Karen Shapiro on mon 8 apr 02
Hi Chris,
Another positive review for Clay Art Center in Tacoma. I deal with them frequently and have nothing but raves to pass on. They have terrific glaze techs -- I get a KILLER red raku glaze from them -- and are knowledgeable, helpful and reliable. I have never had a bad experience and don't ever hesitate to trust them for quality goods and advice.
Karen in Gualala
---------------------------------
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Joan & Tom Woodward on mon 8 apr 02
Re: Clay Art Center in Tacoma, I can chime in too. They are very nice
people, though one of their purportedly food safe glazes leached within an
hour of having a slice of lemon on the plate. They sent me a "fix" which
made matters worse. But then they gladly refunded my money. And I like
their clays so much both for handling and glaze response that I'm probably
going to pick up a bunch on my way through Seattle this summer, even though
my closest supplier is actually Mile Hi.
Colorado Joan
vince pitelka on mon 8 apr 02
> another web supplier, www.clayartcenter.com had dramatically lower prices
> for the same ingredients in the same amounts. Does anyone deal with this
> company? Does the quality of chemicals vary from one company to the
> next? Does less expensive potentially mean lower quality ingredients?
Chris -
All of these companies compete with another, and if one of them routinely
sold inferior materials they would not stay in business to recoup their
investment, much less make a profit. And the Clayart Center in Tacoma is an
excellent supplier, very honorable and responsive. They have supplied all
the clays for my workshops at Michael McDowell's. I have always been very
pleased with their service, and I know Michael thinks highly of them (and
Michael has very high standards in most things). I recommend them without
reservation.
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/
Marcia Selsor on mon 8 apr 02
Thanks Jeff.
I found the copper carbonate difficult to pass through a 100 mesh screen. I notice
larger chunks of it no going into the glaze.
But, they prices are very good. Thanks for the info.
Marcia
Jeff Seefeldt wrote:
> I buy all ( well 85%) of my chemicals from US pigment... if you felt the
> mesh size was not what you anticipated,, I'd encourage you to call and talk
> with the owner when placing an order,, he has always been friendly and
> helpful.. If you don't tell him what you want, he's not going to know.
>
> I've never had any problems and I like the prices.
>
> jts
>
> Behalf Of Marcia Selsor
>
> Subject: Re: Chemical suppliers and cost
>
> . I have ordered some chemicals from U.S. Pigments. The prices were much
> cheaper but I think the quality was also varied in the chemicals being of a
> larger
> mesh than some I have purchased elsewhere.
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> 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.
Bill and Chris Gold on mon 8 apr 02
Newbie here...I am just getting my thoughts together to begin the journey
of glaze making. I have several recipes made from the same base and did
some comparison shopping for the ingredients needed. Minnesota clay, big
ceramic store and my local supplier had pretty consistent prices. However,
another web supplier, www.clayartcenter.com had dramatically lower prices
for the same ingredients in the same amounts. Does anyone deal with this
company? Does the quality of chemicals vary from one company to the
next? Does less expensive potentially mean lower quality
ingredients? Thanks for any opinions!
Chris Gold in York, PA where there was a dusting of snow on the ground last
week.
Roger Korn on mon 8 apr 02
I have dealt with the Tacoma Clay Art Center for many years. These folks are the
best! They'll tell you everything they know about any material they sell, and
that's a lot. In AZ, I still order from them. Even with shipping, they are
typically cheaper than the PHX supplier.
Just my opinion, but I'm right ,
Roger
Bill and Chris Gold wrote:
> Newbie here...I am just getting my thoughts together to begin the journey
> of glaze making. I have several recipes made from the same base and did
> some comparison shopping for the ingredients needed. Minnesota clay, big
> ceramic store and my local supplier had pretty consistent prices. However,
> another web supplier, www.clayartcenter.com had dramatically lower prices
> for the same ingredients in the same amounts. Does anyone deal with this
> company? Does the quality of chemicals vary from one company to the
> next? Does less expensive potentially mean lower quality
> ingredients? Thanks for any opinions!
>
> Chris Gold in York, PA where there was a dusting of snow on the ground last
> week.
