Linda - Pacifica on fri 18 aug 06
Well, we had our first class with the new teacher yesterday and I did not find it a satisfactory experience.
One of the reasons: the gas kiln, which had been fired to cone 9, won't fire. The gas shuts off after lighting and our former prof, who had 30 years experience with that kiln, couldn't get it to go. So the college is writing off cone 9 glazes for the semester! "It's not a priority for them," says the new adjunct prof.
We have a very limited supply of cone 5 glazes and want more, so here's my request:
Please recommend some glazes that fire about as well at cone 5 as they do at cone 6. The Skutt kilns we have are cone 6 and we're not about to get cone 6 out of them.
I'm definitely looking for short cuts here and am grateful for an assistance.
Thanks, Linda
Linda - Pacifica on sat 19 aug 06
Jane and Elizabeth,
We already have a few cone 5 glazes and do fire them in our electric kilns. I too love some of the commercial cone 5-6 glazes but I can't imagine them going for that expense when they won't even fix the gas kiln. I'll suggest it and check out some prices, but I won't hold my breath.
In the past 24 hours I've accumulated many cone 6, and a few cone 5 (thanks to Bill Schran) and I'll present them to the other students for decision-making. We can at least prepare some of Bill Schran's defined cone 5 glazes and have some variety.
The MC6 glazes don't give us the results seen in the book. I think it's more because of the lack of a cooldown rather than the cone at which we fire. Alisa's glazes may fall into the same category, since she mimics the MC6 firing schedule.
I might try to pursuade the new teach to alter the firing schedule but I won't hold my breath.
Thanks to all for the help,
Linda
On Saturday, August 19, 2006, at 04:40PM, Elizabeth Priddy wrote:
>You said you wanted a shortcut.
>
>To do this: BUY relieable cone 5 glazes and go with
>them. Remember, you are going back to cone 9 as soon
>as that thing is fixed, so what have you lost?
Victoria E. Hamilton on sat 19 aug 06
Linda -
Well, off the top of my head I know that Frog Pond Green is one. Saffire
blue I think is also from Frog Pond Pottery - it works well at cone 5.
Randy's Red is pretty ok at cone 5 - gotta get lots of glaze on the pot and
it'll come out sort of a brick color.
I'll let you know if I come up with more.
Vicki Hamilton
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of Linda -
Pacifica
Sent: Friday, August 18, 2006 14:25
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Need cone 5, not 6 glazes
Well, we had our first class with the new teacher yesterday and I did not
find it a satisfactory experience.
One of the reasons: the gas kiln, which had been fired to cone 9, won't
fire. The gas shuts off after lighting and our former prof, who had 30
years experience with that kiln, couldn't get it to go. So the college is
writing off cone 9 glazes for the semester! "It's not a priority for them,"
says the new adjunct prof.
We have a very limited supply of cone 5 glazes and want more, so here's my
request:
Please recommend some glazes that fire about as well at cone 5 as they do at
cone 6. The Skutt kilns we have are cone 6 and we're not about to get cone
6 out of them.
I'm definitely looking for short cuts here and am grateful for an
assistance.
Thanks, Linda
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Elizabeth Priddy on sat 19 aug 06
You said you wanted a shortcut.
You also said it is temporary, as when the program
gets the kiln to work, you will be cone 9 again. (you
did not say this, but I gathered it from you post)
So here is my suggestion.
Instead of spending the semester futzing around with
new glaze formulas, spend the semester glazing,
applying and working with known glazes where all the
warts and mistakes are your fault as the application
is the only factor of failure. Welcome to electric
firing, where there is no grace to be had from the
kiln. The ugly things you pull out are all on you.
On the other hand, if it is beautiful, that also is
something you can claim (rather than crowing about
getting the sweet spot in that old reduction gas
beast)
To do this: BUY relieable cone 5 glazes and go with
them. Remember, you are going back to cone 9 as soon
as that thing is fixed, so what have you lost?
Minnesota Clay makes fantastic cone 5--7 stoneware
glazes that look great at either temp, different looks
at either end, but good vitrification. Several other
companies make complete lines of very good glazes.
Also remember that cone 10 stoneware is not going to
mature at cone 5, so you all need some new clay too.
Try and see it as an opportunity instead of a need to
come up with all new formulas, when you don't need
that long term. Else you will have a semester full of
glaze tests and learn nothing of long-term value
except a whole class turned off to electric firing.
Learning to fire electric should go like this:
fire with someone else
get a kiln and fire the glazes they had
fire the glazes you develop
The reason, to me, is this: electric does not forgive
like a natural fuel kiln. The frustration level is
much higher as surprises are rare. People trained
essentially to be a little sloppy because of the
miracles of gas are SOL with electric and that is the
source of a lot of the bitter complaints I hear about
it. Or at least what I hear through the din. I LIKE
that aspect of my electric kilns and am only building
a hybrid portable fuel kin because I want a dirty
beast to play with. Ihave no intention of making a
living with crust and snot as my bread and butter.
So, you all need to pull back and think before you
proceed.
"Just switching temperature" is not just about finding
a new formula.
The long-wind here is for others with less experience.
The kernal of truth is for you.
Good luck with it all.
E
E
Elizabeth Priddy
Beaufort, NC - USA
http://www.elizabethpriddy.com
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Janine Roubik on sat 19 aug 06
Hello,
If you need cone 5 shortcuts - try some of the pre-mixed Coyote Clay and Color glazes. I was in a situation where it was cone 5 and cone 5 only AND the owner was very leery of any glazes that we mixed ourselves - even the few people who went to school for ceramics! But these are the most beautiful commercial glazes I've worked with. And the people there were super nice whenever I called.
But...the school seriously won't pop for a repairman to come and look at the kiln? Geez...
Good luck
J
Linda - Pacifica wrote:
Well, we had our first class with the new teacher yesterday and I did not find it a satisfactory experience.
One of the reasons: the gas kiln, which had been fired to cone 9, won't fire. The gas shuts off after lighting and our former prof, who had 30 years experience with that kiln, couldn't get it to go. So the college is writing off cone 9 glazes for the semester! "It's not a priority for them," says the new adjunct prof.
We have a very limited supply of cone 5 glazes and want more, so here's my request:
Please recommend some glazes that fire about as well at cone 5 as they do at cone 6. The Skutt kilns we have are cone 6 and we're not about to get cone 6 out of them.
I'm definitely looking for short cuts here and am grateful for an assistance.
Thanks, Linda
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Elizabeth Priddy on sun 20 aug 06
It might just be a pass the hat situation.
how much glaze could you all buy at about$3 per lb if
everybody chipped in $20.
10 people $200
20 people $400
that's a lot of glaze.
Good luck.
E
Elizabeth Priddy
Beaufort, NC - USA
http://www.elizabethpriddy.com
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