Andie on mon 15 may 00
I originally sent this to the old address - oops!
: ) Andie
-----Original Message-----
From: Andie
To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
Date: Friday, May 12, 2000 8:35 PM
Subject: Throwing Minis - Some of the responses...
Okay, finally got it together to post these. Here's a cut-and-paste list =
of most the suggestions I got. I am still getting responses, and will =
post any new, innovative ideas to the list. I tried most of these, and =
opened a glaze kiln this morning with some real winners - thanks =
everybody!! : ) I'm still getting the hang of the trimming, and also =
still have one big problem - when I thrown a tiny pitcher (about 2/3 of =
an inch) with a small opening, I have trouble getting the inside glazed =
- dipping, brushing (which is what I prefer), no matter. Just doesn't =
want to be glazed inside OR wants to fill with glaze so there's no hole.
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I put this together by topic for those of you (like me) who keep Clayart =
messages to refer back to again and again, and used quotes to indicate =
each response under each topic. There were many, many similar responses, =
so for those I just picked the most descriptive one to list.
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: ) Andie
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1 - Throwing Minis - Can be thrown off the hump or from individual lumps =
of clay - also, heard some people say they each get their own bat, so as =
to eliminate trimming:
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"I take a small amount of well-wedged clay, center it on a bat (I =
prefer to trim the pieces this way, so throw on
bats and trim without underwiring). After centering, I open with one =
finger, and pull up the walls with one finger on the inside and my =
forefinger on the outside."
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"Forgot one, sometimes important matter.
Find or make a clay that shrinks at least 15-25%"
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2- Tools (also, several people mentioned q-tips with one end cut off as =
a throwing stick for minis):
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"I have made a small metal rib from thick copper sheet (available =
from Pearl
Paint in the doll house section, which can be cut with shears for =
cutting
tin, and then sanded to smooth the cut edges. I use a shammy wrapped =
around
one finger, instead of a sponge, wherever you would normally use a =
sponge.
For mopping up water, I use a paint brush. Another useful tool for this,
which also has other uses, is a eye make-up sponge on a stick."
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3 - Trimming Minis:
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"For trimming, I also use sculpting tools. Pearl has a set of small
mini ribbon tools that are great for trimming. I use a thick sewing =
thread,
that is for heavy duty sewing, as a cut off wire."=20
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"Everyone that I have talked to has had the same problem with trimming =
baby pots. My solution is to throw off the hump and turkey lacers. =
Sounds odd, but it works for me. I tie a short piece of the lace to the =
needle. (It doesn't have to be turkey lacers, I've used sewing thread =
and kite string with good results.The larger the string, the coarser the =
cut will be.The lacing works best for me) Trim as much as you can on the =
hump then make a groove (I've found that using the side of the needle =
works better than the point) Turn the wheel slowly and wrap the short =
string around the pot in the groove. As the wheel turns, hold the needle =
even and steady. Don't pull on it, let the wheel do the work.With very =
little practice, the bottoms cut very straight and smooth. The two major =
hurdles that I had to overcome in cutting the pots this way were the =
string being too long, (it needs to be slightly longer than the =
circumference of the pot) and holding the string steady and level with =
the groove. I still have the urge to pull the string and cut the pot off =
like I would with a wire. Then I thumb the bottoms if they need it."
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"I use 600 grit sandpaper to smooth and
level the bottom......but when I do trim I just make a little cylinder =
on
the wheel and put the pot (bottle) down onto the cylinder. Most of the =
time
I just use tool that is sharp like a pencil and use it on the wheel =
before I
take the pot off.....this way I don't have much "trimming" to =
do......then I
usually just sand it so its level."
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"I use a cylinder made of clay or gypsum with a small hole in the =
center. I put the miniature
upside-down and starting to carve out the foot-ring with a metal-piece.
-To make the f-ring usually take 5 times the time to make a small =
vase......
The purpose of the foot-ring is to make the small vase be a little bit =
OVER the table, not on,
if you know what I mean
And it=B4s an excellent place to put you signum inside."
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"Re: trimming.. if they are large enough to trim , I do, if not , I =
smooth little bottoms with a sponge, or even better , my fingers.. =
trying not to wet them even further.. with porcelain, they can get =
awfully mushy.. "
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4 - Glazing:
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"For glazing, I use tweezers to hold the pots for dipping."
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"Other than occasionally making glaze tongs out of paper clips or =
whatever else is handy, I glaze just like I do the larger work."
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"Re: glazing.. it's a cinch.. I do wax the bottoms.. "
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EMAIL: andie@princessco.com
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OFFICIAL HOMEPAGE: www.andie.net
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EBAY AUCTIONS AT: www.ebay.com - search username andiekc
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