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> 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.
--
Roger Korn
McKay Creek Ceramics
In AZ: PO Box 463
4215 Culpepper Ranch Rd
Rimrock, AZ 86335
928-567-5699 <-
In OR: PO Box 436
31330 NW Pacific Ave.
North Plains, OR 97133
503-647-5464
Marcia Selsor on mon 8 apr 02
Dear Chris,
The Clayartcenter.com is a good company as are Minn. Clay, and the big ceramic
store. I have ordered some chemicals from U.S. Pigments. The prices were much
cheaper but I think the quality was also varied in the chemicals being of a larger
mesh than some I have purchased elsewhere. I think shipping for chemicals and clay
are a main concern , at least for me in Montana.
I can price check between Clayartcenter in Tacoma, WA. and Mile Hi in Denver and
Archie Bray in Helena. Prices vary because their sources vary. Custer feldspar is
from Custer SD and is cheaper in Denver and Montana than Washington due to
shipping to the supplier.
So before you ship clear across the US, check the shipping costs.
Standard Ceramics should be a lot closer for you.
Marcia in Montana
(my parents are in York, Pa.)
Bill and Chris Gold wrote:
> snip
> ? Does the quality of chemicals vary from one company to the
> next? Does less expensive potentially mean lower quality
> ingredients? Thanks for any opinions!
>
> Chris Gold in York, PA where there was a dusting of snow on the ground last
> week.
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> 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.
Dupre Mr Marcy M on mon 8 apr 02
Chris,
I just moved to Springfield, VA (tulips and cherry trees in FULL, GLORIOUS
bloom!), from Tacoma, WA where ClayArtCenter is quartered. CAC is the hub
of pottery supply for the Tacoma area (lotsa potters, I find out AFTER I
moved), and a bunch of other places in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.
I have found the folks at CAC to be very good at what they do, have a good
selection of materials and equipment, and provide good advice and support.
You may wind up paying the difference in shipping for the less expensive
materials from CAC. Check them carefully. Remember, none of these
companies is in the business out of a sense of artistic altruism. They are
in business to make a profit, however fair it may be.
I found it helpful to make a shopping list of five glaze chemicals and two
clay bodies, then check prices from several on-line business against my
local supplier. I check on shipping costs and delivery schedules and add
that in. Sometimes it is cheaper to order some materials and equipment from
on-line, and the rest from the local. In the event the local has to order
from a supplier, I ask how long for the shipment to arrive. There again,
factor in your immediate requirements, versus the aggravation of the wait.
My experience is that the chemicals all cost the same from the mine shaft.
Packaging and shipping adjust prices upward at varying rates. You can buy
100 tons of nepheline syenite, shipped direct from the mine for a whole lot
cheaper price per pound than a 50 pound bag of refined NS delivered to your
door from the local suppliers.
In the end, it comes to a matter of how patient you are, what your immediate
and long-range needs are, and costs offset by time.
Hope this helps.
Tig
PlayDirty!
Jeff Seefeldt on mon 8 apr 02
I buy all ( well 85%) of my chemicals from US pigment... if you felt the
mesh size was not what you anticipated,, I'd encourage you to call and talk
with the owner when placing an order,, he has always been friendly and
helpful.. If you don't tell him what you want, he's not going to know.
I've never had any problems and I like the prices.
jts
Behalf Of Marcia Selsor
Subject: Re: Chemical suppliers and cost
. I have ordered some chemicals from U.S. Pigments. The prices were much
cheaper but I think the quality was also varied in the chemicals being of a
larger
mesh than some I have purchased elsewhere.
potterybydai on mon 8 apr 02
Chris asked: "However, another web supplier, www.clayartcenter.com had
dramatically lower prices for the same ingredients in the same amounts.
Does anyone deal with this
company?"
Hi, Chris - if this is Clay Art Center in Tacoma, WA, we have dealt with
them a number of times, and have always received wonderful service! They
are a great group, very knowledgeable, and will bend over backwards to
satisfy their customer.
Dai in Kelowna,BC
potterybydai@shaw.ca
Life is 10% what happens to you, and 90% how you
respond to it.
