Jonathan Kaplan on wed 29 sep 99
I've seen this subject over and over many times on the list, so I'll be
short and to thepoint so as not to reiterate or rehash this old stuff.
My feelings about this are very strong.
Once you decide to purchase premade clay, you increase the risk multifold
of product that runs from poor to mediocre, and maybe even to ok. Thats the
risk you take. You can bitch and moan forever and maybe someone will
listen, but basically, they don't. We all know too well a certain clay
company, a very big one in fact, that whenever you call the technical line,
every time they will make the problem your problem, always., They turn it
around very cleverly. And yes, it is infuriating. But thats not the point.
The point is that you assume this risk, and you can either fumble around
and loose your wares and have a high second rate or take some
responsibility and stop whining.
If you want to have a clay body that performs to your expectations, mix
your own. This is an option and yes it costs to buy a mixer and a pug mill
and sure you then have to learn about the technical end of clays, but then
you will have information and a consitant product, baring any real change
in materials from the mine. Keep your clay bodies simple and use
ingredients that are tried and true in our industry. If you can't afford
the equipment, take a loan and bite the bullet. Take control of YOUR
situation. Don't set yourself up for disappointment or orders that you
can't fill because someone didn't mix your clay correctly or substituted an
inferior material.
If you must buy premade clay, buy your clay from Standard, Tuckers, Mile
Hi, High Water, Axner, or Aadrdvark. In my humble opinion, these companies
are proactive.
I really have a hard time fathoming the whining when you can solve the
problems yourselves by taking control, assuming some risk, and stop the
poverty mentality that many potters have.
I appologize for being so blunt, but there is an obvious solution. For more
details on some basic clay technology and clay bodies, check out my piece
"The Whining Stops Here" on Tony Hansen's website http://digitalfire.com or
http://www.ceramicsoftware.com
Jonathan
Jonathan Kaplan, president
Ceramic Design Group LTd/Production Services
PO Box 775112
Steamboat Springs, CO 80477
(970) 879-9139 voice and fax
http://www.sni.net/ceramicdesign
UPS: 1280 13th St. Unit13
Steamboat Springs, CO 80487
gambaru on thu 30 sep 99
Jonathan, in reply to your first message on this subject. There is one clay
supply company which I think should be on your suggested list: Plainsman
Clay Co., in Alberta. Their Website is very well worth the visit by anyone
interested in this discussion.
I have been recently testing small batches to acquire the clay body that I
want. It is a time consuming process but very well worth the effort. When
I come up with the recipe that works for me I will probably choose to have
it mixed by a reputable clay provider. My space and some other
considerations makes this the best compromise for me. By choosing a good
clay supplier to mix my custom clay body I am hoping to avoid some of the
problems that I envision re: ingredient changes that I cannot test for
before ordering large amounts of the clay components in a recipe. I will
assume that they would only use in my clay run what they would use in their
own bodies and advise me of any problems with supplies in advance. Marjorie
B.
----- Original Message -----
From: Jonathan Kaplan
To:
Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 1999 10:33 AM
Subject: The ultimate clay body, clay producers, etc. etc.
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> I've seen this subject over and over many times on the list, so I'll be
> short and to thepoint so as not to reiterate or rehash this old stuff.
>
> My feelings about this are very strong.
>
> Once you decide to purchase premade clay, you increase the risk multifold
> of product that runs from poor to mediocre, and maybe even to ok. Thats
the
> risk you take. You can bitch and moan forever and maybe someone will
> listen, but basically, they don't. We all know too well a certain clay
> company, a very big one in fact, that whenever you call the technical
line,
> every time they will make the problem your problem, always., They turn it
> around very cleverly. And yes, it is infuriating. But thats not the point.
> The point is that you assume this risk, and you can either fumble around
> and loose your wares and have a high second rate or take some
> responsibility and stop whining.
>
> If you want to have a clay body that performs to your expectations, mix
> your own. This is an option and yes it costs to buy a mixer and a pug mill
> and sure you then have to learn about the technical end of clays, but then
> you will have information and a consitant product, baring any real change
> in materials from the mine. Keep your clay bodies simple and use
> ingredients that are tried and true in our industry. If you can't afford
> the equipment, take a loan and bite the bullet. Take control of YOUR
> situation. Don't set yourself up for disappointment or orders that you
> can't fill because someone didn't mix your clay correctly or substituted
an
> inferior material.
>
> If you must buy premade clay, buy your clay from Standard, Tuckers, Mile
> Hi, High Water, Axner, or Aadrdvark. In my humble opinion, these companies
> are proactive.
>
> I really have a hard time fathoming the whining when you can solve the
> problems yourselves by taking control, assuming some risk, and stop the
> poverty mentality that many potters have.
>
> I appologize for being so blunt, but there is an obvious solution. For
more
> details on some basic clay technology and clay bodies, check out my piece
> "The Whining Stops Here" on Tony Hansen's website http://digitalfire.com
or
> http://www.ceramicsoftware.com
>
> Jonathan
>
>
>
> Jonathan Kaplan, president
> Ceramic Design Group LTd/Production Services
> PO Box 775112
> Steamboat Springs, CO 80477
> (970) 879-9139 voice and fax
> http://www.sni.net/ceramicdesign
>
> UPS: 1280 13th St. Unit13
> Steamboat Springs, CO 80487
>
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