kriket on wed 31 aug 05
Hi,
Wonder if anyone can help, I am not a potter by background (although my
mother is)but have been experimenting making egyptian paste beads off and on
for several years, trying to perfect the right base mix recipe and in turn
glossy smooth surface. I have had a fair amount of success - tweaking
ingreds here and there and playing with colour. However I am still
experiencing random pin-holes in the surface of the beads. It seems to
happen mostly on the beads containing cobalt carbonate and at times there
will be only one hole per bead (very frustrating)!I have experimented with
drying methods and times - they seem to take a long time to dry naturally
(up to 2 weeks)which could be due to my location - by the sea on the east
coast of Australia. I have tried sieving ingredients through a fine mesh,
using more water, using less water when mixing the paste etc. I have a small
ward electric kiln - pretty old but seems to be stable in firing regimes, I
am taking the beads to cone 05 - and going pretty slowly - about 9 hours.
Any suggestions would be appreciated, I seem to have problem solved many
surface difficulties and just as I accomplish one another rears it's head.
thanks kriket
Lester Haworth on wed 31 aug 05
A 20 - 30 min. soak at the end of your firing cycle should allow the
self-glazed surface to heal over the pinholes.
Les H.
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG]On Behalf Of kriket
Sent: Tuesday, August 30, 2005 10:14 PM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: pin holing in egyptian paste beads
Hi,
Wonder if anyone can help, I am not a potter by background (although my
mother is)but have been experimenting making egyptian paste beads off and on
for several years, trying to perfect the right base mix recipe and in turn
glossy smooth surface. I have had a fair amount of success - tweaking
ingreds here and there and playing with colour. However I am still
experiencing random pin-holes in the surface of the beads. It seems to
happen mostly on the beads containing cobalt carbonate and at times there
will be only one hole per bead (very frustrating)!I have experimented with
drying methods and times - they seem to take a long time to dry naturally
(up to 2 weeks)which could be due to my location - by the sea on the east
coast of Australia. I have tried sieving ingredients through a fine mesh,
using more water, using less water when mixing the paste etc. I have a small
ward electric kiln - pretty old but seems to be stable in firing regimes, I
am taking the beads to cone 05 - and going pretty slowly - about 9 hours.
Any suggestions would be appreciated, I seem to have problem solved many
surface difficulties and just as I accomplish one another rears it's head.
thanks kriket
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