Marek & Pauline Drzazga-Donaldson on thu 10 aug 00
Dear Gail,
I make my slabs by cutting off the block using a wire harp and guage =
sticks. I place the clay block onto a sheet of newspaper and slice, =
"striking across" with the edge of another gauge stick, then placing the =
rest of the clay block onto more paper etc. I place each sucessive slab =
of clay on top of each other with a sheet in between. I have stacked up =
to 20 slabs high, but normally 6 - 10 high. When they stiffen up I then =
do what I have to do with them. If you are going to carve/model them =
then I use them earlier than if I am going to make a slab structure. I =
always place my finished piece onto fresh paper, and if I have added =
fresh clay onto the slab I would wrap it up in damp newspaper and leave =
for 4 - 7 days for the moisture to even out.
If I am making something complex or there are bound to be many stresses =
and strains because for any other reason I keep the piece wrapped up =
throughout my drying cycle ( I force dry my pieces using turbulators =
(air fans - I use old mushroom farm air-pushers) and finally use a gas =
heater), making sure the paper does not fly around my drying room.
I have made extremely large ridge tiles (50 lbs each - 20Kgs) with added =
crests on top, left to stiffen for only two days and placed in my drier =
(wrapped up in newspaper) for a 5 day cycle and have come out perfect, =
and have fired all intact to boot.
Happy potting Marek http://www.moley.uk.com
| |
|
