Stephanie Wright on fri 16 mar 07
Hi Everybody,
My class is doing a raku firing with our teacher in about 2 weeks. One of
my classmates and I would like to try a couple of horsehair pots. However,
we are a little unclear on the process.
1) I know that pots are sometimes sprayed with an oxide to give just a
hint of color. Can we also use regular raku glazes, or paint the pots with
colored slip before bisque-ing?
2) Is there a certain timeframe or window of opportunity to apply the
horsehair once the pots come red hot out of the kiln?
3) What kind of wax is buffed into the pots after firing?
Any other tips would be extremely helpful.
By the way, THANK YOU for all the answers to my mortar and pestle post. So
far, so good. Both pieces I made turned out great, and will be fired next
week.
Stephanie -
who is really jealous of everyone having a great time in Louisville
without her! :-)
Celeste Sabel on sat 17 mar 07
Hi Stephanie, I've given some answers under your questions. Good luck!!
Celeste
>From: Stephanie Wright
>Reply-To: Clayart
>To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
>Subject: Horsehair Raku?
>Date: Fri, 16 Mar 2007 22:24:17 -0500
>
>Hi Everybody,
>
>My class is doing a raku firing with our teacher in about 2 weeks. One of
>my classmates and I would like to try a couple of horsehair pots. However,
>we are a little unclear on the process.
>1) I know that pots are sometimes sprayed with an oxide to give just a
>hint of color. Can we also use regular raku glazes, or paint the pots with
>colored slip before bisque-ing?
>
*******I know the answer to this is "yes," but I haven't done enough of it
to explain it to you. You might want to "google" this. There are websites
that discuss this process.
>
>2) Is there a certain timeframe or window of opportunity to apply the
>horsehair once the pots come red hot out of the kiln?
*********I have found that it is best to apply horsehair immediately when
the pot is taken out of the kiln at 1200 degrees F. If you wait too long,
and the pot has cooled too much, the horse hair won't leave a good mark.
You can get a blackened inside the pot by throwing paper inside when first
taken out of the kiln.
>
>3) What kind of wax is buffed into the pots after firing?
********I use Trewax, but I think any pastewax would work.
>
>Any other tips would be extremely helpful.
******* Use tongs to take the pots out of the kiln. Don't handle them with
gloves until the pot has cooled, or the gloves will leave black smudges on
the pot.
********Try feathers too. I have to use needle nose type plyers to hold the
feathers against the pot, or the spine of the feather will curl up and won't
leave a good mark.
>
>By the way, THANK YOU for all the answers to my mortar and pestle post. So
>far, so good. Both pieces I made turned out great, and will be fired next
>week.
>
>Stephanie -
>who is really jealous of everyone having a great time in Louisville
>without her! :-)
>
>______________________________________________________________________________
>Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
>You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
>settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
>Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
>melpots@pclink.com.
_________________________________________________________________
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Bunny Lemak on sat 17 mar 07
Here are the answers to your questions, by the way I was taught. I have
never done the horsehair AND raku together, so I am interested in other's
answer to that. I have only done the HH, so here are my answers:
>1) I know that pots are sometimes sprayed with an oxide to give just a
>hint of color. Can we also use regular raku glazes, or paint the pots with
>colored slip before bisque-ing?
Yes, I have used regular underlgaze/colored slips with great success (try
2 different colors for a really nice look!) Never used the oxide - yet.
>
>2) Is there a certain timeframe or window of opportunity to apply the
>horsehair once the pots come red hot out of the kiln?
Yes, you have approx. 15 SECONDS to get that hair on. I have also learned
from experience to have the hair strands semi-seperated and ready to pick
up. In my personal opinion, less is better. Also if you can place your
piece on a turntable, that helps a LOT.
>
>3) What kind of wax is buffed into the pots after firing?
I use Minwax furniture paste. I first spray the cooled & cleaned pot with
a spray sealer, then I use the paste - goes on more evenly when sprayed.
I do it in sections, paste in, wipe/buff off. I have put up to 3 coats on
a pot.
Another alternative I have done, but only on figurines or small pieces,
you can use a brush on matte sealer. Somewhat the same effect and much
easier to do on small pieces with lots of curves/crevices.
