BVCuma on tue 21 may 02
As I'm not quite prepared for an elemental atomic profile
I am presently visualizing the clay medium on a biological model.
Assuming the clay particles to be the basic "muscle" of the organism.
Aiming for a variety of influences and specialized functions
2.5 part fire clay
2 part china clay
1 ball clay
1 local red clay
1 part gray plastic clay (used locally for non fired =
work..earthenware?)
1% bentonite
then..
2% sodium calcium borate colloidal ulexate
to control maturation level. (cone 6)
1 % cotton fiber to add "tendons" to help hold things together.
Hand fulls of vermiculite to give "fat" or sponginess
same for perlite for crispness and bone....
along with 35' screened crushed hard firebrick (kyanite) 10 %
I use a commercial "wet masala" grinder
which is basically a big mortar pedestal
to grind everything into an homogenized body.
Pretty much like a big chocolate blender
with a gentle but good grinding action=20
that allows for you to get your hands involved in the thick slop.
Now after making a molded handle
so I could reproduce "blanks" to fiddle with..
I noticed that when I used the original
to resculpt... it had a coating of the shaving lather I use
to keep plaster from setting to plaster.
This residue gave a greasy feel
that delayed the drying process
thereby extending my work time
in addition to providing a slicker surface=20
giving improved tool/clay interaction...
=20
Bright idea!.. why not add some to the body mix
to give better plasticity and drying qualities.
So I wedged in a dab from the tube
and noticed how improved the body responded
Far more plasticity..very slick feeling
and throwing became much better
with far less water required for lubrication
and allowing for easier and thinner stonger pulls etc.
with no slumping tendancies....
This for me is a major breakthrough as a body addition.
Yes more time is needed to evaluate the performance
under extended testing etc.
But it is a big green light I see.
I know some products have been tested to enhance=20
lubrication and lessen the requirement for water while throwing...
Think it was the guy who rigged up the wheel upside down
to get a better "pull" (for christ's sake some kind of sexual devient??)
Any way they dont label stuff for ingredients here
and I don't like the mint scent they have added...
I'm wondering what are the major components
that I could isolate and tested as useful additions.
This stuff is worth trying
with limited body experience new things are hard to compare.
Any other feedback would be worth while
=20
Thanx=20
Bruce
ps sorry for the extended post
just thought it might be useful to someone...
I could never go back to a bagged body
they really are dead.
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