Victoria E. Hamilton on tue 19 feb 08
Tom -
When I'm firing large flat pieces, I "comb" some silica on the kiln shelf
before I lay the piece on it. This way, the piece will be able to expand
and contract easily and thus minimize (or even eliminate) those stress
cracks. Also, make sure you are stretching the slabs both top and bottom.
Try this and see if firing the slabs flat works better for you.
It's also helpful if you can fire these pieces on whole shelves rather than
half shelves where there is a separation down the middle.
Also, a slow bisque firing is definitely indicated, along with a slow
cooling.
Buona fortuna.
Vicki Hamilton, recipient of your very tall vase at the mug exchange at
NCECA in Portland.
Millennia Antica Pottery
Seattle, WA
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of Tom Sawyer
Sent: Tuesday, February 19, 2008 7:10 AM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject:
I have two questions; one local and the other general.
The general question that I would like suggestions on is a problem that I am
having firing large slabs. I wish to make a set of slabs about 20 x 25
inches in size. I've been using paper clay and get them dried without much
warping but when I fire them [lying flat], I get an inordinate amount of
cracking; when fired upright they slump. Does anyone have any suggestions.
Thanks.
Question 2 is for anyone in the Orlando area that is looking for somewhere
to fire. I have 3 kilns, one gas/electric, one electric good size and a test
fire kiln; I would like to see if I could make arrangements for someone to
"maintain/repair the kilns as needed with the caveat of free firings [within
reason]. My age 74 makes it increasingly difficult to do the maintenance.
Thomas Sawyer
____________________________________________________________________________
__
Clayart members may send postings to: clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
You may look at the archives for the list, post messages, change your
subscription settings or unsubscribe/leave the list here:
http://www.acers.org/cic/clayart/
Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots2@visi.com
Terrance Lazaroff on fri 22 feb 08
When I was in Jingdezhen I went the the large tile factory to do some tile
paintings. It is amazing how they fire their tiles.
If you want to see large slabs that fire well go to
http://clayart.ca/00400large_tiles.htm
Terrance Frank Lazaroff CD.
visit my website at http://www.clayart.ca
Ingeborg Foco on fri 22 feb 08
Terrance,
Thanks for the link. Those tiles are huge. I really enjoyed seeing the
pictures as well as your web site. I went to China with Po in June, it
seems just yesterday. We went to a lot of places but not where they made
large slab tiles. We did go to the factory where they made the 12 foot plus
pots but unfortunately the day we went, they had no electricity so we
weren't able to see anyone working other than the painters who didn't need
electricity. It was our loss to be sure.
Is there a secret on getting the huge tiles thru the firing? I suspect they
fired them once, yes no? Anyhow, thanks very much for the trip back to
JingDeZehn. For me it was a fantastic trip.
Best regards,
Ingeborg
the Potters Workshop & Gallery
www.thepottersworkshop.com
On Fri, Feb 22, 2008 at 2:16 AM, Terrance Lazaroff
wrote:
> When I was in Jingdezhen I went the the large tile factory to do some tile
> paintings. It is amazing how they fire their tiles.
>
> If you want to see large slabs that fire well go to
>
> http://clayart.ca/00400large_tiles.htm
>
> Terrance Frank Lazaroff CD.
> visit my website at http://www.clayart.ca
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> Clayart members may send postings to: clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list, post messages, change your
> subscription settings or unsubscribe/leave the list here:
> http://www.acers.org/cic/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
> melpots2@visi.com
>
--
Sincerely,
Ingeborg
www.thepottersworkshop.com
Terrance Lazaroff on sat 23 feb 08
Ingeborg;
The trick to make tiles like this is to never touch the tile even when
turning them on to the bed of kaolin bricks to dry. The Kaolin bricks suck
the moisture from the bottom thus equalizing the drying that takes place on
the top. Once the tiles are dry they push them from place to place, never
lifting with the hands.
They still trim to level the tiles.
They single fire. You go to the factory, ask for your tile, paint it with
your blue and white and just leave it for them to glaze and fire. They
call you when it is ready.
Terrance Lazaroff CD
Visit my website at http://www.clayart.ca
gayle bair on sun 24 feb 08
Terrance,
I have a question about the photo with the tiles being
pushed by a man with a 2 wheeled cart to another studio
over what looks like a very uneven road.
Were they leatherhard? How are they loaded onto the cart?
Gayle Bair - waiting to be astounded by your answer?
Tucson AZ
Bainbridge Island WA
gayle@claybair.com
www.claybair.com
On Feb 23, 2008, at 3:27 PM, Terrance Lazaroff wrote:
> Ingeborg;
>
> The trick to make tiles like this is to never touch the tile even when
> turning them on to the bed of kaolin bricks to dry. The Kaolin
> bricks suck
> the moisture from the bottom thus equalizing the drying that takes
> place on
> the top. Once the tiles are dry they push them from place to place,
> never
> lifting with the hands.
>
> They still trim to level the tiles.
>
> They single fire. You go to the factory, ask for your tile, paint
> it with
> your blue and white and just leave it for them to glaze and fire.
> They
> call you when it is ready.
>
> Terrance Lazaroff CD
> Visit my website at http://www.clayart.ca
Terrance Lazaroff on thu 28 feb 08
Hello Gail;
The tiles you are looking at are bone dry. They transport them via push
cart with very soft tires. The road is full of pot holes yet they succeed
at transporting them. In Jingdezhen you find that there are the makers of
clay, the transporters of clay, the decorators of clay, the glazers of clay
and the kiln men. In many cases each step requires the work be transported.
When the work is in transport it has the right of way. That means that all
trafic gives way to the transporter.
These tiles have been made like boxes that are held together with kiln
wash. After the decoration, glazing and firing they break away the support
box. this insures that the tile will stay straight.
Terrance
Visit my website at http://clayart.ca
| |
|