>
>Any other tips would be extremely helpful.
My best advice it to play with it, and you will learn what to do is best
for you.
If you want to contact me personally I have an instruction sheet already
in my files, I can email it to you.
Good luck & have fun!
Bunny
we are actually thinking of putting on the a/c today!! Yesterday we broke
a record, it was 99 degrees out - in March!!!!!
Anthony Vodraska on sun 18 mar 07
An alternative to oxides and underglazes is soy sauce. Put the soy sauce
in a spritzer to get a fine mist. After applying the horse hair and while
the pot is still quite hot spritz on the soy sauce, it dries immediately
leaving a very nice warm patina - light brown. Reverse the sequence as
well depending upon what is driving your composition on the surface.
We stumbled on this when looking for non-corrosive applications that did
not present significant health hazards. There is a high salt content in
soy sauce and a soup of other chemicals. And its cheap. I am told there
are different types of soy sauce but we have relied on Kikkoman variety.
Maybe worth a try.
Jeff Guin on tue 20 mar 07
Dear Stephanie,
I just recently started trying horsehair pottery. I haven't been able to
take any workshops, just learned by trial and error and with the help of
fellow clayarters. During the firing I set up a bandingwheel with a piece of
fiber on top. Once the pot is pulled from the kiln I place it on the fiber.
I also have a helper with hair in hand to give me strands as I call for
them. I apply the hair, watch it sizzle, give the banding wheel a turn, call
for more hair and repeat the process. Once the piece has cooled I will rub
paste wax onto the pot, but I have found that no wax can be just as
attractive. I have some photos of the process posted on my flicker link
below. I have also talked about the process on my blog site. That link is
also below. Let me know how things come out. Good Luck.
Jeff Guin
Coon Valley, WI
http://mudwerks.blogspot.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mudhead99/
>From: Stephanie Wright
>Reply-To: Clayart
>To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
>Subject: Horsehair Raku?
>Date: Fri, 16 Mar 2007 22:24:17 -0500
>
>Hi Everybody,
>
>My class is doing a raku firing with our teacher in about 2 weeks. One of
>my classmates and I would like to try a couple of horsehair pots. However,
>we are a little unclear on the process.
>
>1) I know that pots are sometimes sprayed with an oxide to give just a
>hint of color. Can we also use regular raku glazes, or paint the pots with
>colored slip before bisque-ing?
>
>2) Is there a certain timeframe or window of opportunity to apply the
>horsehair once the pots come red hot out of the kiln?
>
>3) What kind of wax is buffed into the pots after firing?
>
>Any other tips would be extremely helpful.
>
>By the way, THANK YOU for all the answers to my mortar and pestle post. So
>far, so good. Both pieces I made turned out great, and will be fired next
>week.
>
>Stephanie -
>who is really jealous of everyone having a great time in Louisville
>without her! :-)
>
>______________________________________________________________________________
>Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
>You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
>settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
>Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
>melpots@pclink.com.
_________________________________________________________________
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Judy Rohrbaugh on tue 20 mar 07
Stephanie,
I started doing raku just last summer.
The only problems that I have had is with removing the pot used for
horsehair from the kiln, sometimes we get a small
chip on the rim.
It may be because the pots do not get as hot as the ones that we glaze (?)
We are doing better, though, now that I have made a point of making the rims thicker
and we are being extra careful when taking the pot out of the kiln.
Please let us knwo how it goes.
Judy Rohrbaugh
Fine Art Stoneware
Ohio, USA
.
Marcia Selsor on tue 20 mar 07
Judy and Stephanie,
I have been using a coat hanger to yank out my pots. It has stopped
the chipping.
OR I have also used a set of dipping tongs I got in Italy. I put one
hook into the hole of the pot and lift gently.
I also cool the pots upside down so they cool slower and more evenly.
And of course I try to make them as light as possible.
