Gayle Bair on wed 11 jan 06
Hi All,
Today I used Laguna's ^10 Rod Bod.
then back to ^5 B-Mix.
After washing up I noticed my hands
and arms stinging. They seemed very chapped.
I thought I read somewhere that Rods Bod has manganese in it
but cannot find the source of that tidbit. Laguna's MSDS doesn't
provide that info.
Now I was also using cold water so that could be the
source of my discomfort. Or it could be rinsing my hands in the
cold water bucket that I just remembered I had washed off brushes
laced with acrylic paint. hey.I didn't want to waste the water!
My instant remedy was Eveeno hand cream and some triple antibiotic.
Stinging and redness went away quickly though some irritation is still
noticeable.
I'll apply more before going to bed.
Now about B-Mix. I know others and myself demonstrate an insane devotion to
this
cranky clay but this week I've used porcelain and as you already know Rod's
Bod.
I made 2 teapots with the porcelain & a large (for me) lidded jar with the
Rod's Bod
(dang I just read that RB large pieces are prone to cracking).
OMG it seemed so easy to work with these other clays.
So here's what I'm thinking.... If you can make pieces consistently with
B-Mix you can do anything..well, perhaps not climb Mt. Everest.. Ok. nearly
anything!
So my theory which is mine is that "it would seem that B-Mix is a great
teaching tool!"
It builds fortitude, persistence in often futile exercises, promotes join
expertise,
stamina and stubbornness. I may have just finished that lesson. I give
myself permission to
move on to other clays! Hooray!
Next adventure trying out the 50 lb box of Laguna's Frost I picked up last
week.
Gayle Bair
Bainbridge Island, WA
Tucson, AZ
www.claybair.com
Jon Pacini on thu 12 jan 06
Greetings All --- Hi Gayle,
Rods Bod contains granular Magnetite--- an iron mineral-- that is what gives
it the specks. It contains no Manganese other than possibly trace amounts
naturally occuring in the clays used.
It's tendency to have cracking difficulties is due to it's composition. It's
very Plastic for a stoneware and shrinks quite a bit. Much like the
ubiquitous B-mix. It was developed by Rod Callahan back in the early 60's
and has been in constant production ever since.
Let me know what you think of the Frost.
Best regards
Jon Pacini
Clay Manager
Laguna Clay Co
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