martin howard on fri 18 feb 00
You may remember when I posted about using waste developer from Ricoh
photocopiers. It is magnetic. I have the formula which I posted earlier, and
the iron must be Fe3O4. It just drops to the bottom of the glaze bucket like
a stone. It is very difficult to hold it in suspension long enough to get it
onto the pot.
A firm called Ecoflow Ltd of 21 Brunel Road, Saltash Industrial Estate,
Cornwall, PL12 6LF, using the invention of Nigel Broderick re Central
Reverse Polarity Magnets, markets magnets for all kinds of conditions. I use
one on my left wrist which certainly enables me to throw more easily. I have
ordered one for my back as well. My left thumb became very weak due to too
much wedging of clay, before investing in the Venco de-airing pugmill.
One of the Ecoflow products is H2flow, a magnet (sort of) which one straps
onto the incoming water main. This causes the essential minerals to be held
in suspension. It does not soften the water, but does reduces limescale
Another is used for reducing fuel consumption in heating systems and car
engines.
The description following the heading "What is Magnetic Water conditioning?
reads;-
"Conditioning water through a strong, focused, magnetic field is a form of
magnetically induced ionisation known as Magnetohydrodynamcs. Without the
magnetic field chemical complexes contained within the water break down
leaving the minerals free to attract and bond to adjacent surfaces. When the
complexes are broken down in the magnetic field they take on a charge and
act as crystalline centres that allows them to remain in suspension instead
of forming crusts on surfaces."
Apparently some ceramic firm uses neodynmium and strontium, as well (as
other materials I assume which may include Fe3O4), to make these magnetic
blocks. There are two magnets, one inside the other, which have poles in
different positions.
My peculiar lateral thinking leads towards some form of H2flow blocks being
strapped around glaze buckets to keep all the constituents in suspension. If
at the same time that caused a waste product from our photocopiers to be
recycled, so much the better. Now should I rush off to the patents office?
or will someone else on ClayArt beat me to it? Personally I do not favour
patenting as all knowledge should be free, but the originator paid for the
work put in.
If H2flow holds the Calcium carbonates in suspension, that may prevent the
calcium coagulating in the glaze and causing some popping and rough textures
if the cone/temperature is not quite high enough or the soak long enough.
Seems as if there is much to test here and each potter will have different
reasons for testing this idea.
The web site for ecoflow is www.ecoflow.ltd.uk
I haven't checked it out yet, but feel free to share this posting with them
if you get in touch.
Martin Howard
Webb's Cottage Pottery
Woolpits Road
Great Saling
BRAINTREE
Essex CM7 5DZ
01371 850 423
martin@webbscottage.co.uk
www.webbscottage.co.uk Should be ready for 2000 :-) or 2001
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