mel jacobson on wed 19 may 10
Hello Mel, Below is a post to Clayart that didn't go trough when it was
down. Would you mind reposting it or did you find it unacceptable?
Dave Lyons
Dear Clayart Folks,
Larry Kruzan told me about a new clay body being developed at Great Lakes
Clay for Larry. His enthusiasm and description of the clay body led me to
make a purchase. I had been using a lot of B-mix from various suppliers bu=
t
was having problems with S cracking and the body becoming limp with a littl=
e
over use. I was a little hesitant with the red color but gave it a try.
The results have been great. On the wheel it handles much like B-mix but
retains its strength well. I've been able to throw very thin in
relationship to the other clay bodies I've used. The trimming process is a
pleasure. I had zero S cracking with the first bisque and glaze firings.
The glazes seem to take a better color with the red clay body. I use MC6G
glazes mostly and the glazes seem to have fewer flaws and better color. In
all, I'll be using Fox River Red as a permanent replacement for B-mix. I'm
still casting about for a white clay body for projects that require white i=
f
anyone has a suggestion.
As a disclaimer I have no financial interest in the Fox River Red or Great
Lakes Clay. Fox River Red is not in the Great Lakes Clay catalog as yet;
ask about it if you want to try it.
from: minnetonka, mn
website: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/
clayart link: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/clayart.html
new book: http://www.21stcenturykilns.com
alternate: melpots7575@gmail.com
James Freeman on wed 19 may 10
> Dave Lyons
I'm
> still casting about for a white clay body for projects that require white=
if
> anyone has a suggestion.
>
Dave...
Give RO-01 "You Betcha" from Rovin (www.rovinceramics.com) a try. It
is utterly amazing stuff. It is a porcelainous stoneware like B-mix,
but in my side-by-side comparison I found it to be superior in all
regards, at least for my way of working (just my opinion, based on my
situation, and in no way a statement against the makers of B-mix or
their fine products).
You Betcha has a stated firing range of cone 6 - 10. I have fired it
as hot as cone 15 in a wood kiln, and routinely fire it at low fire
and raku temperatures for nonfunctional pieces. It seems to like a
cone 04 bisque, at least with my glazes. It is not as white as
porcelain, but is still very white, with a slight yellowish cast, but
not as yellow as B-mix.
You Betcha throws like a dream, and stands up to a tremendous amount
of water and overworking before becoming flabby. It can be thrown
very thinly with no problems. Many of my thrown vases and such are in
the range of 1/16" to 1/8" thick (yes, I throw my occasional
functional pieces much thicker), and they never warp or slump. (Note:
Slab platters fired upside-down at cone 15 did slump, but did not do
so at cone 12) I have never had an "S" crack, even when throwing off
the hump. It also throws well dry, for those so inclined, but (sorry
Nils) I have yet to try it with slug slime. The grog is a very fine
kyanite or mullite, I cannot recall which. You Betcha is also great
for hand building. Nearly all of the hand built and thrown work on my
website is made with it.
I know that Mel says there is no such thing as a "do everything" clay,
but this stuff is about as close as you are going to get. I use it
for everything except tile. It also seems to be a perfect shrinkage
match for Laguna's Miller Clay cone 10 casting slip, as there is no
cracking at all when the two clays are attached to one another. I
have also attached it to a couple of different domestic (EPK)
porcelain clays with no cracking.
I have no connection to Rovin, other than being a loyal and happy
customer. It is a family-owned business located in a suburb of
Detroit, and has been around since the 1950s.
Good luck.
...James
James Freeman
"All I say is by way of discourse, and nothing by way of advice. I
should not speak so boldly if it were my due to be believed."
-Michel de Montaigne
http://www.jamesfreemanstudio.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesfreemanstudio/
http://www.jamesfreemanstudio.com/resources
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