Mishy Lowe on tue 22 feb 05
I got an interesting query I thought maybe someone on
the list can help this guy? I'd be happy to pass it
along to him, or you can email him from the post
below-
*******
From: "English International School"
To: mishlowe@desertdragonpottery.com
Subject: red earthenware
Date: Tue, 22 Feb 2005 11:41:04 +0100
Dear Michelle,
I live and work in Benin, West Africa. Last weekend I
did a little travelling and was intrigued by a village
I visited. Its main source of income is the production
of red earthenware pottery. I was saddened to hear
that recently a lady that had been involved with the
manufacture of these items had died, taking with her a
secret that had allows them to produce roofing tiles,
(a relatively lucrative endeavour by rural standards).
I was told that she added a secret powder to the clay
which improved it waterproof properties but that no
one had any idea of what this powder was. I was told
they could still make tiles but that anyone living in
the house would definitely get wet. They also told me
that the pots they are making now are not of the same
quality as before, though they still seem to be able
to sell some of them. I stumbled upon you email
address on the Internet and was wondering if you might
be able to point me in the right direction with
respect to this secret ingredient so that I can help
them get their roof tile production underway again.
Kind regards,
Simon Collins
=====
Mishy
Mishy@desertdragonpottery.com
http://www.desertdragonpottery.com
Desert Dragon Pottery 602-690-6956
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John Hesselberth on tue 22 feb 05
On Tuesday, February 22, 2005, at 09:17 AM, Mishy Lowe wrote:
> I got an interesting query I thought maybe someone on
> the list can help this guy? I'd be happy to pass it
> along to him, or you can email him from the post
> below-
Hi Mishy,
Not sure, but I seem to remember that a standard way of sealing roofing
tiles in developing countries is too dust them with powdered galena
before firing--which may be why the lady is no longer alive. I know I
have heard stories of children in a poor South American country being
sent out to steal auto batteries to get a source of lead for roofing
tiles. I got involved for a while in trying to help them find a
substitute, but lost track of that effort several years ago.
Hopefully someone else will have more positive suggestions as to what
she might have been using.
Regards,
John
John Hesselberth
http://www.frogpondpottery.com
http://www.masteringglazes.com
Rick Hamelin on tue 22 feb 05
I wonder if it was powdered glass which would act as a frit and lower the melting point down of the clay thus reducing its porosity and increasing its hardness
Rick
--
"Many a wiser men than I hath
gone to pot." 1649
-------------- Original message --------------
> I got an interesting query I thought maybe someone on
> the list can help this guy? I'd be happy to pass it
> along to him, or you can email him from the post
> below-
>
> *******
> From: "English International School"
>
> To: mishlowe@desertdragonpottery.com
> Subject: red earthenware
> Date: Tue, 22 Feb 2005 11:41:04 +0100
>
> Dear Michelle,
>
>
>
> I live and work in Benin, West Africa. Last weekend I
> did a little travelling and was intrigued by a village
> I visited. Its main source of income is the production
> of red earthenware pottery. I was saddened to hear
> that recently a lady that had been involved with the
> manufacture of these items had died, taking with her a
> secret that had allows them to produce roofing tiles,
> (a relatively lucrative endeavour by rural standards).
> I was told that she added a secret powder to the clay
> which improved it waterproof properties but that no
> one had any idea of what this powder was. I was told
> they could still make tiles but that anyone living in
> the house would definitely get wet. They also told me
> that the pots they are making now are not of the same
> quality as before, though they still seem to be able
> to sell some of them. I stumbled upon you email
> address on the Internet and was wondering if you might
> be able to point me in the right direction with
> respect to this secret ingredient so that I can help
> them get their roof tile production underway again.
>
>
>
> Kind regards,
>
>
>
> Simon Collins
>
> =====
> Mishy
> Mishy@desertdragonpottery.com
> http://www.desertdragonpottery.com
> Desert Dragon Pottery 602-690-6956
>
>
>
> __________________________________
> Do you Yahoo!?
> Yahoo! Mail - now with 250MB free storage. Learn more.
> http://info.mail.yahoo.com/mail_250
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