Thonas C. Curran on thu 27 may 99
Hi guys, My last posting on this subject was eaten up by the cyber
monster, so I'll do it again now that I have more time.
re: CM May '99 article on local reduction of copper reds in which the
authors (Robert and Beatrice Pearson) give source of ultrafine Silicon
carbide, spec. frits, etc. as General Color and Chemical, PO Box 7,
Minerva, Ohio 44657.
I telephoned General Color and had nice chat with someone -probably the
owner- who said they have had over 200 inquiries from potters and about
20-30 orders so far. I didn't ask about the $50 a pound plus S&H
silicon carbide, because he said he supplies a sample package ($50
postpaid) of the 4 frits mentioned in article (5 pounds each), a half
pound each of the 2 color mixes mentioned, plus some macaloid, as I
recall. (The silicon carbide is part of the 2 color mixes, for those
who don't have the article close at hand.) Now that may not be cheap,
but I would think that's pretty decent for a company which is not set
up to deal with retail customers as a rule. Their copper color mixes
are ground up to superfine quality, which Pearsons apparently find is
necessary for their good copper reds in elect. kiln. (Makes me think
about the tale of the Chinese potters who ground pigments for their
grandchildren's use, using the pigments which had been ground by THEIR
grandparents and parents. ) At any rate, I am going to send off my $50
- which should keep me in the special glaze ingredients for a long
time. I know from experience that the smaller grain silicon carbide is
best, and this is the first time I had heard of a source of the really
fine stuff. The frits mentioned were apparently made up for Pearsons
and are not run-of-the-mill frits. Thanks to the Pearsons for the
intriguing article and for sharing their information, sources and
findings with us all. Hope springs eternal for that illusive copper red
in the electric kiln, and I can hardly wait to play with the Pearson
recipes. (I might also add a tiny pinch of the color mixes to some of
my less successful reduction fired copper red experiments to see if it
will nudge them towards glorious color...or maybe I'll want to invest
the big bucks in a pound of the SiC if the sample package lives up the
color photos in CM! Carolyn alias CNC
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