Hank Murrow on mon 19 mar 01
>I could use some help with figuring out what exactly is in these 20 bags of
>50 lbs.
A.P. Green
Code No. 13F
UNITIE
05-79400-53
crystaline silica, cement
Dear Nicole;
I think I would proceed by trying the stuff out in a measured way in the
kiln. How 'bout mixing some to a creamy consistency and gluing two bricks
together and running it through a fire or two? How 'bout getting the same
trial in a salt fire? And try mixing some up with several sizes of grog to
assemble a quasi-castable? You have enough stuff that it seems worthwhile
to figure out how it might be usefull.
Good Hunting! Hank in Eugene
Nicole Simmons on mon 19 mar 01
I could use some help with figuring out what exactly is in these 20 bags of
50 lbs. Story how I got it follows.
A.P. Green
Code No. 13F
UNITIE
05-79400-53
crystaline silica, cement
I live not far from Mexico, MO the home of A.P. Green. I got a call from a
friend named Amy, who is from there. A good friend of her stepdad's had this
stuff in his garage and wanted to give it away. He told her that he had
called A.P. Green and someone told him it was potter's clay. Amy having no
where to store it asked me if I was interested, I said sure and we went to
pick it up.
When we got there, I read the bags and realized that this was probably some
kind of mortar. So I took it anyway hoping that I could use it to build a
future kiln. The guy said he got it from someone who had tried to pour a
patio with it, major cracking. So we brought the whole ton of clay home and
it has been sitting in the middle of my husband's workshop. He is getting
antsy.
Both my husband and I have called various departments at the factory in
Mexico and haven't gotten ZERO helpful information.
To summarize:
They think these bags are a special mix, but can't find any record of it.
They also think that it was processed before they got bought out. They tell
me they have no idea what it is for, (duh, even I figured that out). And
that I should just throw it away because they will not be responsible if I
use it in an improper manner. I did get one guy to suggest it might be
mortar for a glass furnace. BINGO! He and I knowing nothing about
glass....
So here is my question:
Does anyone have any idea if this stuff would be a suitable mortar to build
a wood-fire kiln or any kiln for that matter? I am seriously considering
building a Olsen fast fire, Minnesota flat-top combo to salt fire to cone 6.
I would appreciate any thoughts anyone has on this subject. Please feel
free to direct me to any pertinent books. And if I should have to throw
this stuff out, do you think it would be considered clean fill? I would hat
e to hear what it would cost me to take 2000 lbs. of stuff to the dump. I
should add that when we requested MSDS sheets they were unable to produce
them. When my husband suggested that OSHA might be able to help us they
quickly produced 2 possible sheets that still did not tell us anything,
including what exactly was in the bag.
Please excuse me if I sound hostile toward A.P. Green but their customer
service is lacking in politeness and knowledge.
Thanks,
Nikki Simmons
Russellville, Missouri USA
Martin Howard on tue 20 mar 01
If in doubt, have it analysed, instead of guessing.
In the UK I would send 50 grams to CERAM in The Potteries and would get a
report back within the week. Cost about £35 plus p&p. You would send it to
Alfred's College I think.
OK, so that might be £35 down the drain, but you would have peace of mind
and an analysis that you could put into the computer glaze program.
You might have some space on the workroom floor afterwards :-)
Martin Howard
Webb's Cottage Pottery
Woolpits Road, Great Saling
BRAINTREE, Essex CM7 5DZ
England
martin@webbscottage.co.uk
http://www.webbscottage.co.uk
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