Rob Di Stasio on sat 30 apr 05
I 'm too new to be offering advice but this worked well.
After much help from Vince Pitelka I decided to try using his recipe for
super refined terra sig for my first attempt at making the stuff. The
only problem was going to be reducing it, Vince uses large earthenware
vessels to reduce the thin mixture to a workable viscosity and I have none.
I thought about reducing it over a flame but Vince warned that it might
burn the clay at the bottom.
Years ago I bought a new crockpot at a tag sale for fifty cents. It has
an glazed ceramic liner. Uses very little electricity because it's such
a low heat.
Bottom line is it works great, reduction time depends on the amount you
have but it doesn't burn at all.
Probably the last advice I'll give for a while, but thanks to all who
helped me, especially Vince.
Regards,
Rob Di Stasio
South Salem NY
Vince Pitelka on sat 30 apr 05
> Years ago I bought a new crockpot at a tag sale for fifty cents. It has
> an glazed ceramic liner. Uses very little electricity because it's such
> a low heat. Bottom line is it works great, reduction time depends on the
> amount you
> have but it doesn't burn at all.
I have to give Rob Di Stasio full credit for this great suggestion. It is a
wonderful alternative. I am glad I was able to help him with the terra sig
process, but in this instance he has really helped me.
I used to let my sig concentrate by natural evaporation in large terracotta
dishes, but more recently I have have been concentrating it in a large
stainless steel mixing bowl in the bottom of an electric kiln with the
bottom element on low. That works great, but for safety's sake it is
necessary to turn off the breaker when transfering the metal bowl into or
out of the kiln. I almost always concentrate my sig until bone dry, so I'm
going to pick up a few of those inexpensive extra-large size crock pots.
This is going to be a big help in making terra sig.
Rob's suggestion came in time to incorporate it into the updated version of
my terra sig article, which will soon replace the old version on the
Digitalfire website, but is also available on my own website at
- 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/
John Britt on sat 30 apr 05
Rob,
That is exactly hope I have done it. (Either a small coil burner or a
crock pot. We made the soda ash water for the shino dip in the crock pot
too.)
Go slow to be sure not to boil/burn it.
Hope it helps,
John Britt
www.johnbrittpottery.com
Cindy in SD on sun 1 may 05
Hi, Rob
The crock pot sounds great! I do have large, porous bowls, but patience
is in short supply. (Also crock pots!) For anyone interested, I reduce
my terra sig by sitting it, in the bowl, on top of the kiln during
firing. You do have to monitor it and stir it now and then, because it
reduces pretty quickly when the kiln starts to get hot.
Best wishes,
Cindy in SD
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