Joanne Van Bezooyen on mon 6 jan 03
Making tiles suitable for exterior water features and the freezing =
thawing of most outdoor applications takes some consideration in clay =
selection to withstand the weather for many many years.
I am interested in clay bodies you tile artists have found successful =
for these applications, and the characteristics you look for in the clay =
you use. I have been focusing on low absorption, a good clear white to =
obtain bright colors, and, of course, properties which enable the least =
amount of warping and cracking. What characteristics do YOU look for? =
Which clays do you find most successful?
Joanne L. Van Bezooyen, artist
Art Gecko Designs, custom murals & art tile
11220 E. Via Madre
Tucson, Arizona, USA 85749
(520)749-1685 home
(520) 760-1584 studio and fax
http://www.artgeckotile.com
Mondloch on tue 7 jan 03
>Making tiles suitable for exterior water features and the freezing thawing
of most outdoor applications takes some consideration in clay selection to
withstand the weather for many many years.
>
Joann,
I use my regular ^10 body mix (which is fairly coarse to start) and add
about 7% grog, 3% sand, 10% 35mesh kyanite (I love this stuff), and 1 or 2
rolls toilet paper per 100 lbs. dry mix.
I use this body (adjusted for the job and my mood) for fairly thick tiles
and also large, thicker thrown work. I think that the added coarse materials
aid in drying without problems and reducing my single firing risks. I'm
surprised when I hear all the hoops people jump through to get their tiles
dry and fired. The claybody seems to be very freeze/thaw resistant provided
that the form doesn't collect pooled water.
I have a mental image of the feldspar/flint in the body creating a glassy
matrix around these varied, larger particles. Sort of like adding
increasingly larger stones and rebar to mortar mixes when it's being poured
thicker.
Have you had some specific problem that you're trying to address?
Sylvia
-----
Mark & Sylvia Mondloch
Silver Creek Pottery & Forge
W6725 Hwy 144
Random Lake ,Wi 53075
HotArt@silvercreekpottery.com
http://www.silvercreekpottery.com
LindaBlossom on mon 13 jan 03
Joanne,
I look for a clay that dries and fires with little warping. Able to be
dried quickly. Strong in the dry state and strong when fired. Plastic
enough to be used on a large hollow form. Able to be used in coiling, slab
work, and extruded. Able to be used outdoors in my upstate NY climate: not
too absorbent but porous. Red clay to give depth under the glazes. Able to
be fired many times as I like to keep adding glazes. Good as single fired
clay. I want to be able to make tiles as thin as 1/8" and as thick as 2"
and when I glaze it raw but dry, it can take on water until it is
leatherhard again and be dried all over without disintegrating. Able to be
very lightly sanded without pits and pleasant on my hands. Stoneware that
firesat a cone 6 to 8. I think that is all but as soon as I send this
something will occur to me.
Linda
Ithaca, NY
Making tiles suitable for exterior water features and the freezing thawing
of most outdoor applications takes some consideration in clay selection to
withstand the weather for many many years.
I am interested in clay bodies you tile artists have found successful for
these applications, and the characteristics you look for in the clay you
use. I have been focusing on low absorption, a good clear white to obtain
bright colors, and, of course, properties which enable the least amount of
warping and cracking. What characteristics do YOU look for? Which clays do
you find most successful?
Joanne L. Van Bezooyen, artist
Art Gecko Designs, custom murals & art tile
11220 E. Via Madre
Tucson, Arizona, USA 85749
(520)749-1685 home
(520) 760-1584 studio and fax
http://www.artgeckotile.com
| |
|
