Joyce Lee on fri 23 feb 07
Stephanie W. mentioned that she had tried Michael Wendt's porcelain
with some success, which reminded me that I haven't written as
promised to tell you, and Michael, of my results.
I just fired several pieces in a bisque firing. They fire great, so far.
.... beautifully white, clear, and look as if they'll hold glaze fine. I've
used a few other porcelains, my favorite being Tom Coleman's from
Aardvaark; Michael's rivals Tom's for beauty .... really gorgeous.
I did have some trouble handbuilding with it in achieving the non-
collapsible but thin look I wanted this time around. However, it seems
it was mostly a matter of experience for me in working with a new
clay. AND .... hope this is the way it's supposed to be, Michael, and
not my imagination....... it seemed to finish the bisque firing much, much
lighter weight than when I loaded it. I also was attempting a new method
(for me) of handbuilding...... as on Mitch Lyons' dvd. THAT worked very
well also as far as I can tell at this point.
I'll glaze fire this weekend, wind permitting. We'll see what happens then.
I'm anticipating the results I want... or more surprises. (I'm thinking
about Hank's shino on a couple pots, and Mel's with extra soda ash on
the others.)
If Wendt's works for me, I might even give Southern Ice another try
since so many
of you say that it's been no problem for you. It fires beautifully,
too, but I really
had to torture that clay in order to throw with it..... maybe that
was a lack of
enough experience also.
The surprises, of course, are why I so fancy ^10 and above. Exciting.
Joyce
In the Mojave Desert of California U.S.A looking for the boa I
bought way back in
April ... I think I have a blue-grey scarf that looks like a
boa...... maybe........
Cyndi Casemier Johnson on fri 23 feb 07
Hi everyone;
I recently ordered a box of Michael's porcelain. It arrived in Vermont fine through the US Postal Service. We have a very nice postal worker who will bring large packages up to our front door. So delivery seems very good using this method. However, after using the porcelain, I wonder if it froze in transportation. It seemed short (I believe that this is the term for when clay breaks apart in lines when slicing it for wedging.) I sliced through the entire bag and added water to it. Waited a couple of days, reopened the bag and wedged it up. It threw great. Bisqued fine. Fired to cone 10 in reduction wonderfully. I used temnoku, celedons, and oriental iron red glazes in the firing. I would order it again and probably will in the near future.
take care,
Cyndi Casemier Johnson
2759 Crosstown Rd
Berlin, VT 05602
http://web.mac.com/mountainviewceramics
Lori Pierce on sat 24 feb 07
I was excited to find the Wendt Porcelain I ordered had arrived but sorry to
say it is so stiff and seemingly none-plastic I will have to recondition it
with water and wedging before I can test it. I am anticipating the same joyous
results as others who responded. Michael, is there a chance you will be
producing a cone 6 oxidation body? We ^6 potters are a growing market I'm told, not
only in schools and institutions but also in our studios; older hands need a
soft clay body as we pot on, using electric kilns in our Golden Years! Thank
you Mike,,,Lori Pierce in Orange Park, Florida.
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Michael Wendt on sun 25 feb 07
Lori,
I am surprised the clay arrived stiff.
We are using clay from the same
batch and it is as soft as any clay
we have ever mixed.
My guess is it froze in transit.
I suggest you try stack and slam
wedging to get it back where it
needs to be.
Once you try it. let me know
if it is still too stiff.
I think we will put together a
home video style shoot of how
we prepare and use the clay for
optimum results and start including
that in the box.
Regards,
Michael Wendt
Wendt Pottery
2729 Clearwater Ave
Lewiston, ID 83501
USA
208-746-3724
http://www.wendtpottery.com
wendtpot@lewiston.com
Lori wrote:
I was excited to find the Wendt Porcelain I ordered had
arrived but sorry to
say it is so stiff and seemingly none-plastic I will
have to recondition it
with water and wedging before I can test it. I am
anticipating the same joyous
results as others who responded. Michael, is there a
chance you will be
producing a cone 6 oxidation body? We ^6 potters are a
growing market I'm told, not
only in schools and institutions but also in our
studios; older hands need a
soft clay body as we pot on, using electric kilns in
our Golden Years! Thank
you Mike,,,Lori Pierce in Orange Park, Florida.
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