Dale Neese on sat 6 apr 02
A technique for obtaining the blackest of black pots in an electric kiln =
that I have witnessed is to use a can such as a lard stand. That is a =
can that large amounts of lard came in. I believe you can still find =
nice new empty cans like these at some hardware stores. Burnish the pots =
until they shine. Low bisque fire, then wrap the pots in many layers of =
toilet paper. Stack them full, tightly covered in the tin can inside an =
electric kiln Fire to 018-019. Cool and see the beautiful shiny black =
iridescent ware ever.
At a James Watkins workshop James had a nice large heavy metal saggar =
with a tight fitting lid especially built for larger pots. It fit nicely =
inside an electric kiln. You could get many pieces inside it. James also =
formed a pit in the ground for carbonizing some of his large =
double-walled work. Lined it with sawdust. Fired these pieces some what =
hotter, 012, and pulled them out of the electric kiln with gloves. Place =
in the pit and immediately covered them with more sawdust. Covered the =
sawdust with newspaper then dirt. Left the pot all night in the ground. =
Black Black.
This process can be viewed in his book, " A Meditation of Fire",
Dale Tex
Michele Williams on sun 7 apr 02
Thank you SO much for this post! I love the black pots that come from the
SW Indian culture, but there isn't a lot of collectible dung in Miami. All
the elephants are in the zoo, the llamas' owners are absentee owners, few
horse owners, no ranches for 100 miles. Fish dung isn't an option! So when
you tell me how to blacken pots by another method, I want to try it.
Thanks!
Michele Williams
----- Original Message -----
From: "Dale Neese"
To:
Sent: Saturday, April 06, 2002 5:05 PM
Subject: smoke firing pots in electric or pit
A technique for obtaining the blackest of black pots in an electric kiln
that I have witnessed is to use a can such as a lard stand. That is a can
that large amounts of lard came in. I believe you can still find nice new
empty cans like these at some hardware stores. Burnish the pots until they
shine. Low bisque fire, then wrap the pots in many layers of toilet paper.
Stack them full, tightly covered in the tin can inside an electric kiln Fire
to 018-019. Cool and see the beautiful shiny black iridescent ware ever.
At a James Watkins workshop James had a nice large heavy metal saggar with a
tight fitting lid especially built for larger pots. It fit nicely inside an
electric kiln. You could get many pieces inside it. James also formed a pit
in the ground for carbonizing some of his large double-walled work. Lined it
with sawdust. Fired these pieces some what hotter, 012, and pulled them out
of the electric kiln with gloves. Place in the pit and immediately covered
them with more sawdust. Covered the sawdust with newspaper then dirt. Left
the pot all night in the ground. Black Black.
This process can be viewed in his book, " A Meditation of Fire",
Dale Tex
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Michelle Lowe on sun 7 apr 02
Consider asking the zoo for dung, I once had a potter who was also docent
at our zoo bring elephant, giraffe, and other dung to try in my
pit. Worked great for fuel but nothing particularly different about the
effect.
At 07:11 AM 4/7/2002 -0400, you wrote:
> there isn't a lot of collectible dung in Miami. All
>the elephants are in the zoo, the llamas' owners are absentee owners, few
>horse owners, no ranches for 100 miles.
-----------
Michelle Lowe potter in the Phoenix desert
http://www.desertdragonpottery.com
Mishy@desertdragonpottery.com
mishlowe@amug.org
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vince pitelka on mon 8 apr 02
> >...I love the black pots that come from the
> >SW Indian culture, but there isn't a lot of collectible dung in Miami.
We get great blackware by smothering the bonfire with sawdust, and it smells
a lot better than manure. I still prefer to smother the fire with a mix of
dry manure and sawdust, but it is difficult to find dry manure around here.
- Vince
Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Crafts
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
Home - vpitelka@dtccom.net
615/597-5376
Work - wpitelka@tntech.edu
615/597-6801 ext. 111, fax 615/597-6803
http://www.craftcenter.tntech.edu/
Ababi on mon 8 apr 02
Pet for pit
Ababi
---------- Original Message ----------
>Consider asking the zoo for dung, I once had a potter who was also
>docent
>at our zoo bring elephant, giraffe, and other dung to try in my
>pit.
Snail Scott on mon 8 apr 02
At 07:11 AM 4/7/02 -0400, you wrote:
>...I love the black pots that come from the
>SW Indian culture, but there isn't a lot of collectible dung in Miami.
Cow pies are used in many types of traditional-style
firing because they have 'structural integrity' and
a useful shape for piling around the pots. 'Road
apples' (from horses) aren't nearly as useful because
of their shape. If you're not doing a traditional
firing which requires stacked fuel, though, many
other things will work.
Do people in Florida keep rabbits? I've gotten some
terrific blackware using rabbit poop in a coffee-can
saggar. Doesn't take much, either.
-Snail
Michele Williams on tue 9 apr 02
I don't know, but I can find out if someone raises rabbits. It would be an
inexpensive source, I'm sure. I didn't know it doesn't take much. Do you
think I could save my dogs' poop--the lab makes a lot more of it than a
rabbit. (And my husband will be absolutely certain that I've gone totally
insane...)
Thanks a million!
Michele
phil davenport on tue 9 apr 02
Michele--
Have you thought about getting manure from a greenhouse or nursery?
Phil Davenport
Michele Williams wrote:
> Thank you SO much for this post! I love the black pots that come from the
> SW Indian culture, but there isn't a lot of collectible dung in Miami.
