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mid range porcelain?

updated wed 30 dec 09

 

Centa Uhalde on mon 28 dec 09


I'm looking for a workable midrange porcelain for wheel, hand building, and
slip-casting dishware, large and small, and sculptural vessels. I would lov=
e
to be able to find a slip cast body that is strong enough to allow further
manipulation and add-ons.

Thanks,
Centa

John Rodgers on mon 28 dec 09


Centa,

I have for years worked with porcelains designed specifically for slip
casting. I have also worked with plastic porcelain clay bodies designed
for throwing. I have never found a porcelain that did both tasks equally
well. In my experience they work either best of slip casting, or best
for throwing/handbuilding. The composition of each is different from the
other in order to achieve the characteristics best for one method or the
other.

For throwing, I like Standards cone 6 plastic clay body, readily
available through many pottery supply houses.

For a slip casting porcelain body - I use a premixed porcelain slip
that I get from _Colorific Porcelain=AE and Laces_ out of Lynnwood, WA,
Phone: (425) 743-1591. I have never found a porcelain throwing body
that makes up into a good slip - a lip, yes - but a good slip, No. The
website is here: http://www.colorificporcelain.com/

--
John Rodgers
Clayartist and Moldmaker
88'GL VW Bus Driver
Chelsea, AL
Http://www.moldhaus.com





Centa Uhalde wrote:
> I'm looking for a workable midrange porcelain for wheel, hand building, a=
nd
> slip-casting dishware, large and small, and sculptural vessels. I would l=
ove
> to be able to find a slip cast body that is strong enough to allow furthe=
r
> manipulation and add-ons.
>
> Thanks,
> Centa
>
>
>

Antoinette Badenhorst on tue 29 dec 09


Centra, the best way to approach this question is to talk to different supp=
=3D
liers of porcelain and try to keep it simple.=3D20



John Rogers mentioned to you that it is difficult to find one body that wil=
=3D
l give you all the qualities that you need. I agree with him.=3D20



I noticed that you want to make add ons from slip cast to wheel thrown. As =
=3D
you possibly already know you would need to have the same shrinkage all ove=
=3D
r, particularly with porcelain.=3DC2=3DA0As far as manipulation goes, most =
porc=3D
elains are very unforgiving and one have to approach with patience. It is p=
=3D
ossible to manipulate but one=3DC2=3DA0 have to learn the particular claybo=
dy's=3D
perfect time for manupiulation. It is, like with most other materials, a m=
=3D
atter of learning the material's behaviour.=3D20



You will also need to consider your glazes carefully, since not all glazes =
=3D
will fit all claybodies. You might find=3DC2=3DA0 this a problem with add o=
n's =3D
from two different claybodies. If the white color of porcelain or transluce=
=3D
ncy are things to consider, you will find that different porcelains have di=
=3D
fferent degrees of translucency and whiteness. It will even affect the outc=
=3D
ome of some darker glazes.=3D20



Therefor my advice to you is to talk to different suppliers and find out wh=
=3D
at they have to offer. I have worked extensively with T Robert at Laguna Cl=
=3D
ay=3DC2=3DA0and Carla Flatti at Standard Ceramic earlier this year. =3DC2=
=3DA0=3D20


I do not know at what your skill level you are with porcelain, but I would,=
=3D
even if I am experienced, be careful to jump in with too many options. Con=
=3D
sider the use of some paperclay.=3D20

I hope this help. Let me know if I can help you further.=3D20

Best wishes.=3D20



Antoinette Badenhorst=3D20

Author of "Buying Porcelain" - Buyers guide to Ceramic Arts and PMI=3D20

----- Original Message -----=3D20
From: "Centa Uhalde" =3D20
To: Clayart@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG=3D20
Sent: Monday, December 28, 2009 4:20:47 PM GMT -06:00 US/Canada Central=3D2=
0
Subject: Mid range porcelain?=3D20

I'm looking for a workable midrange porcelain for wheel, hand building, and=
=3D
=3D20
slip-casting dishware, large and small, and sculptural vessels. I would lov=
=3D
e=3D20
to be able to find a slip cast body that is strong enough to allow further=
=3D
=3D20
manipulation and add-ons.=3D20

Thanks,=3D20
Centa=3D20