Fay & Ralph Loewenthal on fri 11 sep 98
Carolyn, we use a teaspoonful, dissolved in a some hot
water, per kilogram (2.25 Lbs) dry weight of glaze. Hope
this helps Ralph in PE SA.
John Tilton on mon 10 jan 00
Epsom salts will not deflocculate any clay body --- it is a Flocculant
instead. I use a very small amount of it in my porcelain to counteract
the tendency of the feldspar to deflocculate the body --- 1/4% dry ---
so 1.4 lbs / 100 lbs dry. This phenomenon is also related to pH of the
clay.
Again, Silvie Granatelli will be demonstrating at my studio in North
Florida next weekend. Let me know if you are interested in attending.
John
--
John Tilton
16211 NW 88th Terrace
Alachua, Fl. 32615
904-462-3762
Web site: http://www.tiltonpottery.com
mailto:tilton@atlantic.net
Joyce Lee on mon 7 feb 00
I've never used epsom slats, always relying on bentonite to help keep my
glazes from forming rocks on bottom of the buckets. But I'm using a
commercial artificial salt glaze from Laguna.....trying to use it. I
have two pots (of maybe 20) I like so far. One is a small bowl with
fluted rim glazed in tenmoku with the salt glaze added to the rim. The
bowl is dropdead youknowwhat, but the salt ran down the sides taking the
tenmoku with it. It's still elegant since it only stuck to the imprinted
brown clay pad upon which it was centered and fired... looks
intentional. Returning to my query...... the glaze has sunk to the
bottom and hardened. I put in some epsom salts which had been dissolved
in about a cup of hot water and it seemed to help. Does anybody know a
recommended ratio of epsom salts to glaze? With bentonite, I just use
about 2%. Thank you.
Joyce
In the Mojave telling bud Geoff Walker from Australia that I need his
e-mail address since I lost it when my computer crashed .... I have
questions about the bowl and vase... AND want to send a thank you.
Lorraine Pierce on tue 8 feb 00
Hi Joyce, try this solution of epsom salts in the stubborn glazes; one part
epsom salts to three parts warm water. use two teaspoons concentrate to one
pint glaze for suspension. I found that this solution is too concentrated
for some glazes at the above amount of two teaspoons per one pint of water,
and instead use the solution by dropper , a few drops at a time, wait a bit,
then add more or not as needed.
I am TIRED this evening...giving my all to a couple of mature students. One
a very large deep breasted gal who couldn't contort herself to the local
craft center method of teaching the 'wheel', and went away happy tonight
after I raised my wheel three cement blocks high and and she finally
'centered', not one, but six balls!! And left me with a slice of homemade
cheesecake!!!
Lori in New Port Richey, Fl.
Joyce Lee wrote:
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> I've never used epsom slats, always relying on bentonite to help keep my
> glazes from forming rocks on bottom of the buckets. But I'm using a
> commercial artificial salt glaze from Laguna.....trying to use it. I
> have two pots (of maybe 20) I like so far. One is a small bowl with
> fluted rim glazed in tenmoku with the salt glaze added to the rim. The
> bowl is dropdead youknowwhat, but the salt ran down the sides taking the
> tenmoku with it. It's still elegant since it only stuck to the imprinted
> brown clay pad upon which it was centered and fired... looks
> intentional. Returning to my query...... the glaze has sunk to the
> bottom and hardened. I put in some epsom salts which had been dissolved
> in about a cup of hot water and it seemed to help. Does anybody know a
> recommended ratio of epsom salts to glaze? With bentonite, I just use
> about 2%. Thank you.
>
> Joyce
> In the Mojave telling bud Geoff Walker from Australia that I need his
> e-mail address since I lost it when my computer crashed .... I have
> questions about the bowl and vase... AND want to send a thank you.
Pamala Browne on tue 8 feb 00
Hello Joyce- we use 1/4 cup epsom salts ( dissolved in warm water ) to 20
lbs of glaze (20 lbs before the water is added ) Hope this helps .
pamalab
----- Original Message -----
From: Joyce Lee
To:
Sent: Monday, February 07, 2000 11:29 AM
Subject: Epsom Salts
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> I've never used epsom slats, always relying on bentonite to help keep my
> glazes from forming rocks on bottom of the buckets. But I'm using a
> commercial artificial salt glaze from Laguna.....trying to use it. I
> have two pots (of maybe 20) I like so far. One is a small bowl with
> fluted rim glazed in tenmoku with the salt glaze added to the rim. The
> bowl is dropdead youknowwhat, but the salt ran down the sides taking the
> tenmoku with it. It's still elegant since it only stuck to the imprinted
> brown clay pad upon which it was centered and fired... looks
> intentional. Returning to my query...... the glaze has sunk to the
> bottom and hardened. I put in some epsom salts which had been dissolved
> in about a cup of hot water and it seemed to help. Does anybody know a
> recommended ratio of epsom salts to glaze? With bentonite, I just use
> about 2%. Thank you.
>
> Joyce
> In the Mojave telling bud Geoff Walker from Australia that I need his
> e-mail address since I lost it when my computer crashed .... I have
> questions about the bowl and vase... AND want to send a thank you.
Brad Sondahl on tue 8 feb 00
Long ago I got this amount of Epsom Salts to use, now posted on my
pottery tips page:
To keep glazes from clumping: Epsom Salts solution: by volume 3 parts
hot water (helps dissolve) to one part Epsom Salts (available drug and
grocery stores cheaper than pottery suppliers.), Add 1 1/2 cups of Epsom
Salt solution to 4 gallon batch of glaze..
--
Brad Sondahl
New commercial pottery page http://sondahl.safeshopper.com
http://www.camasnet.com/~asondahl/bradindex.html
Sondahl homepage http://www.camasnet.com/~asondahl
Original literature, music, pottery, and art
Lili Krakowski on tue 8 feb 00
I have found that rock formation at the bottom of glaze buckets is solved
withleast hazzle by dumping or drying off all water, turning the "rock"
out into a flat pan like a dishpan or a (new) kitty-litter pan, chopping
the block up (I use a flatt piece of hard wood as chisel, a rubber mallet
as hammer) and heating the saved water, and adding it. If the glaze is
pretty dry add good hot water. It helps.
As to epsom salts. I am sure there is a way to do this scientifially, but
I just disolve the salts in hot water, both premeasured.
I add to glaze mix. I then let sit a few days, and repeat the process if
necessary. I jot down next to glaze recipe how much I used. It
seems to be a play it by ear situation as different glazes have different
needs. And note: I generally use calcium
chloride, which I buy by the bag anyway to de-ice the sidewalk. Again, I
use a solution, though calcium chloride--which eats the dickens out of
metal--absorbs water from the air and turns itself into a thick liquid.
Lili Krakowski
Carolynn Palmer on wed 9 feb 00
Awhile back I had the most awful glaze-settling problems when I tried to
switch the Gerstley Borate to Frit 3134 in one of my glazes. I added the
Epsom Salts per a Clayarters suggestion in the archives by first melting it
in hot water and then adding it to the glaze.
It caused the glaze to froth something awful - I couldn't get it to settle
down! And a pot dipped an fired in this froth was an unbelievable mess when
fired - huge craters and pinholes and more problems than the Gerstley Borate
ever caused me.
What is it about the Epsom Salts that caused this frothing?
Carolynn Palmer, Somerset Center, Michigan
Wade Blocker on thu 10 feb 00
----------
> From: Carolynn Palmer
> To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
> Subject: Re: Epsom Salts
> Date: Wednesday, February 09, 2000 12:24 PM
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Awhile back I had the most awful glaze-settling problems when I tried to
> switch the Gerstley Borate to Frit 3134 in one of my glazes. I added the
> Epsom Salts per a Clayarters suggestion in the archives by first melting
it
> in hot water and then adding it to the glaze.
>
> It caused the glaze to froth something awful - I couldn't get it to
settle
> down! And a pot dipped an fired in this froth was an unbelievable mess
when
> fired - huge craters and pinholes and more problems than the Gerstley
Borate
> ever caused me.
>
> What is it about the Epsom Salts that caused this frothing?
>
> Carolynn Palmer, Somerset Center, Michigan
Carolynn, Try using macaloid- 1% mixed into the glaze before you add
water, or even bentonite rather than epsom salts. Mia in springlike ABQ
Laura Freedman on fri 11 feb 00
Thank you for your message. I thought I was going crazy. After putting in
the epsom salts I too had the same frothy experience and awful firings.
Spoke to loads of people and no one could tell me what I had done wrong. It
was a black glaze. After a year I finally threw it out. No one attributed
it to the epsom salts.
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>
>
>----------
>> From: Carolynn Palmer
>> To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
>> Subject: Re: Epsom Salts
>> Date: Wednesday, February 09, 2000 12:24 PM
>>
>> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>> Awhile back I had the most awful glaze-settling problems when I tried to
>> switch the Gerstley Borate to Frit 3134 in one of my glazes. I added the
>> Epsom Salts per a Clayarters suggestion in the archives by first melting
>it
>> in hot water and then adding it to the glaze.
>>
>> It caused the glaze to froth something awful - I couldn't get it to
>settle
>> down! And a pot dipped an fired in this froth was an unbelievable mess
>when
>> fired - huge craters and pinholes and more problems than the Gerstley
>Borate
>> ever caused me.
>>
>> What is it about the Epsom Salts that caused this frothing?
>>
>> Carolynn Palmer, Somerset Center, Michigan
>
>
>Carolynn, Try using macaloid- 1% mixed into the glaze before you add
>water, or even bentonite rather than epsom salts. Mia in springlike ABQ
>
>
Edouard Bastarache on sun 13 feb 00
------------------
Hello,
if you think Epsom salt is the problem you can get rid of it
by washing your glaze as you do for washing wood ash=3B
i.e. you are getting rid of soluble materials in both situations.
Later,
Edouard Bastarache
Dans / In =22La Belle Province=22
edouardb=40sorel-tracy.qc.ca
http://www.sorel-tracy.qc.ca/=7Eedouardb/
-----Message d'origine-----
De : Laura Freedman =3Clauras=40ezonline.com=3E
=C0 : CLAYART=40LSV.UKY.EDU =3CCLAYART=40LSV.UKY.EDU=3E
Date : 11 f=E9vrier, 2000 13:59
Objet : Re: Epsom Salts
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Thank you for your message. I thought I was going crazy. After putting in
the epsom salts I too had the same frothy experience and awful firings.
Spoke to loads of people and no one could tell me what I had done wrong. It
was a black glaze. After a year I finally threw it out. No one attributed
it to the epsom salts.
=3E----------------------------Original message----------------------------
=3E
=3E
=3E----------
=3E=3E From: Carolynn Palmer =3COWLPOTTER=40aol.com=3E
=3E=3E To: CLAYART=40LSV.UKY.EDU
=3E=3E Subject: Re: Epsom Salts
=3E=3E Date: Wednesday, February 09, 2000 12:24 PM
=3E=3E
=3E=3E ----------------------------Original =
message----------------------------
=3E=3E Awhile back I had the most awful glaze-settling problems when I tried=
to
=3E=3E switch the Gerstley Borate to Frit 3134 in one of my glazes. I added=
the
=3E=3E Epsom Salts per a Clayarters suggestion in the archives by first =
melting
=3Eit
=3E=3E in hot water and then adding it to the glaze.
=3E=3E
=3E=3E It caused the glaze to froth something awful - I couldn't get it to
=3Esettle
=3E=3E down=21 And a pot dipped an fired in this froth was an unbelievable =
mess
=3Ewhen
=3E=3E fired - huge craters and pinholes and more problems than the Gerstley
=3EBorate
=3E=3E ever caused me.
=3E=3E
=3E=3E What is it about the Epsom Salts that caused this frothing?
=3E=3E
=3E=3E Carolynn Palmer, Somerset Center, Michigan
=3E
=3E
=3ECarolynn, Try using macaloid- 1=25 mixed into the glaze before you add
=3Ewater, or even bentonite rather than epsom salts. Mia in springlike ABQ
=3E
=3E
iandol on mon 14 feb 00
------------------
I am having a problem understanding why Epsom Salts would cause frothing =
when
added to Carolynn Palmer=92s glaze. Epsom Salts are Magnesium Sulphate. =
Frothing
means two things to me, either alcoholic or organic fermentation or a =
reaction
between two chemicals, usually an strong acid and a base which contains a
carbonate or similar weak acid radical. Changing from Gerstly B to a frit =
would
not introduce either of these. Perhaps the stuff which is labelled =22Epsom =
Salt=22
is incorrectly labelled, but even then I could not explain why there should =
be
effevesencence, unless some sort of acid has been added to the glaze. Try =
the
stuff with some strong vinegar. If it starts to froth, Carolynn may have got
Sodium Carbonate (soda ash) or Bi-carbonate by mistake.
Ivor Lewis
Ron Roy on mon 14 feb 00
I have never seen this happen - The only reason I can imagine this happened
is - it was not Epsom salts.
Frit 3134 is not a direct substitute for GB - absolutely not. The best way
to do this kind of change is with the molecular approach - in fact the only
way if you want to duplicate the glaze.
There are three stages to making changes to a glaze to stop settling
problems. Change the clay to a more plastic kind, increase the clay at the
expense of other alumina supplying materials - like feldspar, add
bentonite. Adding solubles to glazes should only be used as a last resort.
If the aim is to duplicate the glaze then all the above should be done
using the molecular formula or % oxide approach.
RR
>----------
>> From: Carolynn Palmer
>> To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
>> Subject: Re: Epsom Salts
>> Date: Wednesday, February 09, 2000 12:24 PM
>>
>> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>> Awhile back I had the most awful glaze-settling problems when I tried to
>> switch the Gerstley Borate to Frit 3134 in one of my glazes. I added the
>> Epsom Salts per a Clayarters suggestion in the archives by first melting
>it
>> in hot water and then adding it to the glaze.
>>
>> It caused the glaze to froth something awful - I couldn't get it to
>settle
>> down! And a pot dipped an fired in this froth was an unbelievable mess
>when
>> fired - huge craters and pinholes and more problems than the Gerstley
>Borate
>> ever caused me.
>>
>> What is it about the Epsom Salts that caused this frothing?
>>
>> Carolynn Palmer, Somerset Center, Michigan
>
>
>Carolynn, Try using macaloid- 1% mixed into the glaze before you add
>water, or even bentonite rather than epsom salts. Mia in springlike ABQ
Ron Roy
93 Pegasus Trail
Scarborough
Ontario, Canada
M1G 3N8
Evenings 416-439-2621
Fax 416-438-7849
John Rodgers on sun 13 feb 05
More and more we are called to understand the chemistry and physics of
glazes and clays. It seems inevitable. Part and parcel is the move away
from recipes to chemical equations driven by heat energy.
Given all this that is happening, I think it behooves us to learn what
our chemicals are by name.
Epsom Salts = Magnesium Sulfate (MgSO4)
Mg = Magnesium
SO4 = Sulfate Radical
where S is sulfur and O4 is two oxygen molecules
Regards,
John Rodgers
Cheslea, AL
ilene richardson wrote:
>People keep referring to epsom salts...."you need to add some epson salts"......"just mix in epsom salts"... "add epsom salts".... and so on.
>
>
>How do you know what amount to add?
>How do you mix the epsom salts, with water and then the glaze or just dump them in?
>What consistency are we looking for?
>
>
>I'm in the dark,
>Ilene
>
>______________________________________________________________________________
>Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
>You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
>settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
>Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at melpots@pclink.com.
>
>
>
>
ilene richardson on sun 13 feb 05
People keep referring to epsom salts...."you need to add some epson =
salts"......"just mix in epsom salts"... "add epsom salts".... and so =
on.
How do you know what amount to add?
How do you mix the epsom salts, with water and then the glaze or just =
dump them in?
What consistency are we looking for?
I'm in the dark,
Ilene
Edouard Bastarache Inc. on mon 14 feb 05
Hello,
if my memory serves me well, Epsom salt is Magnesium Sulfate
Heptahydrate, its hydrated form is probably responsible for its
suspending power.
I checked Tucker's website recently and he sells it at the same
price as my pharmacist.
Later,
"Ils sont fous ces quebecois"
"They are insane these quebekers"
"Están locos estos quebequeses"
Edouard Bastarache
Irreductible Quebecois
Indomitable Quebeker
Sorel-Tracy
Quebec
edouardb@sorel-tracy.qc.ca
www.sorel-tracy.qc.ca/~edouardb/Welcome.html
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/smart2000/index.htm
http://www.digitalfire.com/education/toxicity/
David Beumee on mon 14 feb 05
Ilene wrote:
" How do you know what amount to add?
> How do you mix the epsom salts, with water and then the glaze or just dump them
> in?
> What consistency are we looking for?"
I have found that epsom salts in solution is easiest to use to float a glaze. Begin with a quart of warm water and add a small scoop of epsom salts. You can use a studio blender or just mix it in a small plastic bucket with your hand until the salts are completely in solution. Now add another small scoop and repeat the process until you get a super saturated solution ; you'll know you're there when epsom salts crystals will no longer go into solution. I keep the solution in a small covered plastic bucket, and when a 10,000 gram batch of dry glaze has been added to 8 or 9000 ml water and mixed, I add about a tablespoon of the epsom salts solution to the 5 gallon bucket.
You'll begin to understand about how much you need as you gain experience using this solution. Works great to keep your glazes in suspension.
David Beumee
davidbeumee.com
Lafayette, CO
-------------- Original message ----------------------
From: ilene richardson
> People keep referring to epsom salts...."you need to add some epson
> salts"......"just mix in epsom salts"... "add epsom salts".... and so on.
>
>
> How do you know what amount to add?
> How do you mix the epsom salts, with water and then the glaze or just dump them
> in?
> What consistency are we looking for?
>
>
> I'm in the dark,
> Ilene
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at melpots@pclink.com.
Marvin Klotz on mon 14 feb 05
While it certainly won't hurt us to know that Epsom salts is Magnesium
Sulfate, in this case it's probably less costly to go buy some Epsom salts
from your local pharmacy than MgSO4 from your chemical supplier. Irene
wanted to know how much to add to a bucket of glaze and another Clayarter
replied - about a tablespoonful of a super saturated solution - hard to
present this as a chemical equation. Also O4 is four oxygen molecules not two.
Regards,
Joan Klotz
At 06:11 PM 2/13/2005, you wrote:
>More and more we are called to understand the chemistry and physics of
>glazes and clays. It seems inevitable. Part and parcel is the move away
>from recipes to chemical equations driven by heat energy.
>
>Given all this that is happening, I think it behooves us to learn what
>our chemicals are by name.
>
>Epsom Salts = Magnesium Sulfate (MgSO4)
>
>Mg = Magnesium
>SO4 = Sulfate Radical
>where S is sulfur and O4 is two oxygen molecules
| |
|
