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mixing bentonite

updated sat 11 nov 06

 

Ron Collins on sat 9 nov 02


This is how I do my bentonite, and it works great for me always...I've tried
other ways before trying this:
Put water is a microwavable plastic larger cup or bowl....add bentonite to
cold water, don't bother to mix much, just to disperse large clump.....use
about ratio of 5:1 water to bent.--micro
until very hot, stir with whisk, satin smooth, add to other water in bucket
that you plan to put all your other dry ingredients into...bentonite first,
then water is tepid again...works great, no lumps...this is different than
how others do it, but you do to your church and I'll go to mine...Melinda
Collins,
Antigua, Guatemala

karen gringhuis on sun 10 nov 02


Ron - my clay body incl. macaloid, similar to
bentonite but whiter. I ALWAYS blunge it in water the
night before. It absorbs water and expands greatly.
In my experience, if it's not blunged beforehand, it
can cause a micro-bubble structure in the mixed clay
which is then like trying to wedge a marshmallow.
Bentonite MAY be different.

=====
Karen Gringhuis
KG Pottery
Box 607 Alfred NY 14802

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mel jacobson on fri 10 nov 06


i have found that making a batch
of bentonite and water in a blender and
storing it in a tight sealed container works
great for addition to glazes.

you have to make some allowances for
measuring. but it is rather easy to estimate.
bentonite does not do much to the average glaze, except
help it suspend.

in most cases, that is why it is added.

i have one of those large skippy peanut butter containers.
i mix raw bentonite with water in my studio blender.
it turns to gel. (don't take it on a plane, they will grab it
away from you.) i add the gob of gel to the jar.
make several batches, and fill the jar. tight cover.

a half cup measure will go a long way in a 5 gallon glaze.

remember, the stuff really grows when it is wet.
(i know, the clay particles do not grow...the gel grows)

anyway, anyone that has added bentonite dry to a
glaze all ready wet will all tell you...`my god, don't do it.`
mel

from: mel/minnetonka.mn.usa
website: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/

Clayart page link: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/clayart.html

A Kettner on fri 10 nov 06


Hey Mel that is a great suggestion. Another method I use when making
glazes is to weigh out and put all my glaze chems including bentonite
or cmc in a bag (smaller batches) or bucket; shake/mix it up real
good. That way the bentonite is distributed amongst the rest of the
chems. Dump that into your water and there you go glaze away.

Arthur

On 11/10/06, mel jacobson wrote:
> i have found that making a batch
> of bentonite and water in a blender and
> storing it in a tight sealed container works
> great for addition to glazes.
>
> you have to make some allowances for
> measuring. but it is rather easy to estimate.
> bentonite does not do much to the average glaze, except
> help it suspend.
>
> in most cases, that is why it is added.
>
> i have one of those large skippy peanut butter containers.
> i mix raw bentonite with water in my studio blender.
> it turns to gel. (don't take it on a plane, they will grab it
> away from you.) i add the gob of gel to the jar.
> make several batches, and fill the jar. tight cover.
>
> a half cup measure will go a long way in a 5 gallon glaze.
>
> remember, the stuff really grows when it is wet.
> (i know, the clay particles do not grow...the gel grows)
>
> anyway, anyone that has added bentonite dry to a
> glaze all ready wet will all tell you...`my god, don't do it.`
> mel
>
> from: mel/minnetonka.mn.usa
> website: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/
>
> Clayart page link: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/clayart.html
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> 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.
>

Randall Moody on fri 10 nov 06


I used to add the bentonite to hot water, mix it with a power drill and put
it into the glaze last.
On 11/10/06, mel jacobson wrote:
>
> i have found that making a batch
> of bentonite and water in a blender and
> storing it in a tight sealed container works
> great for addition to glazes.
>
> you have to make some allowances for
> measuring. but it is rather easy to estimate.
> bentonite does not do much to the average glaze, except
> help it suspend.
>
> in most cases, that is why it is added.
>
> i have one of those large skippy peanut butter containers.
> i mix raw bentonite with water in my studio blender.
> it turns to gel. (don't take it on a plane, they will grab it
> away from you.) i add the gob of gel to the jar.
> make several batches, and fill the jar. tight cover.
>
> a half cup measure will go a long way in a 5 gallon glaze.
>
> remember, the stuff really grows when it is wet.
> (i know, the clay particles do not grow...the gel grows)
>
> anyway, anyone that has added bentonite dry to a
> glaze all ready wet will all tell you...`my god, don't do it.`
> mel
>
> from: mel/minnetonka.mn.usa
> website: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/
>
> Clayart page link: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/clayart.html
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> 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.
>