mel jacobson on thu 12 jul 01
what cone you fire to does matter a wit.
thank you john for that wonderful post on cone temp.
a potter selects a temp to fire that is based on need.
it should not be want.
`but, i want cone 10 reduction, but have no place to do it.
can i make glazes that look just like cone 10 reduction?`
no. make glazes that fit your firing.
all the years at hopkins high school we fired cone 1-2.
it fit our firing schedule. we fired two large kilns every day,
with one resting. had a small kiln for bisque.
cone 6 tore up the kilns too fast, and cone 06 was just too low.
that is when i found the gertsley/volcanic ash glaze and modified
it to cone 1-2.
we did colorful glazes, fully melted and basically safe.
(we did not do vinegar, would now however.)
our biggest problem was getting a clay that would vitrify at that
range. we were right in the middle of stoneware and earthenware.
i added a lot of redart to the pug mill. but, the boxed clay was always
a big high temp for us. the kids learned to re/cycle and add redart...
it was a better claybody. first year students loved the boxed clay,
older kids loved the smelly, re/cycled clay....smart, when you learn
what is going on. i loved to watch kids walk in the room and stick
a finger in the pug mill clay. just one finger tip. `hey, mel, that clay
is a bit soft`. `fine, do something about it, my back hurts.`
anyway.
cone 1-2 sure worked for us at hopkins high school.
lots of happy kids.
mel
you start a pottery with:
1. fuel
2. cone temp
3. clay
4. glaze
5. get customers
6. make great pots
most have it backwards, and never make great pots.
there was a kiln building class at the university of minnesota.
never once was fuel mentioned or discussed.
it was about brick. (a former student came to me to learn
about propane..he got an A in the class. did not know squat.)
geez...stupid comes in many forms.
From:
Minnetonka, Minnesota, U.S.A.
web site: http://www.pclink.com/melpots
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