Lili Krakowski on wed 23 feb 11
I have no idea why a glaze manufacturer would not incorporate Bentonite =3D
or similar in dry glazes. However.
As said last week to someone else: Get a gallon jug and fill to about 2 =
=3D
inches from top with warm water. Now add about a cup of Bentonite. Let =
=3D
sit overnight or longer.
The mix will turn into a jello like glop. Add some glop to your wet =3D
glaze. I cannot tell you how much, but guess would be 1/4 c. of mix to =3D
1 gallon glaze slop. Stir well. IF your glaze has settled into rock, =3D
you should sieve the mix. In my experience, unless a glaze is =3D
constantly in use, sieving beats any other mixing method.
If the glaze is dry, weigh out whatever you need and add 2% dry =3D
Bentonite. Just mix it in loosely into the dry glaze (You ARE wearing =3D
your mask, now aren't you?) You can add up to 3% , says Harry Fraser, =3D
but more will cause cracking when the glaze dries on the pot. Also add =3D
a few drops of calcium chloride. Calcium chloride is readily available =3D
this time of year as it is sold as de-icer for streets etc. However =3D
anyone who fixes tractor tires is likely to have some, and will give you =
=3D
a pint. (It is hygroscopic and likely to turn into a solution on its =3D
own.) If you do not have calcium chloride a bit of magnesium =3D
sulphate--Epsom Salts-- does the same. The combo of Bentonite and =3D
calcium chloride or Epsom Salts will make a lovely creamy glaze that =3D
does not turn to rock or other aggravations. You can buy ES at =3D
drugstore. NO need to buy the variety/quality meant to be taken =3D
internally, buy the cheaper kind sold for footbaths and the like. (No =3D
idea what it does to feet. Help them float?)
Harry Fraser is the author of a book I consider indispensable: "Glazes =3D
for the Craft Potter" . The latest edition A & C Black, London, and The =
=3D
American Ceramic Society, Westerville, Ohio, ISBN I-57498-076-9 is =3D
readily available, and is updated on safety issues. The first edition =3D
however is still to be had second hand, and the basic pottery stuff is =3D
all in there.
Lili Krakowski
Be of good courage
Julie Brooks on thu 24 feb 11
Hello All,
I have a message from the man who schedules glaze production at Laguna
Clay Company. The commercial glaze standard is a one percent addition of=
=3D
bentonite in glaze. Laguna Clay Company stock glazes, dry and prepared =
=3D
ALL
have at least one percent bentonite to aid suspension. Any report that th=
=3D
ey
don't is erroneous.
Laguna's dry glazes are formulated with the one percent bentonite, sim=
=3D
ply
because it is much easier to add more bentonite if it serves your process=
=3D
and many commercial settings require fast drying glaze sprayed on a
sparingly as possible.=3D20=3D20
Normally, experienced potters would mix a small batch of a glaze they =
=3D
are
unfamiliar with (or a new batch number), get their personal proportion of=
=3D
water and additives then mix a multi-gallon batch. Laguna's catalog
specifies that users should test, test, test for the simple reason that
unpredictable factors, including the ph of the water used and the users
specific process make it a practical impossibility to provide specific
instruction (like the ones provided on a cake mix) which would be correct=
=3D
in
all instances.
Thanks,
Julie Brooks
Stephani Stephenson on fri 25 feb 11
I have used some of the Laguna glazes in my work. I prefer to buy them dr=
=3D
y.
for one: it is more economical.
second: i can mix them up 'fresh' with water in smaller batches if i nee=
=3D
d to.
third:the amount of water i use in my glazes is variable. some are applie=
=3D
d=3D20
watercolor thin, others even thicker than dipping or pouring, so I
appreciate the variability dry mixes give me.=3D20
The premix glazes have other additives it seems to me, whether it is CMC=
=3D
or
another brushing medium. they seem too oily and dry too slowly for most =
=3D
of
my purposes, though again, that property is useful in some applications.=3D=
20=3D
Pound for pound , if i am buying a commercial glaze, I would rather not b=
=3D
e
paying for jars and additives, just give me the main components and let =
=3D
me
adapt to my own use.=3D20
1% bentonite is a good idea.I usually add 1 1/2 to 2 % in the glazes I m=
=3D
ix
from scratch, but that's it.
