Ellen Currans on tue 9 nov 04
Sorry, this may not be much help in England.
My favorite glazing buckets (for dipping) are white plastic buckets, 14 1/2
wide by 14 1/2 tall. These are a couple inches bigger in diameter than the
usual paint or pickle buckets you can pick up used for a couple dollars or free.
However, they are just enough wider so that I can dip 12 inch square plates
ofr13 inch handled platters in the bucket without having to remove the glaze
to a larger tub. I use about 10 glazes and keep them in these buckets, 5 to a
rolling cart. The carts keep the buckets at a good height for working, and
roll under the glazing table on both sides when not in use. When full, they are
heavy, and unless you are a large, strong person, you won't want to be
lifting them from place to place.
The buckets are flexible enough that you can push in one side to make room
for a slightly larger piece like a pedestal bowl. I keep my buckets topped up
with glaze from a second pickle bucket, so I always have the depth I need to
dip easily.
These buckets are available in Portland, Oregon, at FH Steinbarts Co., 234
S.E. 12th Ave, Portland, 97232. 503-232-8793. Steinbarts is a Wine and Beer
Home Brewing Supply house (they handle corks in all sizes) and these buckets are
sold for home brewers. Last time I bought buckets they were about $11. Some
of mine are 25 years old. Steinbarts does a large mail order business. You
may have a home brewing business in your city that handles the same buckets.
I use a mortar mixing shaft on a portable 3/8 inch drill to stir glazes, and
sieve each with a Talisman sieve before starting a series of 5 or 6 firings.
Each glaze has a specific density that is best for my work, and I keep track
of that by weighing a small plastic bottle full on the gram scale, and
adjusting the glaze with more water or more thick glaze from the secondary buckets.
Some of my larger slab pieces require a larger container and I use several.
One is a black feed tub for horses (about 24 by l8 inches) and another is a
plastic under-the-bed storage container. Narrow, long and not too deep. An l8
inch stainless steel bowl is also useful.
Ellen Currans
Dundee, Oregon
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