Maggie McMahon on fri 13 sep 96
I'm intrigued by raku tongs which are adjustable and in fact you couldn't
live without. Would like more information. Thanks.
chull@startext.net on fri 20 sep 96
I have uploaded a photo of the three raku tongs (tongs.jpg) to the ftp
site if anyone is interested. The specs are as follows:
#1 31" long
23' to hinge
18 1\2" of handle is 1\2" tubing (for weight) then welded to 3\8"
bar
#2 (iron maiden) 5' long
30" handles of 5\8" pipe (to curve), same pipe below curve
12" of 1" x 1\4" flat is then bowed out about 2"
nail are on both curves and welded in drilled holes
3" bolt through the ends (bottom of photo) pivots on a stack of
bricks for weight distribution (ahhhh!)
#3 40" long
30" to hinge
26" of handle is 1\2" tubing then welded to 3\8" square bar
as in #1 the ends meet
Cynthia
TX
SANTERRE ROBERT on sat 21 sep 96
Cynthia, I'd like to see the photos. What's the web site address?
Thanks, Bob
santerre_robert@lilly.com
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>I have uploaded a photo of the three raku tongs (tongs.jpg) to the ftp
>site if anyone is interested. The specs are as follows:
>#1 31" long
> 23' to hinge
> 18 1\2" of handle is 1\2" tubing (for weight) then welded to 3\8"
>bar
>#2 (iron maiden) 5' long
> 30" handles of 5\8" pipe (to curve), same pipe below curve
> 12" of 1" x 1\4" flat is then bowed out about 2"
> nail are on both curves and welded in drilled holes
> 3" bolt through the ends (bottom of photo) pivots on a stack of
>bricks for weight distribution (ahhhh!)
>#3 40" long
> 30" to hinge
> 26" of handle is 1\2" tubing then welded to 3\8" square bar
> as in #1 the ends meet
>Cynthia
>TX
June Perry on sun 22 sep 96
Dear Cynthia:
I tried the site address to view the tongs but got an error message each time
I tried to log on. Could you please repost the message?
Thanks!
June
EMail: Gurushakti@aol.com
or: juneperry@wave.net
chull@startext.net on sun 22 sep 96
June Perry wrote:
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Dear Cynthia:
>
> I tried the site address to view the tongs but got an error message each time
> I tried to log on. Could you please repost the message?
>
> Thanks!
> June
> EMail: Gurushakti@aol.com
> or: juneperry@wave.net
Here it is again... I don't know why you couldn't get in.
ftp://wuarchive.wustl.edu/edu/arts/metal/incoming/
Cynthia
Ratliff on wed 5 mar 97
Glad to be back! Had to shut off mail for a month in order to dig in at
BFA thesis pieces. Quick questions today......first, does anyone have a
source for superb quality raku tongs? I find most for sale at ceramic
stores are quite flimsy. Perhaps there is a web site with information?
Secondly, I am using high fire clay (Minnesota Clay Co., cone 6) to
raku. Is it necessary to add Kyanite for thermoshock? thanks....Nancy
Harvey Sadow on thu 6 mar 97
Ratliff wrote:
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
first, does anyone have a
> source for superb quality raku tongs?
Have a blacksmith make you a pair. You design them, and they will last
a lifetime. Make the pickup end any shape that you like, make them any
length you want, as heavy as you can handle. No blacksmith? How about
a machine shop, welding shop, etc... . Maybe even a sculptor. Tom
Wilson in Cedarburg, Wisconsin made mine. Believe me when I tell you
that they have hoisted a lot of pots for a lot of years, and they are in
no danger of deteriorating. Besides, they are so beautiful that I hang
them on the wall and enjoy them every day. Good work, Tom! He is still
there. UPS delivers.
> Secondly, I am using high fire clay (Minnesota Clay Co., cone 6) to
> raku. Is it necessary to add Kyanite for thermoshock?
If it works, NO. If it doesn't, YES. Gosh this is easy! Good luck
with your thesis.
Joyce Lee, Jim Lee on fri 7 mar 97
David England of Hutchins, Texas, is the best blacksmith/raku tong
smith! He sometimes works with Randy Broadnax, potter extraordinaire.
My husband/support person/supply-purchaser-of-supplies-I-am-too-
cheap-to-purchase, ordered mine from David at a glaze workshop with
Robin Hopper. Some of the pros in the class ordered as many as five of
the tongs. These were potters who already owned tongs but appreciated
David's craftsmanship. I haven't seen nor talked with David in almost
two years but I'm sure he's still in business. Email directly to me for
address or phone number.
Joyce
Happily throwing bowls when I mean to throw jars, and jars when I
mean to throw vases.
for their much larger studios/classes.
Ric on fri 7 mar 97
Ratliff wrote:
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Glad to be back! Had to shut off mail for a month in order to dig in at
> BFA thesis pieces. Quick questions today......first, does anyone have a
> source for superb quality raku tongs? I find most for sale at ceramic
> stores are quite flimsy. Perhaps there is a web site with information?
> Secondly, I am using high fire clay (Minnesota Clay Co., cone 6) to
> raku. Is it necessary to add Kyanite for thermoshock? thanks....Nancy
I had tongs made for me at the local iron works shop. As for the need
to add Kyanite to the clay for thermoshock, I don't think you have to as
long as you are useing high fire clay from Minnesota Clay Co. I have
used high fire clay cone 10, which incuded regular, high fire white and
porcelain, strate from the box from Minnesota Clay. Any problems were
my falt.
