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problems with waterfall brown

updated sat 30 oct 04

 

Toni Smith on tue 26 oct 04


When John/Ron's book came out, I grabbed it and ran. One of my favorites was Waterfall Brown. HOwever, I had written to John that after about six months, my bucket of Waterfall had unbudgeable sludge in the bottom that no amount of sieving would help. After reading Ron's post today, perhaps its because we have well water. Ohio is a great state for Iron in the water, and that might be my answer. (When I removed the sludge, the testers didn't resemble Waterfall brown anymore....so whatever changed, it was significant.) So far that is the only glaze I have had that problem with from their book. Its a treasure for me at Cone 6 Electric. Toni Smith in Ohio

John Hesselberth on tue 26 oct 04


On Tuesday, October 26, 2004, at 08:36 AM, Toni Smith wrote:

> So far that is the only glaze I have had that problem with from their
> book. Its a treasure for me at Cone 6 Electric.

Hi Toni,

I do get a chuckle out of Waterfall. We state fairly clearly that it
is the most difficult glaze in the book and are amazed (and I suppose
secretly delighted) that it is the first one most people try. It's kind
of a "don't tell me I shouldn't do this first" response that is one of
the things that makes potters the neat people they/we are.

Regards,

John

John Hesselberth
http://www.frogpondpottery.com
http://www.masteringglazes.com

Ron Roy on fri 29 oct 04


Hi Toni,

Try this - add 2% bentonite and reduce the ball clay by one the next time
you mix that glaze up.

Some times you need some Epsom salts to reflocc your glaze. Put a couple of
tablespoons of Epsom into a cup of water and microwave it till all the
salts are dissolved.

Store that solution in a covered container - and add some to that glaze - a
teaspoon at a time. Stir the glaze up and wait for an hour - if it does not
settle out fast you are there. If it still settles too fast add another
teaspoon of the salts solution. Always wait a bit to give the salts a
chance to work.

Next time you mix it up with the bentonite you will probably not have to
add the salts.

Flocculating a glaze makes it thicker by the way - so application thickness
needs to be worked out again.

Glazes that are thin in the bucket tend to settle out much faster than
thicker ones - a good argument for bisquing higher - so glazes can be
thicker in the bucket.

RR

>When John/Ron's book came out, I grabbed it and ran. One of my favorites
>was Waterfall Brown. HOwever, I had written to John that after about six
>months, my bucket of Waterfall had unbudgeable sludge in the bottom that
>no amount of sieving would help. After reading Ron's post today, perhaps
>its because we have well water. Ohio is a great state for Iron in the
>water, and that might be my answer. (When I removed the sludge, the
>testers didn't resemble Waterfall brown anymore....so whatever changed, it
>was significant.) So far that is the only glaze I have had that problem
>with from their book. Its a treasure for me at Cone 6 Electric. Toni
>Smith in Ohio
>
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Ron Roy
RR#4
15084 Little Lake Road
Brighton, Ontario
Canada
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Phone: 613-475-9544
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