Snail Scott on mon 22 jan 01
At 01:02 PM 1/22/01 -1000, you wrote:
>Hello Clay Arters
>Another lurker humbly comes into the light in quest of knowlege. This is my
>first "post to the list".I'm pretty new to this clay thing, a little over a
>year, and I realy love it. I've been reading clayart for a few months and
>it's gotta be the best thing since pugged clay. There's so much information
>being given so freely, so much concern, and the rants! too wonderful!
>Anyway, I've got a question. Does anyone have any suggestions on finihing a
>terra cotta sculpture without glazing it? Something like a wax maybe that
>would still show the clay colour and textures but give the piece a more
>finished look?
>
>Bill Hanke
Wax will generally make the piece look darker
and slightly damp. If applied warm (the clay,
not the wax,) it will soak in. It can be buffed
to a low sheen. A second coat will take a higher
polish. I like Johnson's Paste Wax (the kind in
the yellow can that's sold for wood floors and
furniture). Trewax will change the look of the
surface somewhat less than Johnson's. A bit of
iron oxide can be mixed with the top coat and
wiped off to emphasize texture. Note: wax surfaces
will soften in the heat until they have aged a bit.
Bear this in mind when packing, or displaying in
south-facing windows!
Personally, I love the look of bare terra cotta.
To preserve that look while protecting against
greasy fingerprints try some of the products
designed for terra-cotta floor tile. Some leave
a visible coating, but others are virtually
invisible. Try flooring suppliers, or stoneyards
that make tile. They will probably have display
samples of the coating products they sell.
There are also many acrylic and lacquer sprays.
They make things look like plastic, though.
-Snail
Cindy Strnad on mon 22 jan 01
Hi, Bill.
Try a nice terra sig. Look for Vince Pitelka's recipe at
http://www.digitalfire.com , under education (or something to that effect).
It's wonderful. For best results, it probably shouldn't be fired over ^08 or
so, but you can go higher. It just won't be as shiny. I've only ever
pit-fired it.
If you don't like the sound of doing all that work (it's not really as
complicated as it sounds, but you may be in a hurry), you can try turtle wax
or Future floor wax. Try them out on a less significant piece and decide
which one you like best.
Cindy Strnad
Earthen Vessels Pottery
RR 1, Box 51
Custer, SD 57730
USA
earthenv@gwtc.net
http://www.earthenvesselssd.com
Marcia Selsor on tue 23 jan 01
Dear Bill,
I like terra sig but your surface should be smooth, no grog. It is easy
to buff with a soft cloth
rather than burnishing with a stone ot spoon.
Marcia in Montana
> >Hello Clay Arters
> >Another lurker humbly comes into the light in quest of knowlege. This is my
> >first "post to the list".I'm pretty new to this clay thing, a little over a
> >year, and I realy love it. I've been reading clayart for a few months and
> >it's gotta be the best thing since pugged clay. There's so much information
> >being given so freely, so much concern, and the rants! too wonderful!
> >Anyway, I've got a question. Does anyone have any suggestions on finihing a
> >terra cotta sculpture without glazing it? Something like a wax maybe that
> >would still show the clay colour and textures but give the piece a more
> >finished look?
> >
> >Bill Hanke
>
--
Marcia Selsor
selsor@imt.net
http://www.imt.net/~mjbmls
http://www.imt.net/~mjbmls/Tuscany2001.html
Stephani Stephenson on tue 23 jan 01
A good professional grade penetrating sealant is called 511
It soaks into the terra cotta
changes the appearance not at all or ever so slightly
available at hardware stores ,builders supply, tile supply places
there are many companion products to use with 511 if you want a
surface with more sheen.
There are also less expensive sealents,try one for use on Saltillo tile.
The products nowadays are well developed so, with a little
experimentation, you can get just the effect you desire
If you go with wax, Trewax , (caranuba wax) is a good wax.
Post by Snail Scott has good guidelines for application.
love that TC
Stephani Stephenson
http://www.alchemiestudio.com
http://home.earthlink.net/~mudmistress/
Cantello Studios on tue 23 jan 01
I sometimes use Minwax on Horse Hair pots and it works well. Try two coats
for a nice satin matt look. You can find this wax at any paint shop or home
store. It go on like paste and then after it dries you can buff it out. This
will also make the surface waterproof as well.
Chris From Cantello Studios (wet in Chico)
If anyone out there would like is see the finish on a Horse Hair pot just
click on link below. Then click on galleries then Horse Hair if the link is
not in blue then you may type it in address box or high light copy and paste
in Check it out it's a work in process. See Ya!
http://faculty.monterey.edu/cahillkevin/world/cantello/index.html
Daisypet@AOL.COM on wed 24 jan 01
Welcome, Bill: You will find that this list is just as addictive as clay is,
with wonderful caring people ready to help, inform, discuss, etc. About the
finish on terra cotta, paste wax gives a beautiful satiny glow. I have played
with some of the wax shoe polishes in different shades to get different
effects. They can show the depth of carved or deeply shaped areas. I have
used the black, brown, and cordovan colors, sometimes mixing several of those
to get a subtle color. Take a small amount with the fettling knife or a
spatula, putting it on a tile and mixing some of the paste wax. The paste wax
helps the color to spread evenly since it is not as stiff af the shoe wax. I
have used a tooth brush to scrub the wax into crevices and then covering the
tooth brush with a soft cloth to polish after the wax has 'set up' for a bit.
It does involve time to do this but the results are beautiful.
The very first sculpture that I made, I knew I wanted a satiny or matte
finish. I did not know about using wax and used a matte transparent glaze. It
spoiled the piece. That is what I call learning by my mistakes---and they
continue to educate me! (:.)
Regards
Phyllis Tilton
Daisypet@aol.com
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