Bonnie Staffel on sun 11 jul 99
Dear Mike,
Read with interest your post on the downside of using CMC in your
glazes. I have been using CMC since 1965 mixing a laundry tub full of
glaze (roughly 60 lb. of dry material total) which lasts me from 6 - 8
months or more. I have never had any smell or mold or spoilage of my
glazes. Perhaps you are using a ball clay which may be the source of
the organic material, especially if you are raw glazing. I also use
very hot water to which I add my dry ingredients. I mix the CMC with one
of the dry materials to disperse it before putting that combination into
the hot water. The hot water melts it down and it easily passes through
the 80 mesh sieve. I only use 1/4 percent of CMC to the total amount of
dry materials. This deflocculates the glaze nicely so that I do not
have to stir but once during my glazing day. I do a Majolica style
decoration on my stoneware white glaze and the CMC gives me a
practically dustless surface on which to paint. I have used this same
glaze for many years so have not had experience with the CMC with any
other formula as this one serves my purpose for my ovenware. I just
don't like to see CMC criticized as not a good deflocculant. Now when
it comes to my handwashing water, that is another story, phew!!!! I add
a little Clorox to it until I can dispose of it.
Cheers,
Bonnie Staffel where it is a gorgeous day in Charlevoix, Michigan
finally.
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