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question about cloth for slab roller

updated mon 28 jan 08

 

Kathleen on mon 14 jan 08


Hi my classes start in a week and a few of the clay teachers were
trying to solve a problem I am always amazed at the variety of answers
to question posed and the creativity of this group so here is our
dilemma
we teach kidsfrom 3yrs to 18. We found last session that providing a
cloth to use in slab roller over and above those provided with the
machine kept the roller cleaner and gave kids a great fingerprint free
way to transport slabs back to their workspace. We used the heaviest
fabric store canvas we could find.At the end of last session we washed
these cloths and now they are limp rags.
my coworker suggested we treat the fabric with kilz a paint primer
which she says will make the cloth keep its prewashed integrity. i am
thinking the slabs will stick to this painted surface.I wonder if
anyone else has solved this problem?
we do not have amy budget to buy heavy commercial canvas so any
suggestions would be much appreciated.
Kathleen Gordon

Kelly Johnston on tue 15 jan 08


So is the big problem that the cloth has lost it's new-cloth
stiffness? Why not give them a good iron and starch them? I'd be
doubtful too about any sort of painted surface.

Kelly in Emerald Qld Australia

Jeanette Harris on tue 15 jan 08


>
>my coworker suggested we treat the fabric with kilz a paint primer
>which she says will make the cloth keep its prewashed integrity. i am
>thinking the slabs will stick to this painted surface.

I don't have a solution for the problem at the moment, but I would
definitely drop the Kilz idea!
Kilz is designed to block mold and other nastys--it's a sealer and is
loaded with chemicals designed to eliminate anything that might leach
through the surface. Painted on a flexible surface, I would think it
would break down into a small particle and produce a kind of dust you
wouldn't want to inhale.

Any kind of sizing might work--like spray starch, heavily applied, or
pured boiled potato and water, ditto with rice and water, wallpaper
paste, water, Elmer's glue-diluted.

Think simple, human-friendly kinds of applications.

just my 2C.
--
http://jeanetteharrisblog.blogspot.com/

http://www.washingtonpotters.org/members/Jeanette_Harris/wpa_jeanette_harris.htm

Jeanette Harris
Washingzona

Larry Kruzan on tue 15 jan 08


I would think that the kilz would be a bad move but have no empirical data.
My wife, how is a quilter, suggests fabric sizing then ironing, seems to
think that starch would loose it's stiffness in the presence of water.

Larry

-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of Kathleen
Sent: Monday, January 14, 2008 8:11 PM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: [CLAYART] Question about cloth for slab roller

Hi my classes start in a week and a few of the clay teachers were
trying to solve a problem I am always amazed at the variety of answers
to question posed and the creativity of this group so here is our
dilemma
we teach kidsfrom 3yrs to 18. We found last session that providing a
cloth to use in slab roller over and above those provided with the
machine kept the roller cleaner and gave kids a great fingerprint free
way to transport slabs back to their workspace. We used the heaviest
fabric store canvas we could find.At the end of last session we washed
these cloths and now they are limp rags.
my coworker suggested we treat the fabric with kilz a paint primer
which she says will make the cloth keep its prewashed integrity. i am
thinking the slabs will stick to this painted surface.I wonder if
anyone else has solved this problem?
we do not have amy budget to buy heavy commercial canvas so any
suggestions would be much appreciated.
Kathleen Gordon

____________________________________________________________________________
__
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Ellen Currans on tue 15 jan 08


You have already washed your slab roller "cloths" and now they are limp rags=
. =C2=A0I don't have a solution for that, but I do think that using cheap=
=C2=A0
"cloths" (canvas) is not a money saving idea. =C2=A0The very firm, tight wea=
ve of a canvas is essential to keeping it wrinkle free in the slab roller.

I am still using canvas purchased l5 years ago from an art store (where you=20=
often have a variety of grades to choose from). =C2=A0When I got it I cut it=
into various lengths for large, medium and small slabs, and zigzagged the e=
dges on an ordinary sewing machine. (I bet one of the parents of your class=20=
could do it for you.) =C2=A0=C2=A0




I have never washed my slab roller canvas, and I use them almost every day.=20=
=C2=A0If I were to use more than one clay body, I would have different canva=
s for each body. =C2=A0Once you =C2=A0have washed canvas (really good canvas=
- the kind that rolls smoothly through a slab roller) you will have a deepl=
y wrinkled surface, pretty impossible to iron smooth. =C2=A0 I don't underst=
and the need to wash it anyway. =C2=A0If you are using it all through a "ses=
sion" without washing it, washing it just once at the end of the session doe=
s not solve dust problems, if that is your concern. =C2=A0I can understand t=
hat kids might leave chunks and dried smears which interfere with a nice smo=
oth slab, but they can be scraped off. =C2=A0 There is no good way to elimin=
ate =C2=A0clay dust using canvas in a slab roller, unless you use new clean=20=
canvas each time you begin to work. =C2=A0While it is still damp from the cl=
ay there isn't any dust, but as soon as you leave for lunch and it dries out=
, you have dust. =C2=A0 I don't wash mine, but I do handle it carefully.

