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clay recommendation for cone 6 and raku?

updated sat 20 jan 01

 

Phyliss Ward on tue 16 jan 01


I am looking for a whitish clay that I can use for both Cone 6 oxidation

and raku and I thought maybe someone who does the same could recommend
one for me. I do about equal amounts of both processes and sometimes I
even do the same forms for both. It would be nice to deal with only one

clay. I live in Central California and usually get my clay from
Aardvark. I was using their arctic white for cone 6 and raku white for
raku (duh!). These both worked quite well. At their suggestion I tried

their texas white (arctic with more texture) for both but I got too
much cracking during raku and it wasn't as smooth as I like for
throwing. I'm open to any suggestions from Laguna, Aardvark, or
anybody else that wouldn't be too far for shipping. Laguna has quite
a few candidates but of course their representative couldn't really tell

me anything but "test" ; - (

Thanks for your help!

--
Phyliss
mailto:pward@datacourse.com

Logan Oplinger on wed 17 jan 01


Phyliss,

I have used Laguna's "Big White", a cone 10 clay, for both cone 6 and raku with good success. It is a white burning medium coarse clay with a good amount of medium sand added. At cone 6 the porosity is higher than that of other clays formulated for cone 6.

Go to Laguna's web page
http://www.lagunaclay.com/

and look at the description for their cone 5 clays:
WC-877 / DOVER WHITE
WC-878 / DOVER-60 w/ SAND
These may work. Request for some samples. They have sample kits. The LC-104 / CONE 5 SAMPLE KIT is light burning cone 5 clays and has WC-877 in it.

(I also note they have "Big White" in their
LC-108 / RAKU SAMPLE KIT).

I do not have any experience w/ Aardvark Clay, but, go to their web site

http://www.minerals.com/aardvark/

and look at the descriptions for their cone 5 clays:

TEXAS WHITE may work as a raku clay, and it is also a medium coarse clay.

You don't say if you need a smooth clay body for your cone 5 work. In general the coarser, more open clays have better thermal shock resistance and work better in raku.

A cone 5 clay may work at cone 6, but of course, TEST! TEST! TEST! for warpage, porosity, glaze fit, etc. Also, a smooth body clay may work for your raku, but TEST!!

Good luck.

Logan Oplinger

---- you wrote:
> I am looking for a whitish clay that I can use for both Cone 6 oxidation
>
> and raku ...
I'm open to any suggestions from Laguna, Aardvark, or
> anybody else that wouldn't be too far for shipping. Laguna has quite
> a few candidates but of course their representative couldn't really tell...

> Phyliss


------------------------------------------------------
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Phyliss Ward on fri 19 jan 01


Thanks Logan!

Logan Oplinger wrote:

> Phyliss,
>
> I have used Laguna's "Big White", a cone 10 clay, for both cone 6 and raku with good success. It is a white burning medium coarse clay with a good amount of medium sand added. At cone 6 the porosity is higher than that of other clays formulated for cone 6.
>
> Go to Laguna's web page
> http://www.lagunaclay.com/
>
> and look at the description for their cone 5 clays:
> WC-877 / DOVER WHITE
> WC-878 / DOVER-60 w/ SAND
> These may work. Request for some samples. They have sample kits. The LC-104 / CONE 5 SAMPLE KIT is light burning cone 5 clays and has WC-877 in it.
>
> (I also note they have "Big White" in their
> LC-108 / RAKU SAMPLE KIT).
>
> I do not have any experience w/ Aardvark Clay, but, go to their web site
>
> http://www.minerals.com/aardvark/
>
> and look at the descriptions for their cone 5 clays:
>
> TEXAS WHITE may work as a raku clay, and it is also a medium coarse clay.
>
> You don't say if you need a smooth clay body for your cone 5 work. In general the coarser, more open clays have better thermal shock resistance and work better in raku.
>
> A cone 5 clay may work at cone 6, but of course, TEST! TEST! TEST! for warpage, porosity, glaze fit, etc. Also, a smooth body clay may work for your raku, but TEST!!
>
> Good luck.
>
> Logan Oplinger
>
> ---- you wrote:
> > I am looking for a whitish clay that I can use for both Cone 6 oxidation
> >
> > and raku ...
> I'm open to any suggestions from Laguna, Aardvark, or
> > anybody else that wouldn't be too far for shipping. Laguna has quite
> > a few candidates but of course their representative couldn't really tell...
>
> > Phyliss
>
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--
Phyliss
mailto:pward@datacourse.com