Autumn Downey on wed 1 nov 00
Hi everyone,
More flocculated and deflocculated thoughts - yes it eventually affects
ones brain.
I'm in Saskatchewan again - where the water is hard and things work
differently than in Yellowknife. I was having difficulty in keeping
handles attached to pots - even with vinegar - or maybe because of vinegar.
I've been tossing a tsp of powder from a tub which only describes itself as
water softener into my dirty glazing water bucket to get it to settle and
it has done so extremely well. Thus I decided to try a solution of this as
my handle joiner and it worked 100% better.
This tub is old, old, old and almost empty, and unfortunately when I tried
to track the manufacturer down, they were no longer in business. BUT
another chemical manufacturer in REgina, (Chemtec) said they use sodium
hexametaphosphate in making detergents, so there are manufacturers out
there of the original stuff. I didn't ask who or where, not wanting a 100
lb bag and Chemtec would sell me all I'd need for ages at $6/lb.
Perhaps pottery suppliers would be interested in acquiring larger amounts
and re-bagging the stuff. I could inquire further if anyone is interested
or you could check locally wherever you are - but it appears that makers of
cleaning agents are the people in the know. Likely, if you live in an
alkaki flats area of the globe, you'll have better luck at finding such a
company.
Anyway, enough for tonight. My thoughts are clumping, no they're repelling...
Autumn Downey
Cindy Strnad on wed 1 nov 00
Hi, Autumn.
If you want consistency in your glazes from one location to the next, you
might want to look into using distilled or at least reverse osmosis filtered
water. It's a pain, but really not all that expensive and perhaps an easier
and more immediate solution for you than looking for a Calgon substitute.
Cindy Strnad
Earthen Vessels Pottery
RR 1, Box 51
Custer, SD 57730
USA
earthenv@gwtc.net
http://www.earthenvesselssd.com
Autumn Downey on thu 2 nov 00
Hi Cindy,
I wasn't clear enough. I was using the sodium hexametaphosphate not in
glazes but in the bucket of water used for washing glazing tools. The
"water softener" really settles out the particles. I decant the water and
then dry out the solids and fire that in a bisque (a clayart idea).
In the process I found that a solution of this water softener was good for
attaching handles - seemed more effective than the magic water. (Does
anyone know of a reason that this is a bad idea? Hope not.)
I recall some people found sodium hexametaphosphate good for making terra
sigillatas, so was just letting them know that the chemical is still out
there even if Calgon itself has changed.
You have a good point about water - and this time I did use filtered water
for some glazes. (Some actually like the local water); am gradually
figuring out who does and who doesn't.
Autumn D.
Steve Mills on thu 2 nov 00
Hi Autumn,
On this side of the pond this is a regular stock item for us, as it is
widely used by the terra sig. enthusiasts, Calgon not being phosphate
based any more.
I would think any supplier with a reasonable number of terra sig. makers
on their list would, or should, keep it.
Steve
BPS
Bath
UK
In message , Autumn Downey writes
>Hi everyone,
>
>More flocculated and deflocculated thoughts - yes it eventually affects
>ones brain.
>
--
Steve Mills
Bath
UK
Ron Roy on thu 2 nov 00
Lots of TSP in paint and home improvment stores - used for cleaning
surfaces to be painted.
RR
>More flocculated and deflocculated thoughts - yes it eventually affects
>ones brain.
>
>I'm in Saskatchewan again - where the water is hard and things work
>differently than in Yellowknife. I was having difficulty in keeping
>handles attached to pots - even with vinegar - or maybe because of vinegar.
>
>I've been tossing a tsp of powder from a tub which only describes itself as
>water softener into my dirty glazing water bucket to get it to settle and
>it has done so extremely well. Thus I decided to try a solution of this as
>my handle joiner and it worked 100% better.
>
>This tub is old, old, old and almost empty, and unfortunately when I tried
>to track the manufacturer down, they were no longer in business. BUT
>another chemical manufacturer in REgina, (Chemtec) said they use sodium
>hexametaphosphate in making detergents, so there are manufacturers out
>there of the original stuff. I didn't ask who or where, not wanting a 100
>lb bag and Chemtec would sell me all I'd need for ages at $6/lb.
>
>Perhaps pottery suppliers would be interested in acquiring larger amounts
>and re-bagging the stuff. I could inquire further if anyone is interested
>or you could check locally wherever you are - but it appears that makers of
>cleaning agents are the people in the know. Likely, if you live in an
>alkaki flats area of the globe, you'll have better luck at finding such a
>company.
>
>Anyway, enough for tonight. My thoughts are clumping, no they're repelling...
>
>Autumn Downey
>
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Ron Roy
93 Pegasus Trail
Scarborough
Ontario, Canada
M1G 3N8
Evenings 416-439-2621
Fax 416-438-7849
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