Michele Williams on wed 10 apr 02
No. But I wondered if getting a bag of manure (sold as fertilizer) from
K-mart would do. It's not "pelletized" but that might be a plus. Anybody
care to tackle that meandering idea?
Michele WIlliams
----- Original Message -----
From: "phil davenport"
To:
Sent: Wednesday, April 10, 2002 12:11 AM
Subject: Re: smoke firing pots in electric or pit
> Michele--
>
> Have you thought about getting manure from a greenhouse or nursery?
>
> Phil Davenport
>
> Michele Williams wrote:
>
> > Thank you SO much for this post! I love the black pots that come from
the
> > SW Indian culture, but there isn't a lot of collectible dung in Miami.
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
__
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
>
M.J. Yenawine on wed 10 apr 02
Manure you buy bagged is decomposed, so probably wouldn't give you the look
you desire.
I recommend finding a stable within a reasonable distance (there has to be
at least one around there!) and get some of their manure. Most stables give
it away freely, as it is produced in great amounts!
Dannon Rhudy on wed 10 apr 02
......At 03:39 AM 4/10/02 -0400, you wrote:
>No. But I wondered if getting a bag of manure (sold as fertilizer) from
>K-mart would do. It's not "pelletized" but that might be a plus. Anybody
>care to tackle that meandering idea?..._______
>
You could do that. But if you are going to buy bagged manure,
you ought to go to a place that sells organic stuff. The
commercial "cow manure" or "sheep manure" are only a small percent
actual manure. The rest can be literally anything, the makers
are not required to state what is in there, they merely call
non-manure "inert ingredients." That does not mean that they
are in FACT inert. It only means they are not manure. Often
cheap "manure" is filled out with materials that manufactories
have to get rid of and are otherwise called "toxic wastes".
It is perfectly legal in the U.S. to do this - so they do.
regards
Dannon Rhudy
Snail Scott on wed 10 apr 02
At 12:17 PM 4/9/02 -0400, you wrote:
>...Do you
>think I could save my dogs' poop--the lab makes a lot more of it than a
>rabbit.
NO! NASTY! Use herbivore poop ONLY!
-Snail
vince pitelka on wed 10 apr 02
> No. But I wondered if getting a bag of manure (sold as fertilizer) from
> K-mart would do. It's not "pelletized" but that might be a plus. Anybody
> care to tackle that meandering idea?
Michelle -
Gardener's manure from K-Mart or a garden shop will not work, because it is
composted. In other words, it has already been oxidized through composting,
and most of the carbon is gone. It's just mineral-rich dirt, and it will
not produce smoke.
Best wishes -
- Vince
Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Crafts
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
Home - vpitelka@dtccom.net
615/597-5376
Work - wpitelka@tntech.edu
615/597-6801 ext. 111, fax 615/597-6803
http://www.craftcenter.tntech.edu/
Michele Williams on wed 10 apr 02
Thanks for the explanation, Vince. There's a reason for the odor--there's
good stuff still in there. Back when my family in Kansas had the compost
heap, we didn't think it was oxidation. We just called it stink! I guess
now I'm a DungHunter (huntress?)
Michele
Michele Williams on wed 10 apr 02
Eyebrows raised, big question mark over my head...."Oh, REALLY?" There's a
fascinating little piece of chemistry info...now I won't sleep tonight for
turning that one over a few times.
Thanks for letting me know before I had the bag full, a mad husband, and
neighbors with the White Jacket Squad number on speed dial.
Michele Williams
> >...Do you
> >think I could save my dogs' poop--the lab makes a lot more of it than a
> >rabbit.
>
>
> NO! NASTY! Use herbivore poop ONLY!
>
> -Snail
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
__
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
>
Ababi on thu 11 apr 02
Hi!
My question is a a result of the not clear assisting of my translation
tool.
If I use a metal can or pail that closes well with it's lead, or a kiln
shelf Do I still have to add ceramic fibber?, Or to close it with a
coil of clay?
In what speed I do the firing, like I do bisque or like glaze firing.
Do not tell me which switches to open or close, I have different system.
Thank you very much
Ababi Sharon
Kibbutz Shoval- Israel
Glaze addict
ababisha@shoval.org.il
http://members4.clubphoto.com/ababi306910/
http://www.milkywayceramics.com/cgallery/asharon.htm
Russel Fouts on fri 12 apr 02
Ababi
>> My question is a a result of the not clear assisting of my translation
tool. If I use a metal can or pail that closes well with it's lead, or a
kiln shelf Do I still have to add ceramic fibber?, Or to close it with a
coil of clay? <<
I tried using cookie tins, these seal pretty tightly and I added a
couple layers of foil over the openinging (under the lid) to seal them a
bit better. I actually had trouble getting the lids off because of this.
In one cookie tin I put about 1/2 page of newsprint, in the other I put
4 splinters of very thin crate wood about 5cm long each. Then did my
usual firing to 500c at 50% (that's the kind of controller I have). It
took about 3 hrs (1.5 up 1.5 to cool).
I don't know how much smoke escaped (I have an Envirovent) I wasn't
there but I doubt that it was much if any at all. There was so little
combustable in the cans.
Got BLACK, as expected.
Only thing I would change is to fire the cookie tins on their own first
to burn off all the paint.
Anyone have an idea of the temperature limit of a cookie tin? I think
they're probably steel.
Another technique to add.
Russel
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Mes Potes & Mes Pots
Brussels, Belgium
Tel: +32 2 223 02 75
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Http://www.mypots.com
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