Robin Wolf on mon 1 jan 07
This is my first posting, so bear with me! I am an amateur potter that has
been on a 20 year hiatus from clay. I am getting back into the clay mode,
and need some advice. I have a Cress B-27-H kiln that I am upgrading as per
Mel's instruction to be a dual-fuel kiln. I prefer throwing ^10 B Mix, but
I also like Laguna's ^10 "Rod's Bod" for stoneware.
I am interested in recommendations for glazes to use in the converted kiln
on functional ware. I do love a good celadon, browns and tans are
necessary for customer satisfaction, and a knock out deep red or oxblood
that is as close to foolproof as possible. I like blue rutile, have yet to
get an oil spot that I can live with. Prepared (commercial) is not out of
the question if they really have character. I am not too afraid of
preparing from scratch, but need to be mindful of the expense of putting in
4,000 (:-)) different ingredients to make my own.
I have been firing to ^6, using Amaco's Potters Choice glazes. Some of
these have worked out pretty well, I tried the Pompeian ash, the buff, blue
and green did well, but the black seemed to need just a bit more heat to get
it to be as good. Their blue rutile was good on the Rod's Bod, and the
celadon looks pretty good on the B mix. The salt buff, shino, temoku, and
oil spot have been difficult for me. I want a depth and character to the
glaze that ^10 reduction brings.
Thank you all for the wonderful information and education that I am
receiving here - it definitely helps. The sign off note that mentions
courage has instilled the cowardly lion's voice in my head when I look
around at what I have accomplished, and how much further I have to go. The
pleasure that the pottery brings me is immeasurable, and well worth it. But
reality is that I need to have at least a bit of financial return on this
investment. There have been successes come off the wheel and make it
through the fire to be pretty darn nice pieces, they have been toted around
to friends, family, and the real world of my office job to get feed back on
them.
Happy New Years to all, and once again, thank you for all your help.
Robin Wolf
Potter
Kingfisher, OK
robinwolf@pldi.net
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