Debbie Jestin on thu 13 dec 01
Hi, I've been having problems with large bakers cracking. I use a slab for
the bottom and extruded walls. I slip and score the miter joint, but it
cracks at the join in the wall, either in the bisque or in the glaze firing.
I try and dry very slowly, usually about 2 weeks. Tonight I opened my kiln,
glaze load, and one baker is cracked at the join, and on an other a handle
fell off. Is there anyway of fixing them? Both were orders for Christmas,
and I don't think I have time to re do. I have a gorgeous salt fire baker I
kept for my self, I'll have to part with if I can't find a solution.A friend
and I are saving all of our seconds and plan to build a pottery wall around
the Raku kiln and the smoke pit. I just wasn't planning on doing it single
handed.
Marsh Pottery on thu 13 dec 01
Hi Debbie,
Do you press a coil into the joins to give extra support, then paddle the
joins for better melding?
Dry them up off the shelf - on a rack or slats - I use old wire & rubber
sink racks - also once they are leather hard, turn them on their sides to
allow the base to dry without its weight holding it down.
When I fire heavy pieces I raise them up off the kiln shelf on posts.
This allows freer movement during expansion/shrinkage.
Marsha Koenig
----- Original Message -----
From: "Debbie Jestin"
To:
Sent: Thursday, December 13, 2001 12:14 AM
Subject: Another Brick in the Wall ?
Hi, I've been having problems with large bakers cracking. I use a slab for
the bottom and extruded walls. I slip and score the miter joint, but it
cracks at the join in the wall, either in the bisque or in the glaze firing.
I try and dry very slowly, usually about 2 weeks. Tonight I opened my kiln,
glaze load, and one baker is cracked at the join, and on an other a handle
fell off. Is there anyway of fixing them? Both were orders for Christmas,
and I don't think I have time to re do. I have a gorgeous salt fire baker I
kept for my self, I'll have to part with if I can't find a solution.A friend
and I are saving all of our seconds and plan to build a pottery wall around
the Raku kiln and the smoke pit. I just wasn't planning on doing it single
handed.
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Cindy Strnad on thu 13 dec 01
Hi, Debbie.
From personal, frustrating experience . . . don't
take a special order for a form you don't have
down pat. It's just not worth the hassle and the
stress. The baker with the crack in the wall may
be fixable, though I don't think it's going to be
a 1st. Wish I could tell you better things. Fill
the crack with some sugar clay (hard clay softened
with powdered sugar), smooth it off, glaze over it
and re-fire. Sometimes it works, but not to
conceal the crack--only to fill it. On the one
where the handle fell off, if the handle will stay
on by gravity, you can re-attach it with glaze,
but I wouldn't sell it, even as a second, and if
you keep it for yourself, you'll need to pamper
than handle.
Cindy Strnad
Earthen Vessels Pottery
RR 1, Box 51
Custer, SD 57730
USA
cindy@earthen-vessels-pottery.com
http://www.earthen-vessels-pottery.com
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