Mike Gordon on tue 26 jun 07
Chic,
When I was teaching h.s. we used Soldate 60 clay to throw with and used
commercial glazes to glaze with at C/ 05. We didn't have any problems
at all. I tried the low fire clay once and found it rubbery as well
then switched to Soldate. Be sure to have a good long bisque fire. Mike
Gordon
On Jun 26, 2007, at 2:06 PM, Chic Lotz + keith Montgomery wrote:
> I'm working on some low firing glazes and wondered what clays potters
> are using for low fire?
> The low fire clays feel a bit rubbery.............any suggestions?
> Especially in California?
>
> Chic Lotz
> www.GlazeBasics.com - a program for understanding glaze basics
> designed especially for
> beginners.
>
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Chic Lotz + keith Montgomery on tue 26 jun 07
I'm working on some low firing glazes and wondered what clays potters
are using for low fire?
The low fire clays feel a bit rubbery.............any suggestions?
Especially in California?
Chic Lotz
www.GlazeBasics.com - a program for understanding glaze basics
designed especially for
beginners.
Jon Pacini on thu 28 jun 07
Greetings All ---Hi Chic
Most commercially produced low fire clays are are talc based and this
makes them feel quite a bit different than Stonewares. So if you want a clay
that feels more like a stoneware you need a low fire body that is composed
like a stoneware. This generally leaves out the White low fire bodies as the
color is derived from Talc. Talcless Low fire whites are primarily Silica
and they are a bit less than optimally plastic also.
Some of the red bodies on the otherhand can be composed mostly of red
surface clays. R-2 Red is a Laguna clay that is mostly clay rather than
talc.
I generally recommend the Raku clays to potters who want to work at lower
temps and want a body that performs like a stoneware. Mikes suggestion to
use Soldate fit's right in there as Soldate was pretty much the standard
Raku body used here in California in the 60's till more specialized bodies
were developed.
The one thing you need to watch for is glaze fit. Most commercial low fire
glazes have been developed to fit Talc bodies and you may run into fit
problems with a non talc body.
Best regards,
Jon Pacini
Clay Manager
Laguna Clay Co
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