Leslie Ihde on sat 7 dec 96
I'll add my two cents
I only single fire at cone 6 and have found that 75% of the glazes I've
tried will single fire on bone dry clay without changes. That may be
luck. On the whole, I don't try to alter glazes often and just try a
different recipe. If I do alter, I add about 5% bentonite or 10% ball
clay which often works fine. I spray most of my glazes on, and after each
one, I wipe the bottom of the piece with a moistened sponge to clean up
any
spatters and to keep the moisture differential in the piece equal so it
doesn't crack. I've had no problems with breaking, but you have to dry
mugs and other two part pieces without the aide of wax resist.
The advantage of single firing is that if I choose to refire (20% to the
time due to my desire to improve the piece) I don't hesitate. Why would I
refire? I find my most common mistake is not to apply the glaze thickly
enough- but I did that when I bisqued as well.
Single firing is so easy it's like the emperor's new clothes- doesn't
anyone else see how simple this is?
But I guess that if you share a studio, have students or children, the
risk to youre pots being broken by not being handled carefully is bigger.
Leslie
Turning Point Pottery Studio
Vestal Ny
lihde@binghamton.edu on sun 8 dec 96
From: Leslie Ihde
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
I'll add my two cents
I only single fire at cone 6 and have found that 75% of the glazes I've
tried will single fire on bone dry clay without changes. That may be
luck. On the whole, I don't try to alter glazes often and just try a
different recipe. If I do alter, I add about 5% bentonite or 10% ball
clay which often works fine. I spray most of my glazes on, and after
each
one, I wipe the bottom of the piece with a moistened sponge to clean up
any
spatters and to keep the moisture differential in the piece equal so it
doesn't crack. I've had no problems with breaking, but you have to dry
mugs and other two part pieces without the aide of wax resist.
The advantage of single firing is that if I choose to refire (20% to the
time due to my desire to improve the piece) I don't hesitate. Why
would I
refire? I find my most common mistake is not to apply the glaze
thickly
enough- but I did that when I bisqued as well.
Single firing is so easy it's like the emperor's new clothes- doesn't
anyone else see how simple this is?
But I guess that if you share a studio, have students or children, the
risk to youre pots being broken by not being handled carefully is
bigger.
Leslie
Turning Point Pottery Studio
Vestal Ny
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