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bonsai finish

updated sat 22 jun 02

 

Hendrix, Taylor J. on thu 20 jun 02


I have tried my hand at carving a bonsai pot. (Luis [last name?] was
very helpful and sent me this link:
http://www.ryuen.com/index-sub-e.htm) I have snipped an email I sent to
him; thought someone else on the list might be able to help me with
getting the finished surface so often seen on unglazed bonsai pots. I am
using a prepared clay, which might be the main problem.

I have tried my hand at a carved bonsai pot. I took my cues from the
Japanese web page of the gentleman who carves his pots from a single
block of clay. I have a question about surface treatment. On his web
page it shows him rubbing the outside of his in-process pot with a
scrubby sponge to get the unglazed smooth look common to b. pots. I
tried using a wet cloth, and got an approximation of what I wanted. Do
you have any suggestions? I want that simi-gloss, smooth surface. I had
to make guesses about how he did it even after AltaVista-translating the
pages!


Thanks to all that have answered my other questions regarding Annapolis
etc. The salt of the earth you are!

taylor

Dupre Mr Marcy M on fri 21 jun 02


I have tried my hand at a carved bonsai pot. I took my cues from the
Japanese web page of the gentleman who carves his pots from a single
block of clay. I have a question about surface treatment. On his web
page it shows him rubbing the outside of his in-process pot with a
scrubby sponge to get the unglazed smooth look common to b. pots. I
tried using a wet cloth, and got an approximation of what I wanted. Do
you have any suggestions? I want that simi-gloss, smooth surface. I had
to make guesses about how he did it even after AltaVista-translating the
pages!

Taylor,

The clue is in the sponge. I think it is one of the harder, more "toothy"
sponges. Try using a green scrub pad, found in the cleaning supplies
section of any grocery store. Or, get a sponge that is harder than one
you'd use to scrub the clay off your two-year old kid, something with some
"authority" to it.

Wait until the piece is slightly drier than leather-hard. Use small, "wax
on--wax off" circles in the burnishing. Think calm thoughts. Have a cup of
Dragon Green Tea...

Luck,

Tig