Steven Blankenbeker on tue 21 sep 04
Ione grog is definitely calcined. I am not certain if it is mined as a
hard aggregate and then burnt to remove its chemical water, or if it is a
soft clay that is extruded into a noodle and then calcined and ground
later. Missouri grogs are flint clays that are hard and nonplastic, and
burnt to remove chemical water and get most of the shrinkage out. Mulcoa
type grogs are soft, bauxitic kaolins that are extruded into a noodle,
dried, and then burnt and ground. The material that is being produced by
Clayburn is a soft clay that is ground fresh, then the ground clay is
fired - never extruded beforehand. I don't have data but my guess is that
this grog would not contribute to cristobalite formation.
Hi Ken!!! I have clay in my blood, and am now working as the ceramic
engineer at Taylor Clay Products in Salisbury, NC. Big changes at Cedar
Heights and Resco, and I saw the opportunity to get out before I was asked
to leave. The entire minerals and ceramic group pretty much left or was
forced out, at both Cedar Heights and Piedmont Minerals. Some outstanding -
OUTSTANDING - clays available here in NC for potters. Actually better
clays here for pottery than in Ohio, in both quality and diversity, just
none commercially available. But Taylor Clay is actually allowing me to
explore these possibilities, and with the help of some potter friends like
Brian Van Nostrand, we are working on some really good things that will
hopefully be available to potters soon. This thing I have going on with
the Avery type kaolin is small compared to some of the things we are
working on, but a neat and unique project just the same. There needs to be
a potter's coop to pull off some of this. Take care.
Ivor and Olive Lewis on wed 22 sep 04
Dear Steven Blankenbeker,
In interesting message.
I would have thought people who were production potters would consider
making their own grog materials to suit their needs. Above some value
for tonnage production of pots per year it must become economic to
make your own from raw bagged minerals purchased by the Palette or, if
you have them in the vicinity, your own native clays.
Best regards,
Ivor Lewis.
Redhill,
S. Australia.
| |
|