I roll it and lay it loosely on a shelf when I am not using it. =C2=A0I don'=
t fold it and make creases. =C2=A0I scrape off any globs, or whatever, and w=
hen I flip slabs I try to do it carefully without slapping it down and makin=
g a huge cloud of dust. =C2=A0I keep my formica covered slab table clean.=
=C2=A0




I'm 75 and after 50 years in clay I still have good lung capacity. I've had=20=
it tested. =C2=A0I grew up on a farm playing in the irrigation ditches and a=
big puddle of wonderful clay pulled up by the well driller. =C2=A0 I've bee=
n sweeping floors and dusting all 53 years of my married life. =C2=A0I spent=
10 years on my hands and knees for two months every year picking up filbert=
s when we still had our orchards. =C2=A0I'm not about to start worrying abou=
t clay dust at this stage of my life.




I have noticed that Lowes and Home Depot carry large square canvas tarps for=
a reasonable price. =C2=A0I have not tried them myself (being totally satis=
fied with what I have) but I think they might be a good solution for school=20=
work. =C2=A0Part of the process of using them would be to teach the kids how=
to take care of them. =C2=A0=C2=A0




Ellen Currans

________________________________________________________________________
More new features than ever. Check out the new AOL Mail ! - http://webmail.=
aol.com

liz gowen on tue 15 jan 08


Subject: Re: Question about cloth for slab roller

Speaking of keeping it simple why not tried and true gesso. It has been =
used
on canvas for years by painters. I had a roll my dad gave me that was
pre-gessoed from when I was in art school. Since painting was too smelly =
for
me I have used the roll with clay and it doesn't really stick. Slab =
roller
canvases for porcelain, held less dust than the plain canvas I used for
stoneware that came with it. Didn't have a problem with it unravelling
either at the ends.
Liz Gowen


>
>my coworker suggested we treat the fabric with kilz a paint primer=20
>which she says will make the cloth keep its prewashed integrity. i am=20
>thinking the slabs will stick to this painted surface.

I don't have a solution for the problem at the moment, but I would
definitely drop the Kilz idea!=20

Think simple, human-friendly kinds of applications.

Jeanette Harris
Washingzona

_________________________________________________________________________=
___
__
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You may look at the archives for the list, post messages, or change your
subscription settings here: http://www.acers.org/cic/clayart/

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Nancy on wed 16 jan 08


Kathleen

I usually buy 10 yds of muslin at Walmart for $1.00 per yard and I use
that with my kids classes. It's cheap enough to throw away at theend of
the 8 week session. If they don'thave that I find the heaviest $1.00
fabric I can and use that.


Nancy

Kathleen wrote:
> Hi my classes start in a week and a few of the clay teachers were
> trying to solve a problem I am always amazed at the variety of answers
> to question posed and the creativity of this group so here is our
> dilemma
> we teach kidsfrom 3yrs to 18. We found last session that providing a
> cloth to use in slab roller over and above those provided with the
> machine kept the roller cleaner and gave kids a great fingerprint free
> way to transport slabs back to their workspace. We used the heaviest
> fabric store canvas we could find.At the end of last session we washed
> these cloths and now they are limp rags.
> my coworker suggested we treat the fabric with kilz a paint primer
> which she says will make the cloth keep its prewashed integrity. i am
> thinking the slabs will stick to this painted surface.I wonder if
> anyone else has solved this problem?
> we do not have amy budget to buy heavy commercial canvas so any
> suggestions would be much appreciated.
> Kathleen Gordon
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
>
> Clayart members may send postings to: clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list, post messages, or change your
> subscription settings here: http://www.acers.org/cic/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
> melpots2@visi.com
>

Eleanora Eden on sun 27 jan 08


Hi Kathleen,

Have you tried to use your "limp" fabric to see if it still works?
Zig-zag the edges on a sewing machine to shore them up.
It may still do the job just fine.

Eleanora





>Hi my classes start in a week and a few of the clay teachers were
>trying to solve a problem I am always amazed at the variety of answers
>to question posed and the creativity of this group so here is our
>dilemma
>we teach kidsfrom 3yrs to 18. We found last session that providing a
>cloth to use in slab roller over and above those provided with the
>machine kept the roller cleaner and gave kids a great fingerprint free
>way to transport slabs back to their workspace. We used the heaviest
>fabric store canvas we could find.At the end of last session we washed
>these cloths and now they are limp rags.
>my coworker suggested we treat the fabric with kilz a paint primer
>which she says will make the cloth keep its prewashed integrity. i am
>thinking the slabs will stick to this painted surface.I wonder if
>anyone else has solved this problem?
>we do not have amy budget to buy heavy commercial canvas so any
>suggestions would be much appreciated.
>Kathleen Gordon
>
>______________________________________________________________________________
>Clayart members may send postings to: clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
>You may look at the archives for the list, post messages, or change your
>subscription settings here: http://www.acers.org/cic/clayart/
>
>Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at melpots2@visi.com


--
Bellows Falls Vermont
www.eleanoraeden.com