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pinholes in majolica

updated sat 3 aug 02

 

Gail Dapogny on thu 1 aug 02


In a majolica workshop with artist Ann Tubbs, she cautioned everyone to
completely submerge (momentarily) their ware in water about an hour before
dipping into the white majolica glaze. The reason was to "fill" the pores
of the clay with water so that those pores would not suck up the glaze so
thirstily. I believe the idea was that pinholes would form in pores that
were too dry.
I am only the messenger, but it sounds sensible and definitely made a
difference in our workshop pots.
---Gail


>I work in maiolica and find that pinholes are an issue especially where
>I've trimmed; recompressing the clay with a metal rib after throwing and
>again after trimming helps to eliminate pinholes in my glaze which does
>not flow. I imagine that this is the issue with your textured glaze, and
>why it shows up more when you brush rather that dip. I do a sometimes
>excruciatingly slow bisque (I have little patience and what I have I try
>to save for the kids) but using a grog less clay and recompressing has
>helped more than the slower bisque.
>
>Joanna Jorgensen
>
>Coconut Creek, FL

Gail Dapogny
1154 Olden Road
Ann Arbor, MI 48103-3005
(734) 665-9816
gdapogny@umich.edu
http://www.silverhawk.com/ex99/dapogny (single historical photo - no longer
registered with Silverhawk)

Snail Scott on fri 2 aug 02


At 11:49 PM 8/1/02 -0400, you wrote:
>...completely submerge (momentarily) their ware in water about an hour before
>dipping into the white majolica glaze. The reason was to "fill" the pores
>of the clay with water so that those pores would not suck up the glaze so
>thirstily.


I've done this for glazes prone to pinholing, for the oppposite
reason. The spots where pinholes occur seem to be spots with
deep (though tiny) pits in the clay. Wetting the bisque seems
to help the glaze flow into those pits, instead of drying out
on the surface and stopping too soon.

-Snail

Gail Dapogny on fri 2 aug 02


Snail,
Your explanation may well be what Ann explained. I'm certainly fuzzy on
it. But the nice part is that ---whatever the reason--the process, that
is, submerging in water, helps! thanks--Gail

>
>I've done this for glazes prone to pinholing, for the oppposite
>reason. The spots where pinholes occur seem to be spots with
>deep (though tiny) pits in the clay. Wetting the bisque seems
>to help the glaze flow into those pits, instead of drying out
>on the surface and stopping too soon.
>