Paul Lewing on sun 14 nov 04
on 11/14/04 1:53 PM, Susanne at susannescher@EARTHLINK.NET wrote:
> I heard of this "Local Reduction" technique for getting a reduction look to
> glazes even in an electric kiln, cone 6 oxidation environment. Someone
> suggested adding "powdered Silicon Carbine" to glazes to get this effect.
> Will this work? Any tips for this? Is Silicon Carbine the same thing as
> Silicon Carbide?
Silicon carbine must be some kind of glass-based firearm. Just kidding!
"Carbine" is undoubtedly a misprint; it's "carbide".
Will it work? The answer is "Yes, sometimes, maybe, it depends". It is
possible to get something that looks like reduction copper red, sort of. It
never looks really like the real thing, and it's tricky. The carbide powder
must be VERY fine, finer than any I've ever seen at a ceramic supply place.
Most of theirs is about 300 mesh, and I think you need about 800 or 1000
mesh, which you can get from lapidary supply houses, where it's sold as a
polishing agent. Then you must add a VERY tiny amount to your glaze. As
much as 1% and you will probably get a "lava" glaze. The one time I ever
got this to work (sort of) I had to refire the piece two cones hotter than I
usually fire to get it to smooth out.
And as far as reproducing the reduction effects of iron glazes, for get it,
it's not going to happen. At least, I've never had that work, I've never
seen any work done that way, and I've never heard of anybody getting that to
work.
Bottom line- if you want reduction, do reduction.
Paul Lewing, Seattle
Susanne on sun 14 nov 04
I heard of this "Local Reduction" technique for getting a reduction look to
glazes even in an electric kiln, cone 6 oxidation environment. Someone
suggested adding "powdered Silicon Carbine" to glazes to get this effect.
Will this work? Any tips for this? Is Silicon Carbine the same thing as
Silicon Carbide?
Thanks! -- Susanne in San Mateo, CA
Cindy on mon 15 nov 04
Hi, Suzanne
It may take a little while before you get to this point, however . . .
You are firing neutral/oxidation. So many beautiful glazes and colors are
available to you which are not available in reduction. There are, likewise,
beautiful effects available in reduction that can't be had in oxidation. It
would be nice to have it all, but take a deep breath and be thankful for
what you got and determine to enjoy where you are.
If you are a squirrel, you will be happier if you don't fret about not being
a fish. One day, perhaps you'll save up your pennies and build yourself a
reduction kiln. Meanwhile, I exort you to explore the wide, wonderful,
gorgeous world of oxidation glazes. Oxidation can be as subtle and
mysterious as reduction. Embrace it.
BTW, I've been through this with the oxidation/reduction thing, too. Also, I
have learned to love my straight, light brown hair, my aging mini 4x4 truck,
and my big feet. It's where you are. Enjoy it.
Best wishes,
Cindy
David Hewitt on tue 16 nov 04
Not long ago Mike Bailey and I did some tests with using silicon carbide
for local reduction in an electric kiln following an article in the
French magazine 'La Ceramique Moderne'
This article referred to 800 mesh silicon carbide, but we used 1200 mesh
silicon carbide as this is what Bath Potters' Supplies stocked. We
would agree that the finer the better.
We tried using 1/2%, 1% and 2% silicon carbide We found that 1/2% to 1%
gave best results, whereas with 2% some tended to remain un-dissolved
and gave grey opaque areas.
We would agree with your overall conclusions that results are variable
and that if you want to do reduction, use a kiln that can do this. If
you haven't such a kiln, then you may get some reduction effects using
silicon carbide that happen to suit you - if you are lucky.
David
In message , Paul Lewing writes
>on 11/14/04 1:53 PM, Susanne at susannescher@EARTHLINK.NET wrote:
>
>> I heard of this "Local Reduction" technique for getting a reduction look to
>> glazes even in an electric kiln, cone 6 oxidation environment. Someone
>> suggested adding "powdered Silicon Carbine" to glazes to get this effect.
>> Will this work? Any tips for this? Is Silicon Carbine the same thing as
>> Silicon Carbide?
>
>Silicon carbine must be some kind of glass-based firearm. Just kidding!
>"Carbine" is undoubtedly a misprint; it's "carbide".
>Will it work? The answer is "Yes, sometimes, maybe, it depends". It is
>possible to get something that looks like reduction copper red, sort of. It
>never looks really like the real thing, and it's tricky. The carbide powder
>must be VERY fine, finer than any I've ever seen at a ceramic supply place.
>Most of theirs is about 300 mesh, and I think you need about 800 or 1000
>mesh, which you can get from lapidary supply houses, where it's sold as a
>polishing agent. Then you must add a VERY tiny amount to your glaze. As
>much as 1% and you will probably get a "lava" glaze. The one time I ever
>got this to work (sort of) I had to refire the piece two cones hotter than I
>usually fire to get it to smooth out.
>And as far as reproducing the reduction effects of iron glazes, for get it,
>it's not going to happen. At least, I've never had that work, I've never
>seen any work done that way, and I've never heard of anybody getting that to
>work.
>Bottom line- if you want reduction, do reduction.
>Paul Lewing, Seattle
--
David Hewitt
Web:- http://www.dhpot.demon.co.uk
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