Rod Wuetherick on fri 16 jul 04
I wanted to add something to this B-MIX debate on handles. I used B-MIX for
seven years until I came to this simple realization. With BMix you have 90%
of the problems you would have with a true porcelain with absolutely none of
the benefits. That being said...
With B-Mix or any clay for that matter it is crucial to attach the handles
at a time where they are at or very, very near the same moisture content of
that which you are attaching to.
So many times I have seen people talk about handles cracking and then when I
watch them they attach a fairly damp pulled handle to a leather hard pot.
You are asking for cracked handles - think about it. Your pot has done most
of it's shrinking and now you are attaching a handle that has a fair amount
of shrinking to do. It just not going to work. If you don't attach the
handle the minute the vessel is thrown then you need to pay extra attention.
For example if you make a casserole the body and the lid obviously are much
drier by the time you get around to attaching handles to them.
What I did when I used B-Mix was once the lid was trimmed and I was ready to
assemble I pulled my handles, let them set up a bit, cut them to the size(s)
I was going to use on the vessel. Then I simply put the handles into the
casserole arched as they would be when attached and let them sit overnight
inside the vessel. When I made casseroles with BMIX I generally did 20-30 at
a time, no problem to pull the handles and set them in the vessels and the
next morning you knew what your first job in the studio was.
Sometime ago there was this same debate on Clayart and there were several
detractors from this method of attaching - I hesitate to call it my method
as it truly seems common sense to me. The detractors main point of
contention was this was yet another step - too much handling. I say today as
I said then what are you talking about too much handling? The only extra
step you make with this method is that you cover your pots one extra time.
Yet if you never need to look at them again once they are attached - trying
to use spooze, ribs, wooden tools to fix cracks. What exactly is ones
definition of over handling?
After the final attachment I loosely covered those casseroles and never
looked at them again until they were ready to be loaded into bisque.
Having them arched, and drying/moisture equalization with the vessel they
are to be attached to made it so I might have one handle crack out of 60, 70
casseroles.
Like anything in pottery I think that to solve problems like these one needs
to pay careful attention to the idiosyncrasies of the material of choice and
if they really feel that the extra hassle etc. is worth it to use that
medium then they may need to change the way they work.
Also not that I think this made much of a difference I always used Darvan in
my slip for attachments with BMIX but I'm sure it didn't hurt anything
either.
My opinion is why mess with BMIX when there are tons of great porcelain
recipes out there that I can guarantee you throw as well or better than
BMIX. If your into Celadons, Reds, etc. well there is just no comparison to
how they look on a nice grolleg body. If you don't want to mix your own
porcelain try throwing Coleman's porcelain. I can throw taller forms with
Coleman's porcelain than I can with BMIX - strictly speaking this shouldn't
be so - but it is. Try it yourself if you don't believe me ;)
Anyways... that is my two cents. We are off to see Utah Phillips at the
Vancouver Folk Fest..
Best,
Rod
rod@redironstudios.ca
www.redironstudios.ca
claybair on fri 16 jul 04
Rod,
Funny - I just threw a nice bisqued & glazed bowl in the trash after an
attachment fell off. I knew I was asking for trouble when I attached the
unevenly moist pieces but hoping against hope.
I think I really learned the lesson now!!! If not... next time someone
please
e-smack me with a virtual 2x4!:-x
Thanks for the tips.
Gayle Bair
Bainbridge Island, WA
http://claybair.com
-----Original Message-----
From: RodWuetherick
Snip<>
With B-Mix or any clay for that matter it is crucial to attach the handles
at a time where they are at or very, very near the same moisture content of
that which you are attaching to.
So many times I have seen people talk about handles cracking and then when I
watch them they attach a fairly damp pulled handle to a leather hard pot.
You are asking for cracked handles - think about it. Your pot has done most
of it's shrinking and now you are attaching a handle that has a fair amount
of shrinking to do. It just not going to work. If you don't attach the
handle the minute the vessel is thrown then you need to pay extra attention.
Snip<>
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