coastalgeology on mon 17 dec 01
I have a new favorite clay. I haven't begun mixing my own yet, so I
use Highwater, Laguna, etc. I picked up some of the Highwater "Desert
Buff" on a whim and I absolutely love it. It's really nice to throw
with, bit of tooth- can't get it up incredibly high, but makes very
easy wide bowls... huge wide bowls- I can get a 12-14 inch bowl, 6
inches high without even thinking about it. And I've made breeze easy
platters, one is 18 inches. They all dried like a dream- I left them
out, they could be pulled off the bat that same day, placed leather
hard on top of my bisque-firing kiln and not crack at all. THere was
steam rising from the bowls (lots of steam :-) and plates on top of
the kiln, I felt sure they would crack (but left them there anyway
because you never know if you don't try). Not a crack. This is really
great stuff.
However, since it's a pain to get Highwater clays in Charleston (with
no local distributer for clay/glazes), and since I want to mix my own
clay anyway to learn about it. I wanted to know if anyone had a
mid-fire stoneware recipe with these characteristics. I'm looking for
a light colored stoneware that I can basically throw, dry, trim and
bisque in the same day. I know that's asking a lot, but I'm doing it
with this Desert Buff, so I know that it can be done.
As always, thanks.
-J
"There are no pots, there is only clay." -me
L. P. Skeen on mon 17 dec 01
Hey J -
Highwater also makes the DB with SPECKS and it is awesome stuff. That's my
Official Studio Clay.
L
----- Original Message -----
From: coastalgeology
Subject: My new favorite clay... recipes?
> I have a new favorite clay. I haven't begun mixing my own yet, so I
> use Highwater, Laguna, etc. I picked up some of the Highwater "Desert
> Buff" on a whim and I absolutely love it.
MaryBeth Bishop on tue 18 dec 01
I also use Highwater Clays and am their big fan. If you order it a ton at a
time it is quite cost effective with the shipping and all. After all, it
doesn't exactly spoil. Just gets better and better. Instead of mixing clay,
I would look at ordering enough to justify the shipping costs...at least a
ton. This may sound bizarre, but it stacks nicely on one pallet and you can
just work from there. Also, you get the same break in costs if you order
more than one clay as you would for ordering the same clay. Anyway this is
what I do and it works for me. Also easier at tax time. You know what you
spent for at least one material.
Mary Beth
| |
|
