Kellykopp Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 After being away from my beloved clay for 30 years I have just started a studio again. I have been reading and hearing through the grapevine that several of the things I used to use to make clay and glazes have changed over the years. I know of the loss of Albany Slip and I did acquire a substitute. I have heard there may be changes to Custer Potspar and Gertsley Borate among other things. Can any of you nice folks please tell me about these changes and others I may have missed and where I can find information on the changes? Thank you in advance for your help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bciskepottery Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 Here are links to technical info from two sites, Baltimore Clayworks and Highwater Clays, that discuss some of the recent changes . . . Other sites may have similar info. http://www.clayworkssupplies.com/technical-info.cgi http://www.highwaterclays.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=page.display&page_id=103 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJR Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 I think you may find that the buying public has changed. Before you make up 10,000 grams of iron saturate Temmoku-see if people want to purchase these colours. Celadon is not a big seller for me either. White sells, and coloured glazes. Check out a few craft fairs before you crank up the "pottery making machine" TJR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kellykopp Posted June 29, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 TJR, not really worried at this point about selling work, just feels good to get my hands in it and be able to throw some functional as well as do my art. But will take your suggestion to heart, if the day comes where I want to sell my work, I will be sure to go to some shows to see what sells. Am still in the "test, test, test" phase, my first attempts of throwing after 30 years will also be used as glaze tests, among other things lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joseph Fireborn Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 Keep up the good work. Testing is a process, make good notes, keep things you like for a while before you trash them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callie Beller Diesel Posted June 30, 2015 Report Share Posted June 30, 2015 Also, Digitalfire.com. You could spend days here http://digitalfire.com/4sight/education/index.html All kinds of info on health and safety, formulations, adjustments, and other sundry technical stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kellykopp Posted June 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2015 I realize the only thing constant is change, but I am feeling a little like Rip Van Winkle lol. Wow big changes with the Feldspars. Most of my recipes have always called for the Custer but I did get a bag of Minspar soda to make adjustments if my tests indicate I need to. Any other major changes? I have noticed a lot of fire and ball clay changes even. Lots are not available anymore. Am looking into pit firing also since I do have the land and wood/fuel (lots of cow pies since we have a big herd) available for it, though right now am working with cone 9 stoneware since it is familiar to me as it is what I worked with at college and thought it would be a good starting point. Also looking into Raku, though I loved the gas reduction we had at Herron, is it possible to build/fire a reduction on propane since I don't have access to natural gas? I know of the dangers but have been making my own clay and will be making my own glazes, I do wear personal protective devices and keep a clean studio. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rayaldridge Posted June 30, 2015 Report Share Posted June 30, 2015 Propane will work just fine to fire a kiln. That's what I used for many years. There are some excellent books on kiln-building. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kellykopp Posted June 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2015 Hey rayaldridge, do you have the titles or authors of those books per chance? I have been reading so much lately as to feel I am burning up my eyeballs, and I am finding mostly "general" information; lots of things don't go into the fine detail I find necessary to give much help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bciskepottery Posted June 30, 2015 Report Share Posted June 30, 2015 This might be helpful . . . http://www.21stcenturykilns.com/ and plans for a Minnesota Flat top . . . FlattopKiln_Complete- mel's in PMI.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kellykopp Posted June 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2015 Thanks everyone, can use all the help I can get !!! