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low temperature salt at cone 1?

updated sun 14 mar 99

 

Rafael Molina on fri 12 mar 99

Clayarters:

I recently completed construction of a small ( 9 cu ft ) sprung arch down =
=3D
draft
kiln. My idea for the kiln is for low fire salt in the cone 016 range. I =
=3D
have
a broad experience with low fire sagger and wanted to use a small kiln =3D
chamber
as the =3D22sagger=3D22 for a group of work instead of pieces in individual =
clay
containers.

In addition to this technique I've recently heard about a low temperature
salt/soda at the cone 1 temperature range. I'm very interested in learning =
=3D
more
about this process. Apparently, it's the same technique as high temperature
salt/soda for stoneware and porcelain, but it's at the lower temperature for
eathenware/terra cotta.

One source of information about low salt was the recent article in CM abot
Stephen Robison and Kathleen Guss. There are a couple of images described =
=3D
as
being salt fired to cone 1. Perhaps, Vince can shed some light on the =3D
materials
and processes.

TIA.

Rafael

Louis Katz on sat 13 mar 99

Hi Rafael,
I saw a slide show by someone in BC who was salting at or around cone one. He
mentioned small amounts of Borax and the Borax handbook states that small
percentages of Borax added to salt will lower the temperature that it can be
used at. I am not sure I would want to breath this though.

I would probably dissolve the salt and spray it in as the vapor pressure of salt
will be lower . I think salt will just sit on the kiln floor like soda does at
cone ten. Mention was made of this technique being used in the sewer tile
industry. If I could find my borax handbook I would open it up but it is playing
hard to find.

Louis

Rafael Molina wrote:

> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Clayarters:
>
> I recently completed construction of a small ( 9 cu ft ) sprung arch down =
> draft
> kiln. My idea for the kiln is for low fire salt in the cone 016 range. I =
> have
> a broad experience with low fire sagger and wanted to use a small kiln =
> chamber
> as the =22sagger=22 for a group of work instead of pieces in individual clay
> containers.
>
> In addition to this technique I've recently heard about a low temperature
> salt/soda at the cone 1 temperature range. I'm very interested in learning =
> more
> about this process. Apparently, it's the same technique as high temperature
> salt/soda for stoneware and porcelain, but it's at the lower temperature for
> eathenware/terra cotta.
>
> One source of information about low salt was the recent article in CM abot
> Stephen Robison and Kathleen Guss. There are a couple of images described =
> as
> being salt fired to cone 1. Perhaps, Vince can shed some light on the =
> materials
> and processes.
>
> TIA.
>
> Rafael

--
Louis Katz
lkatz@falcon.tamucc.edu
NCECA Director At Large
Texas A&M-CC Division of Visual and Performing Arts Webmaster (512) 994-5987
Visit the NCECA World Ceramics Image Database

June Perry on sat 13 mar 99

Dear Rafael:

Paul Soldner's low salt is in that range. I have a recipe for that claybody
somewhere! Here's one I have in my body recipes in my word processor. I'm not
sure it's the same body as Soldner's. It probably is.

I haven't done low salt in a while. I have a few pictures of my low salt on
the Minnesota Mining gallery page. I used a copper and copper and iron slip
and some brushwork. Sometimes I put saline soaked vermiculite on the pieces.
Also, I put little containers of copper near the pots. Use shiny magazine
paper wherever you want to repel the effects. Just play with it and check out
the Clayart archives for more information. There was a low salt thread a while
back.
All my notes are buried away (we're still unpacking and remodeling and
organizing, which is why I have so much time to spend on Clayart!).

LOW SALT CLAY BODY CONE 1

TALC 10
KENTUCKY OM#4 BALL CLAY 31
EDGAR PLASTIC KAOLIN 10
FIRECLAY 41
SAND (USED SILICA SAND) 8

Warm regards,
June