Don Jones on sat 8 mar 97
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Ratliff wrote:
>>
>> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>> Glad to be back! Had to shut off mail for a month in order to dig in at
>> BFA thesis pieces. Quick questions today......first, does anyone have a
>> source for superb quality raku tongs? I find most for sale at ceramic
>> stores are quite flimsy. Perhaps there is a web site with information?
>> Secondly, I am using high fire clay (Minnesota Clay Co., cone 6) to
>> raku. Is it necessary to add Kyanite for thermoshock? thanks....Nancy
>
>I had tongs made for me at the local iron works shop. As for the need
>to add Kyanite to the clay for thermoshock, I don't think you have to as
>long as you are useing high fire clay from Minnesota Clay Co. I have
>used high fire clay cone 10, which incuded regular, high fire white and
>porcelain, strate from the box from Minnesota Clay. Any problems were
>my falt.
Raku people
My two cents on this thread have to do with my experience with tongs in
general. Commercially made tongs don't seem to do the job in terms of
strength and dexterity. I agree that if you can find a blacksmith to make
them for you, do it.
My successes came when I gave up tongs altogether and suited up
appropriatly to use my hands. After that, I never lost a pot.
Don Jones
Albuquerque
KDrescherg on sat 8 mar 97
Best cheapest set of raku tongs can obtained from a harware store (are
there any left) I paid one dollar for mine they are just cheap fireplace
tongs.
Sheldon Bieber on wed 3 sep 97
rballou@mnsinc.com wrote:
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Tracy,
>
> I found a formula for Monticello spar in some old notes. Don't know if it's
> your 261-F, though.
>
> .6192 K2O
> .2793 Na2O
> .1018 CaO
> 1.032 Al2O3
> 6.065 SiO2
>
> Equivalent Weight: 548.24
>
> Ruth Ballou
> rballou@mnsinc.com
>
> >----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> >Any one out there that can help me with some unknown materials I picked up in
> >Texas years ago? Calspar, pottery K-59, soft phosphate (I think I should
> >spread this in my garden) and 261-F from the Feldspar Corp. in Monticello,
> >Ga?
> >
> >Any help would be appreciated
> >
> >Tracy
Does anyone know where I can purchase tongs of various shapes and sizes
for raku?
Harvey Sadow on fri 5 sep 97
Hi,
Find a blacksmith and have them made to your specs. Mine are beautiful,
versatile and have lasted for twenty years with no sign of wear. It is
a pleasure to pick them up, and they are made precisely for my hands and
arms. Hint - have them made long enough that when you have them in your
hands, the ends extend well up your forarms. This gives you leverage
for lifting heavy things with the big muscles in your arms, not with
your back.
Harvey Sadow
Beth Hamilton on sun 18 jun 00
My best ones came from an ornamental ironworker/blacksmith. They were't
expensive and I could request any angle on the end and even straight with
extended handles. See if you can find someone who works in "wrought iron"
fences, gates, grilles (window) etc. and ask if they will make them. My guy
said it was easy because it was simply bending standard stock and adding
teeth. OK, that's why I let him do it! Bic
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Joyce Lee on sun 18 jun 00
Hey Mishy,
...... my best raku tongs are long but balanced for my arm length and
height. They were a gift from my #1 Support Person who
had them made by David England from Texas. He is a blacksmith who does
incredible work and accompanied Randy Broadnax to a Robin Hopper summer
program on Vancouver Island, where he forged the tongs for hours daily
and sold all he could make in addition to taking many orders. Mine were
something like $130.00. I know .... very expensive ... but, jeez, they
have my name on them! .... and not too costly at all considering the
artistry that went into their making. They're wonderful to use....
Joyce
In the Mojave
Sheron Roberts on mon 19 jun 00
Last year my husband and I spent one
wonderful week at John C. Campbell
Folk School. While I was playing in
the clay he was taking his first class
in blacksmithing. One of the projects
he worked on was raku tongs. And=20
although I have not had the opportunity
to use these tongs for raku, they have
worked great in strategically placing
wood during a pit fire. They are also
very pretty. His goal is to build a
forge and make more goodies as=20
soon as we can find an anvil. I am
very lucky to have a partner who is
very proficient at metal working.
(and he never lets me forget that=20
either :} )
Sheron in NC
Shelley Corwin on tue 20 jun 00
when a smith makes tongs, how do they make thejoint? i really can't stand
the ones with the set screws that fall out, from Kempner. i want some good
ones, you smiths, there's money to me made here! any recommended suppliers
meanwhile? s
Shelley Corwin on tue 20 jun 00
can i have david england from texas contact # for tongs? thanks, shelley
chuck schultz on tue 20 jun 00
hello clayart: what i have used for raku tongs and has
worked very well are the rakes once used in coal fired
boilers or furnaces. if you live in a cold weather
climit, a visit to any heating company that has been
in business for a number of years could have these in
their basement or hidden away. i have found two kinds,
one only has two fingers and opens and closes with a
wire running thru the shaft or body. this works ok,
the other has three fingers and has a rod passing thru
the body, you turn the end of the handle and this
works very well. most of your lenox dealers have long
history of working with coal fired furnaces, other
places to look would be public buildings such as older
schools , churches or hospitals, asking the maintence
department. these rakes were used to remove the coal
(cinder) embers. good luck, chuck schultz
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Ken Kang on tue 20 jun 00
Anyone interested in custom made raku tongs contact me at =
rakuken@compuserve.com
Jim Bozeman on wed 21 jun 00
I traded a blacksmith some hard bricks in exchange for him making me a
custom raku tong. Jim
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