Jocelyn Olivia Mc Auley on fri 4 feb 00
Hello,
I just participated in my first ever low-fire salt, with a few small
porcelin wheel thrown pieces. One piece had a copper slip brushed on,
another had copper wire wrapped around and taped on, and my third a bit of
both. A number of things were thrown in with the pieces as we loaded the
kiln (manure, copper scrub pads, various sea weeds, rock salt), and the
kiln was salted during the firing process. I'm really pleased with how my
pieces came out, and am amazed at the coloring that occurs. I would
really like it if someone could shed light on what causes the various
colors possible in a low fire salt situation. For example, I understand
copper giving off a turquoise blue, but what causes the rose colors?
Also, what are good ways to "clean up" these pots? What methods do people
use to wax or finish their fired pieces? Are there any other cool tidbits
to throw in with our pots in future firings? I can feel the beginnings of
addiction so my mind is racing at the possibilities!
Thanks,
Jocelyn
--
Jocelyn McAuley ><<'> jmcauley@darkwing.uoregon.edu
Cindy Strnad on sat 5 feb 00
Jocelyn,
To finish your pots, you can try Future floor wax, which gives a nice soft
satin sheen. Low-fire salt pots can become somewhat fuzzy over time, with
the salt precipitating on the surface as fine crystals. I don't know if the
wax will prevent this, but it is an interesting phenomenon, and one you
should know about if you intend to sell the ware.
Cindy Strnad
earthenv@gwtc.net
Earthen Vessels Pottery
RR 1, Box 51
Custer, SD 57730
Troy Judd on sat 5 feb 00
I'm not sure if I used exactly the same process you did. We wrapped damp
pieces of clay that had been heavily coated with dry powdered copper
carbonate, salt, iron, rutile and what have you around bisqe-fired stoneware
pieces and just fired in a couple of trash-cans with sawdust and wood
scraps. The pieces came out similar to your description. While most of the
participants were happy with the results, including the demonstrator, I just
didn't care for the very matte, muted effect. After letting my piece sit on
the shelf a couple of weeks, I said what the heck, put a clear gloss glaze
on it and high fired it (^10). Now it's one of my favorite pieces, on my
not-for-sale shelf. It has a character different from either my usual high
fired work or the other low fired salt stuff. Don't know whether I'll ever
repeat the process, but I really like this one piece. If any one is really
curious, write me off list and I'll e-mail you a photo of it. (Got my new
digital camera, but haven't set up my web site yet.
Troy Judd
KierCroft Pottery
Waxahachie TX.
tjudd@dhc.net
-----Original Message-----
From: Jocelyn Olivia Mc Auley
To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
Date: Friday, February 04, 2000 4:56 PM
Subject: Low-fire Salt Results
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Hello,
I just participated in my first ever low-fire salt, with a few small
porcelin wheel thrown pieces. One piece had a copper slip brushed on,
another had copper wire wrapped around and taped on, and my third a bit of
both. A number of things were thrown in with the pieces as we loaded the
kiln (manure, copper scrub pads, various sea weeds, rock salt), and the
kiln was salted during the firing process. I'm really pleased with how my
pieces came out, and am amazed at the coloring that occurs. I would
really like it if someone could shed light on what causes the various
colors possible in a low fire salt situation. For example, I understand
copper giving off a turquoise blue, but what causes the rose colors?
Also, what are good ways to "clean up" these pots? What methods do people
use to wax or finish their fired pieces? Are there any other cool tidbits
to throw in with our pots in future firings? I can feel the beginnings of
addiction so my mind is racing at the possibilities!
Thanks,
Jocelyn
--
Jocelyn McAuley ><<'> jmcauley@darkwing.uoregon.edu
Kent / Pat on sat 5 feb 00
Hi Jocelyn
Fun stuff, Huh?
Where I fire my low fire salt, we put in copious amounts of sawdust, which
leaves black areas where it settles on a piece. As for finishing, I use
"Mop & Glow" floor wax. It's acrylic and doesn't yellow a white clay body
when it dries. It also intensifies the colors tat were produced in the
firing.
Pat Porter
pporter@4dv.net
Aurora CO USA
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jocelyn Olivia Mc Auley"
To:
Sent: Friday, February 04, 2000 2:55 PM
Subject: Low-fire Salt Results
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>
> Hello,
> I just participated in my first ever low-fire salt, with a few small
> porcelin wheel thrown pieces. One piece had a copper slip brushed on,
> another had copper wire wrapped around and taped on, and my third a bit of
> both. A number of things were thrown in with the pieces as we loaded the
> kiln (manure, copper scrub pads, various sea weeds, rock salt), and the
> kiln was salted during the firing process. I'm really pleased with how my
> pieces came out, and am amazed at the coloring that occurs. I would
> really like it if someone could shed light on what causes the various
> colors possible in a low fire salt situation. For example, I understand
> copper giving off a turquoise blue, but what causes the rose colors?
> Also, what are good ways to "clean up" these pots? What methods do people
> use to wax or finish their fired pieces? Are there any other cool tidbits
> to throw in with our pots in future firings? I can feel the beginnings of
> addiction so my mind is racing at the possibilities!
>
> Thanks,
> Jocelyn
>
> --
>
> Jocelyn McAuley ><<'> jmcauley@darkwing.uoregon.edu
Mike Gordon on sun 6 feb 00
Troy,
I'd like to see the picts. I've been experimenting with sagger firing in
an electric kiln at 018 with sawdust, copper sulphate, baking soda ,
copper wire, steel wool, pine needles. But they look like raku so far.
I'm using soldate60, trying to duplicate the Ceramic Monthly Jan issue,
look. Mike
Russel Fouts on mon 7 feb 00
Mike,
>> I'd like to see the picts. I've been experimenting with sagger firing in
an electric kiln at 018 with sawdust, copper sulphate, baking soda ,
copper wire, steel wool, pine needles. But they look like raku so far. I'm
using soldate60, trying to duplicate the Ceramic Monthly Jan issue,
look. <<
Another rebel! What are you using for your saggar?
I think you need to go a bit higher to get more of the effect from the
metals and chemicals.
Cone 018 is only 717c. The only reference I have up here is Glenn Nelson's
and according to a table of melting points, there isn't much that will melt
below 018. Salt will melt at red heat but will it volitize? and at what
temperature?
I don't know much about the sulphates, at what kind of temperatures do they
normally volitize?
I don't think anything happens with the chemicals until you get above 800c.
Russel (hope you have a good vent)
Russel Fouts
Mes Potes & Mes Pots
Brussels, Belgium
Tel: +32 2 223 02 75
Mobile: +32 476 55 38 75
Http://www.mypots.com
http://www.Japan-Net.ne.jp/~iwcat
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