Donna Hoff-Grambau on tue 20 may 97
I've just finished reading a book on low-fire ceramics that suggests
using fiberglass cloth (no plastic in it) to give structure and support
to pieces. Does anyone know where to purchase this???? Or specifically
what it is? I've tried the local fabric stores, Quality Farm and Fleet,
Meijer. Any suggestions!
Donna Hoff-Grambau
PS the book was written in the early 80's
Stern HQ on wed 21 may 97
Have you tried a marine store or the army-nary surplus store? These may
be sources. Or try a store that sells canoes. Jeni
On Tue, 20 May 1997, Donna Hoff-Grambau wrote:
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> I've just finished reading a book on low-fire ceramics that suggests
> using fiberglass cloth (no plastic in it) to give structure and support
> to pieces. Does anyone know where to purchase this???? Or specifically
> what it is? I've tried the local fabric stores, Quality Farm and Fleet,
> Meijer. Any suggestions!
>
> Donna Hoff-Grambau
>
> PS the book was written in the early 80's
>
Laurie Force on wed 21 may 97
On Tue, 20 May 1997, Donna Hoff-Grambau wrote:
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> I've just finished reading a book on low-fire ceramics that suggests
> using fiberglass cloth (no plastic in it) to give structure and support
> to pieces. Does anyone know where to purchase this????
--------------------------
Donna,
I read a reference to fiberglass cloth and ran into your
problem...then someone suggested fiberglass window screen...the reference
I found did not specify high or low fire and I have built a piece using
cone10 clay using the screen. It is still in the bone dry stage so I
don't know how it will fire. Does anyone have experience with this?
I used it to support clay slabs in a folded flower form. The cloth is
exposed on the outside of the slab. I wonder if it will burn off or if
there is a risk of the piece fusing to the kiln shelf. Just in case I
plan to fire it on another slab of clay, but would like to maximize my
chances of success as I quite like the piece at this stage.
Does anyone know the temperature at which fiberglass burns. Also,
Donna, what is the book you are referring to?
Laurie in Grand Junction
lforce@mesa5.mesa.colorado.edu
Eleanor D. Hendriks on wed 21 may 97
Fibreglass cloth is used to make fibreglass boats, canoes, truck caps,
shower stalls, and some auto body parts. Any place that makes these
things should have it though it may not be available retail. Your best
bet would be a marina with a good supply of do it yourself items for
boat enthusiasts..
The cloth comes in a range of coursenesses from 'woven roving' which is
like woven straw to burlap-like cloth or even as fine as silk.
I have never used this product with clay. Let us know how it turns out!
Eleanor Hendriks
Elan Fine Pottery
Fergus, Ontario, Canada
elan@freespace.net
BALCH@HARVEY.BAKERU.EDU on thu 22 may 97
Fiberglass cloth is widely used as wall-paper material in scandinavia.
It covers all cracks in walls and ceilings and looks nice. I paint mine.
I bring it back from Denmark by the roll. I did see it used by the
"Sears guy" in this old house series, but never could find out where to buy it.
It is rather inexpensive (in Denmark) they almost throw after you when
leaving the hardware store. It is ALWAYS on sale. It puzzles me that it is
so hard to find in this country, perhaps because it lasts forever!!!!!!!
Inge G. Balch
Jack Troy on thu 22 may 97
Daniel Rhodes was one of the first ceramists to experiment with fiberglass
cloth in the '70's. He saturated it with slip and built sculptures out of it.
He fired in the c/8 range, as I recall, and said the cloth provided strength
during the building phase, but burned out at some point during the firing
process. It seems to me that the cloth lasted quite a while - perhaps as high
as c/2.
I believe he also wrote about his experiments in either CM or _The Studio
Potter_, but you'd have to look it up in the index to either mag. He also gave
a fine presentation at an NCECA, but that was before he died, and before some of
you were born.
Jack Troy
Tadeusz Westawic on thu 22 may 97
Hi All,
In the construction industry there is a new and popular exterior facing
technique called EIFS: Exterior Insulated Finish System. The laminar
components of this system are EPS (Expanded Polystyrene Foam),
fiberglass mesh and stucco. This system is used all over the US, as when
a new interstate quick-stop and gas pump island is put-up. The
fiberglass that I've seen comes in big sheets and is about one-eighth
inch mesh or slightly tighter.
Soooo, it probably can't hurt to contact a building contractor supply if
there is a major one near you and see if they deal in EIFS components
and ask about the fiberglass.
Just a thought.
Tadzu
Rick Sherman on sat 24 may 97
Jack Troy is correct. Dan Rhodes worked a lot with fiberglass cloth
and also with fiberglass cord. I was with him for a two-week workshop
in the early 70s. Saturate the cloth with slip and layer it over a
basic scuptural form. Use as many layers as you wish. I have fired
some as high as cone 10. Warning! Small pieces of fiberglass can get
under you skin and into any open cuts. Wear latex gloves. If you are
cutting a lot of it, use safety goggles. Also, to begin with, try
experimenting with burlap until you get the hang of it. Burlap just
requires more layers as it burns out and fiberglass simply melts into
the clay. Have fun. RS
PS. Danial was a good guy. Died of a heart attack while giving a
workshop in the Sierras in 1989. I miss him.
-------------------------original message----------------------
Daniel Rhodes was one of the first ceramists to experiment with
fiberglass cloth in the '70's. He saturated it with slip and built
sculptures out of it. He fired in the c/8 range, as I recall, and said
the cloth provided strength during the building phase, but burned out
at some point during the firing process. It seems to me that the
cloth lasted quite a while - perhaps as high as c/2.
I believe he also wrote about his experiments in either CM or _The
Studio Potter_, but you'd have to look it up in the index to either
mag. He also gave a fine presentation at an NCECA, but that was
before he died, and before some of you were born.
Jack Troy
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