Ivor Townshend on tue 7 aug 01
I have just returned from yet another summer RAKU workshop with
excellent results. But clearly some of the effects achieved are
crying out for further development and experimentation.
What are the potential problems if I use my 2.6 cu ft electric
toploader.
Clearly waving metal tongs around in a hot electric kiln could be
dangerous. However, the lid has electric cutout switches which
switch the power off when the lid is open.
Is there likely to be damage to the surface of the bricks or the
elements opening a hot kiln?? It is of recent manufacture using
modern lightweight bricks.
Reading Frank Hamer/ Kenneth Clarke/ Josie Warshaw, I
understand that good glazes are:
WHITE CRACKLE:
80 Frit; 15 China Clay, 5 Tin Oxide
The Frit being soft Borax or High Alkaline or an admixture of these
with a Calcium Borax frit substitute for Colemanite.
GREEN LUSTRE:
5 Copper Oxide; 90 High Alkaline Frit; 5 China Clay
or China Clay plus bentonite.
COPPER FUMING
90 Copper Oxide; 10 High Alkaline Frit.
Any comments on the kiln or the glazes would be welcome. I
would be particularly interested in materials available in the UK and
would like to avoid GERSTLEY BORATE.
Ivor
In a very wet Macclesfield UK
Paul Gerhold on tue 7 aug 01
Ivor,
Been doing raku with electric kilns for about twenty years with no major
problems. The kilns I use are an L&L Econo , a small paragon, and a 1227
Skutt. My Skutt is about 14 years old and still going strong although I
have gone through about four sets of elements and some of the brick is
showing signs of aging.
I also admit to never turning the kiln off when removing work. Maybe I'm
lucky but I've never had a problem. My brother who is an EE says that if I
hit an element I will get a shock but it won't be strong enough to bother me
if my heart is pure.
Your glaze ideas may be OK although everything depends on temperature. Also
you may want to try some lead based frits instead of the highly alkaline for
variety.
Paul
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