Marcia Selsor
http://marciaselsor.com
sacredclay on tue 20 mar 07
I'm curious, folks,about horsehair raku. does it have to be a horse
hair/ How about the hair on the top of our heads? Seriously. Kathryn in
NC
William & Susan Schran User on tue 20 mar 07
On 3/20/07 7:06 PM, "sacredclay" wrote:
> I'm curious, folks,about horsehair raku. does it have to be a horse
> hair/ How about the hair on the top of our heads? Seriously. Kathryn in
> NC
It can be any hair.
Horse is generally used as it is rather coarse providing a good thick line
of carbon burned into the clay surface.
Human hair will work, my students have done it, but produces a much finer
line.
--
William "Bill" Schran
wschran@cox.net
wschran@nvcc.edu
http://www.creativecreekartisans.com
Bunny Lemak on tue 20 mar 07
>I'm curious, folks,about horsehair raku. does it have to be a horse
>hair/ How about the hair on the top of our heads? Seriously. Kathryn in
>NC
Well no, but..... I've tried our hair, not thick enough; cat
hair/whiskers (no cat's harmed!): not long enough.
Feathers though make an interesting imprint.
What you need is something that will singe on, and sort of stay on (the
cat's whiskers singed nicely, but fell off the pot). I personally can't
think of anything else at the moment that you can use, but I'm sure
someone out in Clayart-land will come up with something.
The person who came up with the soy sauce - good idea! I'm sure there are
plenty of other things that we can singe on a pot.
Bunny
Jeff Guin on wed 21 mar 07
I haven't had a problem with chipping and I'm using pretty big tongs to
remove my pieces from the kiln. The only difference between our methods,
perhaps, is the clay body or rough handling with the tongs. As far my clay
body, I'm just using a standard stoneware, cone 10, with the addition of
fine grog. My tongs are home-made using two pieces of electrical conduit.
Jeff G.
Coon Valley WI
http://mudwerks.blogspot.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mudhead99/
>From: Marcia Selsor
>Reply-To: Clayart
>To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
>Subject: Re: Horsehair Raku?
>Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2007 15:45:46 -0500
>
>Judy and Stephanie,
>
>I have been using a coat hanger to yank out my pots. It has stopped
>the chipping.
>OR I have also used a set of dipping tongs I got in Italy. I put one
>hook into the hole of the pot and lift gently.
>I also cool the pots upside down so they cool slower and more evenly.
>And of course I try to make them as light as possible.
>
>Marcia Selsor
>http://marciaselsor.com
>
>______________________________________________________________________________
>Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
>You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
>settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
>Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
>melpots@pclink.com.
_________________________________________________________________
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Jeff Guin on wed 21 mar 07
I imagine people use horsehair because it is longer and, of course, much
thicker, than the hair on our heads. Human hair is too fine. I live in "the
sticks" and horse hair is easy to come by. My firend, my "supplier" is not a
potter but after seeing the firing process suggested I try Cow-Tail hair, as
that is much thicker and more coarse. Haven't tried it yet but will have too
soon.
Jeff Guin
Coon Valley, WI
http://mudwerks.blogspot.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mudhead99/
>From: sacredclay
>Reply-To: Clayart
>To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
>Subject: Re: Horsehair Raku?
>Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2007 23:06:50 -0000
>
>I'm curious, folks,about horsehair raku. does it have to be a horse
>hair/ How about the hair on the top of our heads? Seriously. Kathryn in
>NC
>
>______________________________________________________________________________
>Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
>You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
>settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
>Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
>melpots@pclink.com.
_________________________________________________________________
Get a FREE Web site, company branded e-mail and more from Microsoft Office
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Marcia Selsor on wed 21 mar 07
Jeff,
I think the chipping comes from pulling them out of the kiln by the
lip rather than with tongs. The
terra sig is very delicate and can scratch with tongs.
But I like the idea of conduit. It would seem tricky if it is
aluminum. Doesn't that melt at 1700 F?
Of course for horse hair, the temp is only 1100-1200F so I guess that
would work. But do you use these tongs for raku?
Marcia Selsor
http://marciaselsor.com
On Mar 21, 2007, at 4:44 AM, Jeff Guin wrote:
> I haven't had a problem with chipping and I'm using pretty big
> tongs to
> remove my pieces from the kiln. The only difference between our
> methods,
> perhaps, is the clay body or rough handling with the tongs. As far
> my clay
> body, I'm just using a standard stoneware, cone 10, with the
> addition of
> fine grog. My tongs are home-made using two pieces of electrical
> conduit.
