Hanne Bjorklund on thu 5 apr 01
I would like to try something with copper wire and Raku.
If I wrap a thin copper wire around a piece and fire the kiln to between
950 and 1000 deg. Celsius, would the wire melt and maybe even make
wonderful running dribbles down whatever I had wrapped it around?
If I don't reduce, would the copper come out green?
This info. is for future use. Raku has been cancelled indefinately due to
our severe
drought, - worst in 50 years, and the fire risk is astronomically
explosive.
Is copper wire always pure copper, or are there different degrees of
purity?
I got my spool from an electrical company that uses it for reconditioning
electric motors.
Thanks
HANNE
bjorklund@clear.net.nz
Jim and Marge Wade on thu 5 apr 01
Hanne,
I tried this and liked the results. I used thin copper wire, preferring 18
and 20 gauge, and wrapped it around some bottle forms. The hardest thing for
me was securing the wire, as I had it wrapping in a downward spiral fashion
and did not want a "knot" showing. I had some texture on the pot and that
is what I used as a guide, allowing the wire to sit next to it. Wrapping
horizontally would have been much easier.
I thought the copper would melt completely, but instead it fused onto the
pot in some area and broke off in others. There are definite markings
(rust-like lines) where the copper was. I like my pots to have an orgainc
look, so am very please with how they turned out. The kiln was fired to
about ^06. Another person used a thicker wire in a previous load that was
closer to ^04 and her wire melted into the glaze (the shape of the wire was
still apparent; it was just fused thoroughly onto the pot). It did not,
however, run in dribbles. Both of us also had good reduction, but the wire
either remained its copper color or, as in my case, turned a dark rust
brown. I don't know what would happen if you didn't reduce.
I purchased my wire from a hardware store, since I wanted the thinner type.
The package doesn't mention any purity level.
Hope this helps some.
Marge
> From: Hanne Bjorklund
> Reply-To: Ceramic Arts Discussion List
> Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2001 16:58:25 +1200
> To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
> Subject: Raku and copper wire.
>
> I would like to try something with copper wire and Raku....
BobWicks@AOL.COM on thu 5 apr 01
Hanne:
I think you will find that the copper will not melt at Raku temperatures,
however depending on whether the atmosphere is oxygenated or reducing should
have a significant effect on the copper. My guess is that the wire will turn
black unless covered with a glaze. You can't lose anything by trying and
certainly no harm will come to anything.
Bob
Ababi on thu 5 apr 01
Yes you can. I am not sure it will totally melt, I can offer you to try a
little different. Add it to the claybody when you make the piece, than when
you fire it (bisque) slowly to 1000 or 1020C the copper will have time to
melt and be part of the piece. than behaves as "usual": Very thick Steel-
gray, thinner copper or turquoise.
About purity" they want the electricity to pass fast, I believe it is the
purest. By the way, I do it with brass chips too. and Ox. firing too.
Ababi Sharon
ababisha@shoval.ardom.co.il
http://members4.clubphoto.com/ababi306910/
----- Original Message -----
From: "Hanne Bjorklund"
To:
Sent: Thursday, April 05, 2001 6:58 AM
Subject: Raku and copper wire.
> I would like to try something with copper wire and Raku.
>
> If I wrap a thin copper wire around a piece and fire the kiln to between
> 950 and 1000 deg. Celsius, would the wire melt and maybe even make
> wonderful running dribbles down whatever I had wrapped it around?
>
> If I don't reduce, would the copper come out green?
>
> This info. is for future use. Raku has been cancelled indefinately due to
> our severe
> drought, - worst in 50 years, and the fire risk is astronomically
> explosive.
>
> Is copper wire always pure copper, or are there different degrees of
> purity?
>
> I got my spool from an electrical company that uses it for reconditioning
> electric motors.
>
> Thanks
>
> HANNE
> bjorklund@clear.net.nz
>
>
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>
Gary Elfring on fri 6 apr 01
>If I wrap a thin copper wire around a piece and fire the kiln to between
>950 and 1000 deg. Celsius, would the wire melt and maybe even make
>wonderful running dribbles down whatever I had wrapped it around?
Yes it will. And the melted copper will stick to the piece of kiln shelf
the pot is resting on and glue it down very permanently! I ended up putting
the pot and the kiln shelf piece in my reduction chamber together. I had to
cut the shelf piece from the pot with a hacksaw. It was pretty funny, but
not worth the effort.
Elfring Fonts, Inc Bar Codes, MICR, and decorative fonts for Windows
http://www.elfring.com
Lee Burningham on thu 24 may 01
Howdy,
firing pots with accents of hair-thin copper wire in raku is a definite go!
The wire melts, if not clumped to tightly, and gives all kinds of effects.
Everything from black, green, red, and blue lines to dribbles and runs where
it melts and enhances the drip of the glazes. The key is the melt of the
wire. It stays black and lumpy if not melted all the way. Much more color
where the melt is complete. Then it depends on the reduction. Go crazy. My
students LOVE it!
Lee
--
Subject: Raku and copper wire.
I would like to try something with copper wire and Raku.
If I wrap a thin copper wire around a piece and fire the kiln to between
950 and 1000 deg. Celsius, would the wire melt and maybe even make
wonderful running dribbles down whatever I had wrapped it around?
If I don't reduce, would the copper come out green?
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