Ababi on tue 23 sep 03
Fifth session=20
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There is one lovely thing about writing with the computer, by a small
mistake you erase everything you have written in the last two hours!
Never mind, I might write it nicer this time - besides much better than
loosing a whole kiln because of controlling mistake.
=85.A nice way to stimulate a child's mind, is to show him these
small magnets, the ones you glue to a piece of clay and sell, or stick
to your own refrigerator.
These magnets, look the same, having the same qualities, when you put
them one on the other with the same pole, reject each other. Very
interesting the one of top jumps and turn around or fall to the floor,
if you will not put them in the proper order the result will be
rejection! +Pole to +pole will not exist will never be together!
In the beginning of this century were published two excellent books
concerning glazing.
Michael Bailey's Cone six glazes. And a short time latter "Mastering ^6
glazes of Ron Roy and John Hesselberth.
From my point of view, these books are the biggest treasure (Together
with Tony Hansen's books).=20
The authors were right to deal with ^6 ox. which is the most popular
firing these days, yet you can adopt what you learn in their books to
your other finings (ox) =85???? Might ask me Ron?
!!!! Says I. Presume I work with a commercial glaze in ^6. Your rules
can be examined.
If I work in ^04?=20
I will make the tests, perhaps with most of them I shall fail, but I
will know where I am and what do I sell.
Now, to the difference between the books and why I see them as one!
Ron&John's book is an excellent tool to the potter that wants to sell
his merchandise and sleep good at night, without worrying he has killed
anyone.=20
The recipes that given in the book are beautiful. Another reason to
sleep well, the night before the selling.=20
Michael Bailey's book on the other hand tells you: "Everything you
wanted to know about glazing and you did not dare asking.
Bailey do not feel he should nurse his reader. He hopes, I believe that
they know what they do.
In his book, in every chapter he deals with a different issue.
You may call it a recipe book you may call it an excellent guidebook to
the mysterious and unsolved problem of the potter.=20
Slowly slowly we are leaving the commercial glazes.
You can buy some not very expensive material and try some tests.
I will deal mainly with three or four recipes. The stability and
durability you will test yourself. Like Mike Bailey I do not think that
every glaze should be food safe. (In his next book Bailey will
write "=85like Ababi Sharon I do not think=85." ).
Like the two magnets, when you connect them in the opposite poles you
will get an excellent encyclopedia of glazing.
Do you remember my adviser at my supplier from the earlier session?
With the time he discovered I have been one of the few people that
understand what he says. He gave me The Potter's Dictionary of
Materials and Techniques, by Hamer and Hamer an excellent book. If
chemistry disturbs you, you may wait a while but it is good to have it
and slowly slowly from time to time to read and learn more or recover
forgotten issues. =20
Ababi Sharon
Glaze addict
Kibbutz Shoval Israel
ababisha@shoval.org.il
http://members4.clubphoto.com/ababi306910
http://www.matrix2000.co.nz/Matrix%20Demo/Ababi.htm
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