> Jeff G.
> Coon Valley WI
> http://mudwerks.blogspot.com
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/mudhead99/
>> From: Marcia Selsor
>>
>> Judy and Stephanie,
>>
>> I have been using a coat hanger to yank out my pots. It has stopped
>> the chipping.
>> OR I have also used a set of dipping tongs I got in Italy. I put one
>> hook into the hole of the pot and lift gently.
>> I also cool the pots upside down so they cool slower and more evenly.
>> And of course I try to make them as light as possible.
>>
>> Marcia Selsor
>> http://marciaselsor.com
>>
Marcia Selsor
http://marciaselsor.com
Jeff Guin on wed 21 mar 07
Dear Marcia,
Yes, I do use these tongs for full-fire raku. An 8-foot section of conduit
costs under 5 bucks at our local hardware store. They even cut it in half
for me. All I have to do is drill a hole through the conduit, bend it in a
bench vise and put a screw and a wing nut through it. Works great for small
to medium sized pieces.
Jeff G.
http://mudwerks.blogspot.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mudhead99/
>From: Marcia Selsor
>Reply-To: Clayart
>To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
>Subject: Re: Horsehair Raku?
>Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2007 06:57:14 -0500
>
>Jeff,
>I think the chipping comes from pulling them out of the kiln by the
>lip rather than with tongs. The
>terra sig is very delicate and can scratch with tongs.
>But I like the idea of conduit. It would seem tricky if it is
>aluminum. Doesn't that melt at 1700 F?
>Of course for horse hair, the temp is only 1100-1200F so I guess that
>would work. But do you use these tongs for raku?
>Marcia Selsor
>http://marciaselsor.com
>
>
>On Mar 21, 2007, at 4:44 AM, Jeff Guin wrote:
>
>>I haven't had a problem with chipping and I'm using pretty big
>>tongs to
>>remove my pieces from the kiln. The only difference between our
>>methods,
>>perhaps, is the clay body or rough handling with the tongs. As far
>>my clay
>>body, I'm just using a standard stoneware, cone 10, with the
>>addition of
>>fine grog. My tongs are home-made using two pieces of electrical
>>conduit.
>>Jeff G.
>>Coon Valley WI
>>http://mudwerks.blogspot.com
>>http://www.flickr.com/photos/mudhead99/
>>>From: Marcia Selsor
>>>
>>>Judy and Stephanie,
>>>
>>>I have been using a coat hanger to yank out my pots. It has stopped
>>>the chipping.
>>>OR I have also used a set of dipping tongs I got in Italy. I put one
>>>hook into the hole of the pot and lift gently.
>>>I also cool the pots upside down so they cool slower and more evenly.
>>>And of course I try to make them as light as possible.
>>>
>>>Marcia Selsor
>>>http://marciaselsor.com
>>>
>Marcia Selsor
>http://marciaselsor.com
>
>______________________________________________________________________________
>Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
>You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
>settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
>Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
>melpots@pclink.com.
_________________________________________________________________
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sacredclay on wed 21 mar 07
Please keep me posted on that one,Jeff. I am very curious to know how
that one turns out. Human hair is too fine_ what if I braided it into
thicker strands? Kathryn --- In clayart@yahoogroups.com, Jeff Guin
wrote:
>
> I imagine people use horsehair because it is longer and, of course,
much
> thicker, than the hair on our heads. Human hair is too fine. I live
in "the
> sticks" and horse hair is easy to come by. My firend, my "supplier"
is not a
> potter but after seeing the firing process suggested I try Cow-Tail
hair, as
> that is much thicker and more coarse. Haven't tried it yet but will
have too
> soon.
> Jeff Guin
> Coon Valley, WI
>
>
>
> http://mudwerks.blogspot.com
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/mudhead99/
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> >From: sacredclay
> >Reply-To: Clayart
> >To: CLAYART@...
> >Subject: Re: Horsehair Raku?
> >Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2007 23:06:50 -0000
> >
> >I'm curious, folks,about horsehair raku. does it have to be a horse
> >hair/ How about the hair on the top of our heads? Seriously.
