"Rafael Molina-Rodriguez (Rafael Molina-Rodriguez)" on sun 5 oct 97
Clayarters :
A couple of semesters ago I began including a tile project in my Ceramics
I course syllabus (In addition to this tile project I'm planning to include a ti
project with a carved/modeled clay master to be cast in plaster to be
used for press molding multiple tiles of the same design). We use
commercially prepared white earthenware or red terra cotta claybodies.
They have a choice to decorate with slips/underglazes and cover with
clear glaze or white opaque majolica glaze and decorate with stains.
The slabs are rolled out to approximately 1/4" thickness. We take care to
rotate from one side to the other as they are drying. The warping has
been kept down to a minimum if I fire to ^ 05, however, if I fire higher
(less porous/ more vitreous and more durable) to say ^04, ^03, or ^02
warping does occur. Will carving shallow grooves (horizontal or
horizontal and vertical) in the back keep tiles from distorting? Any
information will be greatly appreciated.
Rafael
David Hendley on mon 6 oct 97
I'm far from an expert in this area,
but I don't think carving grooves in the back
of tiles will help with warping.
In fact, the extra handling might make it worse.
Commercial tiles have grooves on their backs
to facilitate the installation, not the making or drying.
If you decide to try it, I'd start with a thicker slab,
so the groove part is 1/4" thick.
David Hendley
Maydelle, Texas
See David Hendley's Pottery Page at
http://www.sosis.com/hendley/david/
At 12:16 PM 10/5/97 EDT, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Clayarters :
>
>A couple of semesters ago I began including a tile project in my Ceramics
>I course syllabus (In addition to this tile project I'm planning to
include a ti
>project with a carved/modeled clay master to be cast in plaster to be
>used for press molding multiple tiles of the same design). We use
>commercially prepared white earthenware or red terra cotta claybodies.
>They have a choice to decorate with slips/underglazes and cover with
>clear glaze or white opaque majolica glaze and decorate with stains.
>
>The slabs are rolled out to approximately 1/4" thickness. We take care to
>rotate from one side to the other as they are drying. The warping has
>been kept down to a minimum if I fire to ^ 05, however, if I fire higher
>(less porous/ more vitreous and more durable) to say ^04, ^03, or ^02
>warping does occur. Will carving shallow grooves (horizontal or
>horizontal and vertical) in the back keep tiles from distorting? Any
>information will be greatly appreciated.
>
>Rafael
>
>
David Hendley
Maydelle, Texas
See David Hendley's Pottery Page at
http://www.sosis.com/hendley/david/
LINDA BLOSSOM on mon 6 oct 97
I doubt the grooves will help. You will only make one side different from
the other. Your clay body is not for tile making. Am I correct in
assuming that you are keeping them flat while they are drying but they are
warping in the higher temperatuare firing? I tested many of Miller's clay
bodies for tiles before deciding that I would need my own formula. You
need a clay that is open - grog or fireclay. The fine clays such as redart
do not make a great body for this. I used to have Miller add grog to their
terra cotta clay that fired up to cone 6. It was fairly good but not as
good as a body made for tiles. You could make small (3") tiles that are
thicker - about 3/8". That would be better but not completely fool proof.
Linda Blossom
2366 Slaterville Rd.
Ithaca, NY 14850
607-539-7912
blossom@lightlink.com
http://www.artscape.com
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