Dan Bowen on tue 9 apr 02
the supliers that are closer to your location are usualy the best bargin
because of frieght. Bailey ceramics in New york and Sheffield Pottery in
Mass. or Campbells ceramics in Virginia will be better on frieght cost.
There is a company in Philadelpia but I cant remember their name. Check the
ads in the back of your favority magasine.
Good luck
www.claysupply.com Cambpells
www.baileypottery.com.
www.sheffield-pottery.com
All have great catalogs and are helpful
Dan Bowen
Eastville Pottery and Quilts
Eastville Virginia
Lee Love on tue 9 apr 02
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jeff Seefeldt"
> I buy all ( well 85%) of my chemicals from US pigment...
Does anybody have a web page address for US pigment?
Thanks,
Lee in Mashiko
._____________________________________________
| Lee Love ^/(o\| Practice before theory. |
| Ikiru@kami.com |\o)/v - Sotetsu Yanagi - |
`~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~'
Bobbi Bassett on tue 9 apr 02
Bill and Chris Gold wrote:
> ? Does the quality of chemicals vary from one company to the
> next? Does less expensive potentially mean lower quality
> ingredients? Thanks for any opinions!
>
> Chris Gold in York, PA where
Hi... You are so close to Harrisburg why don't you call PennMo Firebrick.
They carry Standard clay , etc. etc,... Denny and Steve are easy to deal
with. I'm speaking from 20 years of dealing with them.
Bobbi in PA
Concepts in Clay
scott lykens on wed 10 apr 02
Although, we all love a deal, and they exist, I beleive the addige, you get
what you pay for applys to ceramic grade chemicals, Some things of course
are easy to moniter, Red art is Red art. Hawthorn is hawthorn, but that
stuff your buying in less than 50 # bags is questionable in that, you dont
know what it is, or where it came from. You also must rely on human error
if you just call and ask, "what did you send me"
Some chemicals are fussier than others,
To get a braod idea of how varied the refining process can be, check out
materials handbook from ceramics industry monthly, they often list refining
processes for chemicals. For example. Some Ceramic grade materials are
always calcined, but, your definition of calcined may be 50% of vitrified
temp, or you might be looking for something else.
Of course if all your looking for is, will that dark browner than pink
cobalt carb thats $10-15 a pound cheaper than the bright pink one still turn
a glaze blue. Go save some $$ and buy what you want.
If your a Guy like Tom Turner, then your concerned about how the dozen or so
commonly available dolomites effect your red glazes and you do 100's of test
to prove it to manufacturer's.
So, yeah, cheaper can mean lower quality, but perhaps for what your doing it
doesnt matter. After all, thats the issue with gerstley borate.
The qualities that make it considered lower quality are the same qualities
that make us potters drewl over it.
gotta check my kiln,
Sct
>>Bill and Chris Gold wrote:
>
> > ? Does the quality of chemicals vary from one company to the
> > next? Does less expensive potentially mean lower quality
> > ingredients? Thanks for any opinions!
> >
> > Chris Gold in York, PA where
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Richard Aerni on wed 10 apr 02
----- Original Message -----
From: "scott lykens"
Subject: Re: Chemical suppliers and cost
> If your a Guy like Tom Turner, then your concerned about how the dozen or
so
> commonly available dolomites effect your red glazes and you do 100's of
test
> to prove it to manufacturer's.
Scott,
Am I right in remembering that you work for Laguna out of Cambridge? If so,
I'd be curious to know the sort of info that Tom T is looking for. I've
been tracking some various raw materials that go into clay and glazes for a
while now...dolomite is one of those that I've noticed make a huge
difference in my glazes, depending on its source. I've sent out inquiries
to some of the supply companies that I deal with, asking "Why do you buy the
type of
__insert material__ that you do? Is it low cost, easy availability,
superior glaze results?" So far, no one has given me any substantive
answers.
My favorite response, when I called Laguna to ask where they got their
rutile from, was "It came off the truck from California." That of course,
was not their final answer, but it was worth a million bucks worth of
chuckles...
Best,
Richard Aerni
Bloomfield, NY...Laguna customer
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