Eric Gordon on wed 29 dec 10
Happy New Year. I bought a propane fueled fire pit as a christmas present f=
or my husband. I have just begun to look for "fake" or ceramic logs. My, th=
ey are pricey. Since I have an extruder and kiln I got the idea to make my=
own. Certainly that would be cheaper than the 300-500 dollars they are pri=
ced on the web. I am not sure what clay to use, Raku,perhaps? Anyone else =
try this and have some suggestions? Thanks so much for your help
Kathleen Gordon
Philip Poburka on thu 30 dec 10
Hi Kathleen,
I'd say...skip the faux 'Logs' and create something fun and interesting
instead.
Could do an homage to those 'Twin Towers' for example...the
"Hindenburg"...early 1940s skylines of Dresden, Hamburg, and eeeeeesh, lots
of others...
Could do a vignette of 'Hell', little Red Devils with Pitchforks,
'Congress', 'obama', or, as one pleases.
The Chicago skyline of October 8th., 1871...
Pile of faux, late '60s 'draft cards', bras, whatever...
Lots of fun and interesting possibilities for innovation, homage,
co-memoration, allusion...
Logs Schmlogs..!
Best wishes,
Phil
Lv
----- Original Message -----
From: "Eric Gordon"
> Happy New Year. I bought a propane fueled fire pit as a christmas present
> for my husband. I have just begun to look for "fake" or ceramic logs. My,
> they are pricey. Since I have an extruder and kiln I got the idea to mak=
e
> my own. Certainly that would be cheaper than the 300-500 dollars they are
> priced on the web. I am not sure what clay to use, Raku,perhaps? Anyone
> else try this and have some suggestions? Thanks so much for your help
>
> Kathleen Gordon
Snail Scott on thu 30 dec 10
On Dec 29, 2010, at 6:37 PM, Kathleen Gordon wrote:
> ... I have just begun to look for "fake" or ceramic logs. My, they are =
=3D
pricey. Since I have an extruder and kiln I got the idea to make my =3D
own...
Since anything in a firepit will have to withstand very=3D20
uneven heating, I'd use clay with a good amount of=3D20
kyanite wedged into it. Other minerals like mica will=3D20
also aid in resisting thermal shock; grog and sand=3D20
will help too, by opening the body.
Most so-called 'raku' clays are simply clay bodies=3D20
that don't vitrify at raku temperatures. In other words,=3D20
they are just coarse stoneware bodies with a new=3D20
label, and they work because they are underfired.=3D20
You can underfire any clay, but if your firepit is out of=3D20
doors, this will make it vulnerable to freezing damage=3D20
if left out in the winter and they will absorb moisture=3D20
in the summer, making steam when heated. The steam=3D20
won't do any harm if it can escape effectively (a very=3D20
open body), but a merely semi-open body might trap=3D20
some of that steam and send exploded fragments=3D20
into bystanders.=3D20
A fully vitrified but thermal-shock-resistant body might=3D20
be a better option, or alternatively, a very, very open=3D20
underfired body that gets brought in for the winter.=3D20
All of this is just educated guessing, though. I'd make=3D20
tests to be sure of actual performance in use.
Note that the logs sold for ventless gas fireplaces are=3D20
a whole 'nother thing, and actually act like catalytic=3D20
converters to burn the combustion byproducts. This is=3D20
not really a concern with an open-air firepit, so logs=3D20
make for fireplaces are probably technological overkill.=3D20
They do crop up really inexpensively at end-of-season=3D20
sales, though.
-Snail
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