Vince Pitelka on sun 28 nov 04
> How close are the wads when you do this and what are they made from, I
> presume they are wet when placed in the kiln which seems like it could
> cause
> problems.
If you make your wads from 50-50 flint and china clay (for use in oxidation
or reduction firing, NOT in salt or soda), they can dry out and fire very
fast without any problem.
Mix up a batch of wadding to normal throwing-clay consistency. Roll small
balls (about 3/8" diameter), and protect them from drying . Right before
you put the platter in the kiln, place the platter upside-down on a pillow,
and place small dots of elmers glue at 3" intervals on top of all the foot
rings. Place a ball on each dot of glue and lightly press into place.
Immediately turn the platter over and carefully place it on the shelf, very
gently pressing down so that all the wads contact the shelf.
Needless to say, you have to plan ahead for this, and make your platters
with feet wide enough to accommodate the wadding. Or, if you have a platter
with very narrow feet and you want to fire it on wadding, you need to leave
a broader swath unglazed, so that there is no chance of the wadding
contacting the glaze.
Good luck -
- Vince
Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Craft, Tennessee Technological University
Smithville TN 37166, 615/597-6801 x111
vpitelka@dtccom.net, wpitelka@tntech.edu
http://iweb.tntech.edu/wpitelka/
http://www.tntech.edu/craftcenter/
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