stopped jiggering about 2 1/2 years ago, not
because of the clay, but because of crawling problems I started having with
my glazes, it happened on other bodies and was not related to B-Mix. I
fired electric to a low cone 5 visual cone. The dishes were recommended for
use in microwave, oven and dishwasher. I used a different clay for mugs,
since they were cast. Besides assorted plates, bowls, abd serving pieces,
I have probably 25 full sets of dinnerware out there, some close to 5 years
old. Many of these are daily use dishes with children in the family. The
customers are still very happy with their sets. Very little chipping or
breakage. One failure (crack) of a bowl in the microwave (who knows why). I
really like the clay. It had good dry strength and was a pleasure to throw,
too
I have tried it since then for press molded trivets, but it no longer
reacts the same to one of my glazes, this is also true of a casting body I
used to buy from Laguna. I now make my own slip clay to avoid the problems.
Marni Turkel
Stony Point Ceramic Design
Santa Rosa, California
>I have a few questions re B-Mix Clays. Re BMix 5 and 10 : Has anyone used
>either of these bodies for an extended period for functional work: ie:
>teapots, casseroles and mugs. Assuming well formulated glazes, have there
>been any problems with thermal shock (again, assuming normal usage)
>reported to you by your customers? Did you have any difficulty formulating
>craze free glazes? Does anyone use B-Mix 5 in gas reduction ? Does
>anyone use B-Mix 10 in gas oxidation? Also, How high do you successfully
>fire B-Mix 5 , electric or gas and how low do you fire B-Mix 10 in
>oxidation electric or gas reduction . Thanks a bunch. MB.
Marni Turkel
Stony Point Ceramic Design
Santa Rosa, California
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