search  current discussion  categories  glazes - cone 4-7 

stoneware ^6

updated thu 8 nov 01

 

L. P. Skeen on sat 20 oct 01


Ken,
Congrats on the new cleaning job, but I have to tell you it's really not
necessary to do all that scrubbing just because you're switching from
earthenware to midrange stoneware. Unless the COLOR of your clay is
actually what you're worried about, small amounts of earthenware getting
into the stoneware body is not usually a problem - at least it hasn't been a
problem in my experience. I have on occasion switched back and forth
(between claybodies ;) ) with abandon!

OTOH, cleaning the studio is never a bad thing.......and if yours is like
mine at home, it prolly wasn't a minute before time either. (mine's a
disaster at the moment)

L


> i am making the switch. i have scrubbed my studio top to bottom, and
> have a clean slate for a new claybody! i am taking a break from my
> backyard red earthenware, and experimenting with 4 different commercial
> ^6 stonewares. i am trying to keep my studio clean, because i want to
> throw all 4 stone clays between thorough cleaning and scrubbing of my
> wheel, tools and wedging table. i want to continue working with my
> earthenware....yes, i know it is SO important to keep the two separate.
> i hope that a good studio scrub down between bodies is ok, and small
> trace amounts of clay will not be too much a big deal.

Carenza Hayhoe on sat 3 nov 01


I switched to ^6 when the price of electricity in the UK went up back in the
80s and I've never regretted it. I've also made my own glazes since day one
(sometime before Methuselah was born). I was very excited when Mike Bailey
said he was going to include some of my glaze recipes in his new book
"Glazes Cone6" published by A&C Black - I'm not that used to having my name
in print. At first I worried about giving the book a write up - it looked
too like self interest and all that. However, forget my contribution, his
book is really good. It's easy to read, simple to understand, and crammed
full of information and advice. Any one switching to ^6 should try and get
hold of a copy. The same goes for experienced ^6ers.
Good luck to Ken Swinson and all ^6 groupies
Carenza Hayhoe
www.wellbelovedgallery.co.uk

ken swinson on sun 4 nov 01


well, it's been 48 hours, and i have done some pretty good work...and
the studio is STILL clean! i love this store bought clay. it's so easy
to work with...it's smooth and will stretch and coil. i'm glad to have
the experience of digging and cleaning and cussing at my native clay,
but i don't miss it right now. so, if you havent had devastating
results from earthenware contaminating stoneware....maybe i can mix my
clay and a stone body and come up with something stronger than the
original. hmmm. may be worth some testing. first, i want to test
these new clays, and see how they work.

maybe i will be able to maintain the clean studio...i haven't decided
whether it is a good habit, or a personality type.

peace love
ken in kentucky

ken swinson on sun 4 nov 01


i am making the switch. i have scrubbed my studio top to bottom, and
have a clean slate for a new claybody! i am taking a break from my
backyard red earthenware, and experimenting with 4 different commercial
^6 stonewares. i am trying to keep my studio clean, because i want to
throw all 4 stone clays between thorough cleaning and scrubbing of my
wheel, tools and wedging table. i want to continue working with my
earthenware....yes, i know it is SO important to keep the two separate.
i hope that a good studio scrub down between bodies is ok, and small
trace amounts of clay will not be too much a big deal.
i haven't run into any major problems. i am throwing, and it is SO nice
to use processed clay...no sticks or stones in your way! i will fire
electric and use AMACO glazes/underglazes to start...but can't wait to
mix my own!
i am teaching myself....much thanks to clayart and my wonderful strange
potter friend working with me! i don't have a particular question. i
am just excited about the new medium...just in time too! earthenware
was starting to get on my nerves.
back to work!
peace love

Susan Ford on mon 5 nov 01


It's a good habit developed over time. I'm a slob
inside the house, usually. My clay area is clean,
however. I sometimes switch from white stoneware
and porcelain to regular or red stoneware. Keeping
everything clean helps this process. If I'm having a
hard time making something. I sit back and clean all
of my tools. It's meditatvie and I think things over
and get clean tools as a bonus.

I do have a canvas wedging board for the really red
stoneware, so that my plaster wedging table doesn't
get too stained. I attach it to the workbench with C-
clamps when I need it.

Susan

On 4 Nov 2001, at 23:11, ken swinson wrote:

well, it's been 48 hours, and i have done some pretty
good work...and the studio is STILL clean! i love this
store bought clay. it's so easy to work with...it's
smooth and will stretch and coil. i'm glad to have the
experience of digging and cleaning and cussing at
my
native clay, but i don't miss it right now. so, if you
havent had devastating results from earthenware
contaminating stoneware....maybe i can mix my
clay and
a stone body and come up with something stronger
than
the original. hmmm. may be worth some testing.
first, i want to test these new clays, and see how
they
work.

maybe i will be able to maintain the clean studio...i
haven't decided whether it is a good habit, or a
personality type.

peace love
ken in kentucky
---
Susan K. Ford
Norman, Oklahoma
http://www.clueless.norman.ok.us/sf/rerhome.htm

The weakest ink lasts longer
than the strongest memory.
-- Confucious