if you want to add some other mediums or to the dry mixes it is quite
simple to do by adding them to a quart of (i usually will use warm -ho=
=3D
t
water ) mix water, then once dissolved, add that water to the main water =
=3D
and
you are ready to go. i will usually just add bentonite to the dry mix and=
=3D
have had no probems.
i would think that if you were accustomed to using premixed liquid glaze,=
=3D
the dry glaze would seem different, but i think the difference is not
bentonite, but another additive.=3D20
i for one am glad the glazes are offered just as they are.
Stephani
Julie Brooks on sat 26 feb 11
Thank you Stephani!
Yes, we put additives in the wet glaze to make it better for brushing...
unless it is a special request.
We tested our Oxide Stains against other similar products and found our
specific gravity shows we have 20% more solids on the average than other
brands. That combined with the fact that we mix them fairly thick makes =
=3D
it
a pretty great bargain even with additives.
You can exhibit on Laguna Featured Artists if you use our products in you=
=3D
r
work. Sometimes it takes a while to get things posted but it is nice way=
=3D
to
have additional web presence...If your workshop is still upcoming, post o=
=3D
n
our Facebook.
Julie Brooks
Lisa Elbertsen on tue 1 mar 11
It is really too bad that Laguna doesn't have any instructions on their =3D
website on how to use their dry glazes other than add water, sieve and =3D
in 24 hours, voila, your glaze is ready. So that is what I honestly =3D
thought I had to do. Boy was I ever wrong! I would have happily added =3D
bentonite to the dry mix had I known.
Laguna's lack of information on their website as well as their poor =3D
customer service and style had made buying from a "trusted" manufacturer =
=3D
instead of making my own glazes a real nightmare and a real let down as =3D
far as the type of service I got. Buyer beware I guess.
BUT on the flip side I have received sooooooooo much helpful information =
=3D
from everyone here at Clayart. I REALLY appreciate it. Hopefully one =3D
day I can contribute an answer to someone's questions since I feel like =3D
I'm always asking questions and not giving back. But I believe in karma =
=3D
and I believe in giving back and paying it forward so I will be more =3D
active in Clayart and not just come with my questions or problems. =3D20
Thank you again everyone who helped me out. Living in a rural area with =
=3D
only a few potters who mostly keep to themselves, I feel isolated from =3D
the craft. But with Clayart I feel connected with other potters! So =3D
THANK YOU!
BTW I picked up Bentonite yesterday so I'm on the road to repairing my =3D
glazes!
Regards,
Lisa
Website: www.LisaElbertsen.com
Blog: www.sunnydazedesign.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/sunnydazedesignstudio
-----Original Message-----
From: Julie Brooks [mailto:Juliebrooksclay@GMAIL.COM]=3D20
Sent: February-24-11 3:16 PM
Subject: Re: Glaze nightmare wake up call.
Hello All,
I have a message from the man who schedules glaze production at Laguna
Clay Company. The commercial glaze standard is a one percent addition =3D
of
bentonite in glaze. Laguna Clay Company stock glazes, dry and prepared =
=3D
ALL
have at least one percent bentonite to aid suspension. Any report that =3D
they
don't is erroneous.
Laguna's dry glazes are formulated with the one percent bentonite, =3D
simply
because it is much easier to add more bentonite if it serves your =3D
process
and many commercial settings require fast drying glaze sprayed on a
sparingly as possible. =3D20
Normally, experienced potters would mix a small batch of a glaze they =
=3D
are
unfamiliar with (or a new batch number), get their personal proportion =3D
of
water and additives then mix a multi-gallon batch. Laguna's catalog
specifies that users should test, test, test for the simple reason that
unpredictable factors, including the ph of the water used and the users
specific process make it a practical impossibility to provide specific
instruction (like the ones provided on a cake mix) which would be =3D
correct in
all instances.
Thanks,
Julie Brooks
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