Mondloch on tue 1 apr 03
I haven't been firing my little wood/salt kiln for awhile- I just find it
impractical to be making work for two different kilns. But, I miss salt
effects so I've been playing with trying to get some localized salt effects
in the gas kiln, not after much, just enough to wet the bare clay a bit and
have a little flashing on the glazed pots.
What's worked best so far for me is putting small(maybe 2" diameter), open
shaped, previously glazed and fired dishes(don't use bisque for this!) with
a small amount of water-softener salt in them. The dishes are perched up(so
that they are above the level of the adjacent pots) on insulating firebrick
which are coated with alumina wash. This has worked best on the top kiln
shelves. When I had tried putting the little dishes right on the shelves,
the salt effects were concentrated on the bottom sides of nearby pots and
the kiln shelf under it.
I'm curious if I'm missing any other tricks to doing this? I've seen the
process mentioned from time to time but don't remember where.
One thing I found interesting - When had I tried a more closed in shape for
the salt, it remained in the pot as a melted salt puddle- apparently unable
to fume out. I think I would have expected it to be sort of half melted
into the glaze of the pot, but it wasn't. Comes right out -with maybe a bit
of water to dissolve it - and the glaze is perfectly glossy, smooth
underneath. Don't know what that means - I just thought it was interesting.
Perhaps the glaze will only accept a very specific amount of sodium?
enough rambling, it's beautiful out and I have a kiln to load :)
Sylvia
---
Mark & Sylvia Mondloch
Silver Creek Pottery & Forge
W6725 Hwy 144
Random Lake ,Wi 53075
HotArt@silvercreekpottery.com
http://www.silvercreekpottery.com
Steve Mills on fri 4 apr 03
The French and others have been doing this for years, it is a technique
I learnt in France and we use all the time in our little (12 cu.ft. give
or take a bit) cross draught wood kiln. We put 2 little pots 3 inches
high, 1 1/2 inches internal diameter where the fire enters the kiln,
each with one dessert spoon of cooking salt in them, and a little clay
bar across the top to stop splattering. We get a lovely coating of salt
on our wares consistently coupled with good ash deposits, with no ruddy
great clouds of white smoke over the neighbourhood!
Steve
Bath
UK
In message , Mondloch writes
>I haven't been firing my little wood/salt kiln for awhile- I just find it
>impractical to be making work for two different kilns. But, I miss salt
>effects so I've been playing with trying to get some localized salt effec=
>ts
>in the gas kiln, not after much, just enough to wet the bare clay a bit a=
>nd
>have a little flashing on the glazed pots.
>
>What's worked best so far for me is putting small(maybe 2" diameter), ope=
>n
>shaped, previously glazed and fired dishes(don't use bisque for this!) wi=
>th
>a small amount of water-softener salt in them. The dishes are perched up(=
>so
>that they are above the level of the adjacent pots) on insulating firebri=
>ck
>which are coated with alumina wash. This has worked best on the top kiln
>shelves. When I had tried putting the little dishes right on the shelves,
>the salt effects were concentrated on the bottom sides of nearby pots and
>the kiln shelf under it.
>
>I'm curious if I'm missing any other tricks to doing this? I've seen the
>process mentioned from time to time but don't remember where.
>
>One thing I found interesting - When had I tried a more closed in shape =
>for
>the salt, it remained in the pot as a melted salt puddle- apparently unab=
>le
>to fume out. I think I would have expected it to be sort of half melted
>into the glaze of the pot, but it wasn't. Comes right out -with maybe a b=
>it
>of water to dissolve it - and the glaze is perfectly glossy, smooth
>underneath. Don't know what that means - I just thought it was interestin=
>g.
>Perhaps the glaze will only accept a very specific amount of sodium?
>
>enough rambling, it's beautiful out and I have a kiln to load :)
>
>Sylvia
>
>
>
>---
>Mark & Sylvia Mondloch
>Silver Creek Pottery & Forge
>W6725 Hwy 144
>Random Lake ,Wi 53075
>HotArt@silvercreekpottery.com
>http://www.silvercreekpottery.com
--
Steve Mills
Bath
UK
| |
|