Kathryn in
> >NC
> >
>
>_____________________________________________________________________
_________
> >Send postings to clayart@...
> >
> >You may look at the archives for the list or change your
subscription
> >settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
> >
> >Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
> >melpots@...
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> Get a FREE Web site, company branded e-mail and more from Microsoft
Office
> Live! http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/mcrssaub0050001411mrt/direct/01/
>
>
______________________________________________________________________
________
> Send postings to clayart@...
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your
subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@...
>
Andre Lopez on wed 21 mar 07
I have learned horsehair raku on my own through reading the archives. I've
been following all the remarks on this thread, thinking I probably wouldn't
have much to add. To my surprise no one has mentioned using terra
sigillata. I have found it makes a beautiful surface, with no waxing
required. I have applied it both to green and bisqued pots with equally
fine results. But I started out using a cone 6 clay, and when I switched to
a low fire clay, found the terra sig applied to bisque-ware flaked off.
Also, it is not a good idea to fire both glazed raku and horsehair in the
same load. The ^06 maturing temp for most glazes is too high for terra sig
and dulls the surface. One other thing: I have been gettting some beautiful
yellows by diluting the FeCl about 8:1.
Can't wait to try the soy sauce spray. Anyone have any pictures?
Nan Lopez
Clay Pot Farm
Bullet Tree Falls, Cayo
Belize
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Kathy McDonald on wed 21 mar 07
I have only "played " with this technique
a couple of summers ago. We used some synthetic(doll wig),
human and dog tail hair , as well as horse hair
that had been soaked in some copper carbonate and left
to dry.
The synthetic hair smelled horrific and was probably toxic.
Left no noticeable carbon.
The human hair was too skinny and might be ok for some
applications
like flat pieces or tiles...
but it has to be LONG.
The dog hair left great marks , much like horse hair, but
again was too short.
By far the most interesting is the horse hair and there were
some
beautiful marks produced by the stuff that had been soaked
in the
copper carbonate. If the ware is still "glowing hot" when
the copper soaked
hair hit's it you do get some really interesting metallic
marks.
Works best on very white body, what we used was c 6 cast
porcelain.
Thats my experience....it was a fun thing to do.
Pots were for decorative use only. Wear proper protective
gear
and tie long hair back. (I learned the latter (hair) the
hard way)
Kathy
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG]On Behalf Of
Jeff Guin
Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2007 4:54 AM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Re: Horsehair Raku?
I imagine people use horsehair because it is longer and, of
course, much
thicker, than the hair on our heads. Human hair is too fine.
I live in "the
sticks" and horse hair is easy to come by. My firend, my
"supplier" is not a
potter but after seeing the firing process suggested I try
Cow-Tail hair, as
that is much thicker and more coarse. Haven't tried it yet
but will have too
soon.
Jeff Guin
Coon Valley, WI
http://mudwerks.blogspot.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mudhead99/
>From: sacredclay
>Reply-To: Clayart
>To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
>Subject: Re: Horsehair Raku?
>Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2007 23:06:50 -0000
>
>I'm curious, folks,about horsehair raku. does it have to be
a horse
>hair/ How about the hair on the top of our heads?
Seriously. Kathryn in
>NC
>
>___________________________________________________________
___________________
>Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
>You may look at the archives for the list or change your
subscription
>settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
>Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
>melpots@pclink.com.
____________________________________________________________
_____
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Microsoft Office
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____________________________________________________________
__________________
Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
You may look at the archives for the list or change your
subscription
settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
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mousecreekpottery on wed 21 mar 07
sacredclay wrote:
>
> I'm curious, folks,about horsehair raku. does it have to be a horse
> hair/ How about the hair on the top of our heads? Seriously. Kathryn in
> NC
>
> Sorry if this is a repeat, but, here in South Dakota, many potters
use buffalo hair for their "horsehair" raku. It's more curly.
Tish in windy SD
Beth Christensen on sat 31 mar 07
I once tried using the bristles that I brushed off my pot bellied pig (who
has since died..RIP, Clementine). They were really nice and coarse, but
not long enough.
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