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stilting and mixing high and low

updated sun 11 nov 01

 

Sheryl VanVleck on sat 10 nov 01


Judi: I was discouraging stilting, in favor of waxing the bottom, because we
were having a problem with pitting and I had red that an all over coat of
glaze can prevent the escape of pollutants/gases in the clay, which leads to
the little pock marks. Now this is 1040 clay from Mile Hi in Denver, used
with ^06 glazes. We have some ^6 glazes also but I only have one or two
students who use them and then only occasionally.

Basically, I've been searching for an answer to the bubbles. I raised the
firing to ^05, when I am able to load the kiln, and that seemed to help. I
think we need a conference to get the team all on one track.

Sheryl in Wyoming
The snows gone and we have our herd of deer sleeping in the back yard every
night now. A large buck was out there last night and the chihuahua was
afraid to go outdoors.

Cindy Strnad on sat 10 nov 01


Dear Sheryl,

As you're doing low-fire work, I have no personal
experience, so take what I say as passed-on
knowledge. Most of the low-fire work I'm familiar
with is fired to a higher temperature at bisque,
then a lower temperature in glazing. For example,
if your glaze matures at ^06, you might fire your
bisque load to ^05 or ^04. This ensures that all
the volatiles able to burn out at your firing
temperature will be gone, and so will not trouble
your glazes.

Best wishes,

Cindy Strnad
Earthen Vessels Pottery
RR 1, Box 51
Custer, SD 57730
USA
cindy@earthen-vessels-pottery.com
http://www.earthen-vessels-pottery.com