Lesley Alexander on thu 12 nov 98
I was taught to mix pug clay with vermiculite for making cone packs;
sometimes these can even be fired wet, though we have had some explosions.
I was poking the cones into a fat 'worm' and fussing with the angle, but
after reading recent clayart inputs, decided to try putting a small 'worm'
down first, set the cones flat on their butts facing it, and then add more
wads of clay/vermiculite on the other side. This doesn't take much clay (to
have to be heated) and the cones are sure to be at the proper angle. That's
stating the obvious, but I've picked up a lot of good hints here that were
pretty obvious, but I'd never thought of them! Cheers, Lesley
Billy Winer on fri 13 nov 98
Is there anything wrong with using the commercially available cone holders?
They seem to work well. I am a partisan of the least effort and use any help I
can get to reduce the time used doing tedious things. I would like to hear your
opinions. Thanks, Billy in Lexington, KY
Lesley Alexander wrote:
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> I was taught to mix pug clay with vermiculite for making cone packs;
> sometimes these can even be fired wet, though we have had some explosions.
> I was poking the cones into a fat 'worm' and fussing with the angle, but
> after reading recent clayart inputs, decided to try putting a small 'worm'
> down first, set the cones flat on their butts facing it, and then add more
> wads of clay/vermiculite on the other side. This doesn't take much clay (to
> have to be heated) and the cones are sure to be at the proper angle. That's
> stating the obvious, but I've picked up a lot of good hints here that were
> pretty obvious, but I'd never thought of them! Cheers, Lesley
Darrell Gargus on fri 13 nov 98
okay, I finally have to add that I use nerball to make my cone pack.
Does anyone else use nerdball too? We use it to secure the kiln
furniture to the shelves and it comes off easily after firing.
becky
Dan / Joanne Taylor on fri 13 nov 98
These work well as long as you don't get the real cheapies, which are really sof
and usually break when you're trying to get the used cones out and consequently
essentially a disposable...which makes tham not very cheapy. ;-)
Dan Taylor in Medicine Hat Alberta....home of the historic Medalta Potteries.
Billy Winer wrote:
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Is there anything wrong with using the commercially available cone holders?
> They seem to work well. I am a partisan of the least effort and use any help
> can get to reduce the time used doing tedious things. I would like to hear yo
> opinions. Thanks, Billy in Lexington, KY
>
> Lesley Alexander wrote:
>
> > ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> > I was taught to mix pug clay with vermiculite for making cone packs;
> > sometimes these can even be fired wet, though we have had some explosions.
> > I was poking the cones into a fat 'worm' and fussing with the angle, but
> > after reading recent clayart inputs, decided to try putting a small 'worm'
> > down first, set the cones flat on their butts facing it, and then add more
> > wads of clay/vermiculite on the other side. This doesn't take much clay (to
> > have to be heated) and the cones are sure to be at the proper angle. That's
> > stating the obvious, but I've picked up a lot of good hints here that were
> > pretty obvious, but I'd never thought of them! Cheers, Lesley
Stacey Klopp on sat 14 nov 98
becky, i live a sheltered life and have never heard of nerball. humor me and
please let me know more about it. im interested in using it to secure kiln
furniture to the shelves as well.
stacey klopp
Darrell Gargus on sun 15 nov 98
Stacey-
Nerdball is 1/3 silica, 1/3 ball clay, and 1/3 kaolin. Add water until
it is wedgeable. Then you wedge the mixture to make sure it is mixed
thoroughly. It will be a little sticky, but not too sticky. We would
just pinch some off, roll between hands and make a ring. place on top
of furniture, then place shelf ontop. Press down on the shelf to kinda
smash the nerdball between the furniture and shelf. It is great to keep
them from really wabbling caused by old furniture or if the heights are
just a little bit off.
Becky
Stacey Klopp wrote:
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> becky, i live a sheltered life and have never heard of nerball. humor me and
> please let me know more about it. im interested in using it to secure kiln
> furniture to the shelves as well.
