Harriett Gordon on fri 17 oct 97
While you savants are answering Jennifer's question, I have a related one
about which I'd like some input.
I bought a commercially prepared dry bag of dry "Egyption Paste" from
Laguna Clay, and when I added water as per instructions, the mix was very
sticky and hard to shape into beads or anything else. It sticks to my
hands more than it sticks to itself, and is very frustrating to work with.
Is this characteristic of all Egyptian Paste? If not, is there something I
can add to the mix to improve it?
Harriett Gordon in Alhambra
Marjorie Hines on sat 18 oct 97
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>While you savants are answering Jennifer's question, I have a related one
>about which I'd like some input.
>
>I bought a commercially prepared dry bag of dry "Egyption Paste" from
>Laguna Clay, and when I added water as per instructions, the mix was very
>sticky and hard to shape into beads or anything else. It sticks to my
>hands more than it sticks to itself, and is very frustrating to work with.
>
>Is this characteristic of all Egyptian Paste? If not, is there something I
>can add to the mix to improve it?
> Harriett Gordon in Alhambra
Harriett-
My experience was just about the same as yours- I found the stuff to be
rather hard to shape into anything but very shallow bowls and very simple
shapes. The idea of it is so cool, but the reality is
frustrating/disappointing for me. Let me know if you find a good use for
it! Best Wishes, and good luck!
Marjorie
Andrew Lubow on sat 18 oct 97
I've had the same problems using egyptian paste. Although any reference I've
read about it suggests that large pieces are possible, they also go on to say
that egyptian paste is usually used for small pieces either freehand or
molded. The biggest things I've made successfully were molded figures about 5
inches tall and about an inch in diameter.
----------
From: Ceramic Arts Discussion List on behalf of Harriett Gordon
Sent: Friday, October 17, 1997 10:28 AM
To: Multiple recipients of list CLAYART
Subject: Egyptian Paste/A Further Question
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
While you savants are answering Jennifer's question, I have a related one
about which I'd like some input.
I bought a commercially prepared dry bag of dry "Egyption Paste" from
Laguna Clay, and when I added water as per instructions, the mix was very
sticky and hard to shape into beads or anything else. It sticks to my
hands more than it sticks to itself, and is very frustrating to work with.
Is this characteristic of all Egyptian Paste? If not, is there something I
can add to the mix to improve it?
Harriett Gordon in Alhambra
Valice Raffi on sat 18 oct 97
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>I bought "Egyption Paste" ...is there something I can add to the
>>mix to improve it?
Harriet,
I found that with the purchased Egyptian Paste that two things helped the
stickiness and made it easier to work with:
1) mix small amounts in a baggie
2) let it "rest" for a while, days or even a week or so
I agree it's a pain to work with, but after a while it gets easier.
Hints for bead making: after piercing the beads, I strung them on wax
resist coated string for drying. It worked well for preventing "glaze"
formation on the inside of the bead. I restrung them on kanthal wire for
firing.
Another hint: if you are making small items, they often would fire an ugly
yellowish green where they rested on the stilts, so I started placing them
on a bisqued slab with a little Ione grain under them & they looked much
better.
Good luck!
Valice in Sacramento
where we are having wonderfully warm weather still - & I think I'm going to
get all my house painting done before the rains come!
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