Susan Watt on sat 28 apr 07
I'm going to my first workshop next weekend. A few questions about terra sig.
1. Do you burnish bone dry clay?
2. Does burnishing take as long with terra sig? (I've never burnished and
the pieces need to be burnished not terra siged)
3. If I have more particles settled in my batch after it has sat for a long
while (I think I probably shouldn't if prepared correctly) should I just use
what's on top and reduce again?
4 Approximately how many coats?
5. What kind of brushes do you use?
I've tried to find the answers in the archives but no luck. Thanks in
advance. Susan Watt
Taylor Hendrix on sat 28 apr 07
Here you go:
1. You can burnish bone dry clay in a manner of speaking. You need
moisture in the clay to allow the tool to consolidate and smooth the
clay surface. With that said you would take a bone dry piece and then
re wet the surface just enough to facilitate the burnishing process.
Some clays HATE to be re wet and some don't mind. Try using a damp
sponge or cloth and dab a little area of the piece. Then burnish this
moistened area until your tool begins to drag on dryness. Wet an
adjacent spot and continue. Some people use an oil in conjunction with
the water to help prolong burnishing time. I have used baby oil.
2. Burnishing doesn't need terra sig at all. You can moisten bone dry
ware, dip leather hard pots in slip etc and then burnish. Terra sig
actually allows you to forgo burnishing altogether. When you burnish
you are smoothing out the surface of your piece, consolidating the
clay at the surface and flattening out the clay particles. This takes
a bit of muscle and a burnishing tool. When you use t.s., you have
added a layer of very very fine clay that doesn't need a bunch of
muscle to flatten out. Sometimes only a smoothing (buffing) with the
finger or a soft plastic bag will bring out a comparable shine.
3. If you have sediment in the bottom of your terra sig container,
reach in there and have a feel. If you have done the prep correctly
and you only feel smooth, slick clay, just re suspend the terra sig by
stirring up. Some people really really refine their t.s. so I don't
know if they have any settle out on them. I do with mine. Try putting
your suspect t.s. onto a piece of bone dry ware and polish with your
finger. Does it shine? Is is good enough for you?
4. Number of coats depends on the strength of your t.s. and the
quality of surface you want. I will brush on three times when I do my
saggar/pit pots. Start there.
5. I use the cheap throw away brushes with the natural bristles and
have had no problem with them at all.
I am looking for color with my terra sig and not jet black. That is
too easy in the saggar. Many others on the list use t.s. for different
purposes in different ways. Let us know exactly what you are wanting
to get with your t.s. in this workshop and someone will have more
suggestions for you.
Happy sigging!
Taylor, in Rockport TX
On 4/28/07, Susan Watt wrote:
> I'm going to my first workshop next weekend. A few questions about terra sig.
> 1. Do you burnish bone dry clay?
> 2. Does burnishing take as long with terra sig? (I've never burnished and
> the pieces need to be burnished not terra siged)
> 3. If I have more particles settled in my batch after it has sat for a long
> while (I think I probably shouldn't if prepared correctly) should I just use
> what's on top and reduce again?
> 4 Approximately how many coats?
> 5. What kind of brushes do you use?
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