Martinb888@AOL.COM on mon 29 oct 01
Yes my name is really Martin Butt.
Yes I am the developer of B-Mix.
Long winded story follows;
I got the recipe that was the basis for b mix from a local potter who later
had it comercially produced by An Howe, who then started selling it as WW.
(An Howe later became Ceramic King) I had altered the formula as well as some
materals (different ball clay and kaolin) to make it more user friendly, and
mixed it myself on a small scale. Later, when I became a Laguna distributor
(Porcelain & Stoneware Supply) I sent the recipie to Jon at Laguna to mix for
me. He altered the raw materials used to what he had on hand (again different
ball clay and kaolin). At the time, that was the only special mix he did for
me, so I never really named it; the pallets of clay were marked "Butts Mix"
and the name stuck. When Jon started selling it all over HE started calling
it B-Mix (said it sounded better:hard to argue with that!). I got a big
pugmill about 10 years ago and went back to producing it myself, and for a
while I sold my version along side Lagunas version.. I am now concentrating
on teaching and running Coyote studios, but I do still sell clay on a smaller
scale, B-Mix being one of the clays I still make. Because of that I won't
give out the recipe, but I can tell you this. It is basically a traditional
porcelain with the addition of ball clay, 20% or so, and a little bentonite.
Not real white or translucent, but nice to use.
SO; kaolin, silica, feldspar, ball clay, bentonite is what is in it. I know
that Tom Coleman uses an Aardvark clay called bee mix, but I believe he
mentioned PV clay in it, so it isn"t anything close to what I came up with.
As far as who "stole what from who", A. Who cares, and B. its all a little
fuzzy! I got the original formula from a local guy who also gave it to An
Howe. I believe that he was a little "suprised" when it was sold comercially,
but I heard that second hand. Laguna got the formula from me; Jon at Laguna
gave me a formula in return, which in turn became the basis for most of the
stonewares I make. No "royalties" involved (I wish!), but Laguna always
treated me well, no complaints here. I sometimes mention that I stole most of
the recipe from Ceramic King mostly just to needle them (they were my
competion for a long time), but also because I am uncomfortable taking full
credit for something which is just another variation on a theme. This recipe
was built on what lots of potters have done before, as is the case with all
clay recipes.
Thanks, Martin Butt
----------------------Original Message-------------------
From: Roger Bourland
Subject: Martin Butt
David..
I spent some time with Martin in Albuquerque this summer and got some of
his B-Mix. He is quite an interesting guy and the B-Mix is terrific. He
says that his recipe is quite different from the other B-Mix recipes
that he sees around and from the Laguna product too. As I recall, he
said that he wasn't the inventor of B-Mix. He "stole" parts of it from
someone else and in turn others stole some from him! I couldn't tell
whether he was kidding me or simply facing the facts of ceramic life.
Doesn't really matter. He is more into teaching now than producing clay,
though he still makes and sells to a limited extent the micaceous clay
and his B-Mix . Name of his place is Coyote clay and I loved it.
Best,
Roger Bourland
Aikya Param on mon 29 oct 01
And so, as one of my fellow students asked me, what's
the difference between Sculpture 412 and B Mix. We
use 412 in scultpure class. I looked at and felt the
two sample tiles in our local ceramics store and 412
felt grittier. The clerk in the store told me 412
tends to yellow. Indeed my bisque doe yellow from
touch. But you're the expert...
Aikya
--- Martinb888@AOL.COM wrote:
> Yes my name is really Martin Butt.
> Yes I am the developer of B-Mix.
> Long winded story follows;
> I got the recipe that was the basis for b mix from
> a local potter who later
> had it comercially produced by An Howe, who then
> started selling it as WW.
> (An Howe later became Ceramic King) I had altered
> the formula as well as some
> materals (different ball clay and kaolin) to make it
> more user friendly, and
> mixed it myself on a small scale. Later, when I
> became a Laguna distributor
> (Porcelain & Stoneware Supply) I sent the recipie to
> Jon at Laguna to mix for
> me. He altered the raw materials used to what he had
> on hand (again different
> ball clay and kaolin). At the time, that was the
> only special mix he did for
> me, so I never really named it; the pallets of clay
> were marked "Butts Mix"
> and the name stuck. When Jon started selling it all
> over HE started calling
> it B-Mix (said it sounded better:hard to argue with
> that!). I got a big
> pugmill about 10 years ago and went back to
> producing it myself, and for a
> while I sold my version along side Lagunas version..
> I am now concentrating
> on teaching and running Coyote studios, but I do
> still sell clay on a smaller
> scale, B-Mix being one of the clays I still make.
> Because of that I won't
> give out the recipe, but I can tell you this. It is
> basically a traditional
> porcelain with the addition of ball clay, 20% or so,
> and a little bentonite.
> Not real white or translucent, but nice to use.
> SO; kaolin, silica, feldspar, ball clay, bentonite
> is what is in it. I know
> that Tom Coleman uses an Aardvark clay called bee
> mix, but I believe he
> mentioned PV clay in it, so it isn"t anything close
> to what I came up with.
> As far as who "stole what from who", A. Who cares,
> and B. its all a little
> fuzzy! I got the original formula from a local guy
> who also gave it to An
> Howe. I believe that he was a little "suprised" when
> it was sold comercially,
> but I heard that second hand. Laguna got the formula
> from me; Jon at Laguna
> gave me a formula in return, which in turn became
> the basis for most of the
> stonewares I make. No "royalties" involved (I
> wish!), but Laguna always
> treated me well, no complaints here. I sometimes
> mention that I stole most of
> the recipe from Ceramic King mostly just to needle
> them (they were my
> competion for a long time), but also because I am
> uncomfortable taking full
> credit for something which is just another variation
> on a theme. This recipe
> was built on what lots of potters have done before,
> as is the case with all
> clay recipes.
> Thanks, Martin Butt
>
> ----------------------Original
> Message-------------------
> From: Roger Bourland
> Subject: Martin Butt
>
> David..
>
> I spent some time with Martin in Albuquerque this
> summer and got some of
> his B-Mix. He is quite an interesting guy and the
> B-Mix is terrific. He
> says that his recipe is quite different from the
> other B-Mix recipes
> that he sees around and from the Laguna product too.
> As I recall, he
> said that he wasn't the inventor of B-Mix. He
> "stole" parts of it from
> someone else and in turn others stole some from him!
> I couldn't tell
> whether he was kidding me or simply facing the facts
> of ceramic life.
> Doesn't really matter. He is more into teaching now
> than producing clay,
> though he still makes and sells to a limited extent
> the micaceous clay
> and his B-Mix . Name of his place is Coyote clay and
> I loved it.
>
> Best,
>
> Roger Bourland
>
>
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Snail Scott on mon 29 oct 01
At 12:19 PM 10/29/01 -0800, you wrote:
>...I looked at and felt the
>two sample tiles in our local ceramics store and 412
>felt grittier. [than B-mix]...
It doesn't just feel grittier, the working properties
are very different. Color is really the only similarity!
B-Mix doesn't lend itself to sculpture above fairly
small size; the plasticity which makes it a favorite
among throwers is a drawback in most handbuilding. I
did use B-mix (Martin's, not Laguna's, if it matters)
when I did miniature sculpture, but it is just too
plastic for larger work, IMHO. Also, the presence of
grog in a clay usually improves its properties for
handbuilding, and IMCO 412 has a fair amount of grog,
though of a fine grit size.
(That tendency of the 412 to get yellow patches in
bisque is something I've noticed, too. Don't know why
it happens. Doesn't affect the final surface.)
-Snail
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