> stacey klopp
orion on sun 15 nov 98
I was taught to pinch pennies by using standard large cones in home-made
cone pads (from ball clay and vermiculite). Later, in the quest for more
consistent cone "readings," I started using pre-cast, commercial cone
plaques. These seemed to work reasonably well, but they were often hard to
find -- and when purchased by the "case" (of 24-25?), it seemed that 10-15%
were either cracked or broken in shipment.
For the last couple of years, I've been using large SELF SUPPORTING cones
ONLY -- and I think they're the best thing since sliced bread! They only
take a minute to position, and they seem to fall FAR more consistently than
cones set in either home-made or pre-made plaques or pads -- well worth the
slightly higher cost!
Regards to all!
Ellen Baker -- Glacier, WA
orion@telcomplus.net
Joy Holdread on thu 19 nov 98
In a message dated 11/15/98 5:35:17 PM US Mountain Standard Time,
dsg12@home.com writes:
>
> Nerdball is 1/3 silica, 1/3 ball clay, and 1/3 kaolin. Add water until
> it is wedgeable. Then you wedge the mixture to make sure it is mixed
> thoroughly. It will be a little sticky, but not too sticky. We would
> just pinch some off, roll between hands and make a ring. place on top
> of furniture, then place shelf ontop. Press down on the shelf to kinda
> smash the nerdball between the furniture and shelf. It is great to keep
> them from really wabbling caused by old furniture or if the heights are
> just a little bit off.
So what's the advantage of this mix over regular wadds of clay? Does it not
stick to the stilts?
Joy in Tucson
Darrell Gargus on sun 22 nov 98
Hi Joy! No this nerdball does not stick to the stilts nor the shelf.
It just secures it while stacking and firing. It is really easy to
knock off the furniture and shelves. It is just one of those things
that you learn from your teacher and you just keep doing and not think
to use clay wads. I haven't used clay wads, so I really don't know what
how they do with the stilts and furniture. Do the clay wads just knock
off them too?
becky
Joy Holdread wrote:
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> In a message dated 11/15/98 5:35:17 PM US Mountain Standard Time,
> dsg12@home.com writes:
>
> >
> > Nerdball is 1/3 silica, 1/3 ball clay, and 1/3 kaolin. Add water until
> > it is wedgeable. Then you wedge the mixture to make sure it is mixed
> > thoroughly. It will be a little sticky, but not too sticky. We would
> > just pinch some off, roll between hands and make a ring. place on top
> > of furniture, then place shelf ontop. Press down on the shelf to kinda
> > smash the nerdball between the furniture and shelf. It is great to keep
> > them from really wabbling caused by old furniture or if the heights are
> > just a little bit off.
>
> So what's the advantage of this mix over regular wadds of clay? Does it not
> stick to the stilts?
> Joy in Tucson
Joy Holdread on thu 3 dec 98
In a message dated 11/22/98 5:34:44 PM US Mountain Standard Time,
dsg12@home.com writes:
> Hi Joy! No this nerdball does not stick to the stilts nor the shelf.
> It just secures it while stacking and firing. It is really easy to
> knock off the furniture and shelves. It is just one of those things
> that you learn from your teacher and you just keep doing and not think
> to use clay wads. I haven't used clay wads, so I really don't know what
> how they do with the stilts and furniture. Do the clay wads just knock
> off them too?
> becky
I wish. Nope those clay wads stick & need to be ground off. Thanks hugs &
kisses
Joy
>
> Joy Holdread wrote:
> >
> > ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> > In a message dated 11/15/98 5:35:17 PM US Mountain Standard Time,
> > dsg12@home.com writes:
> >
> > >
> > > Nerdball is 1/3 silica, 1/3 ball clay, and 1/3 kaolin. Add water
until
> > > it is wedgeable. Then you wedge the mixture to make sure it is mixed
> > > thoroughly. It will be a little sticky, but not too sticky. We would
> > > just pinch some off, roll between hands and make a ring. place on top
> > > of furniture, then place shelf ontop. Press down on the shelf to
kinda
> > > smash the nerdball between the furniture and shelf. It is great to
> keep
> > > them from really wabbling caused by old furniture or if the heights
are
> > > just a little bit off.
> >
> > So what's the advantage of this mix over regular wadds of clay? Does it
> not
> > stick to the stilts?
> > Joy in Tucson
>
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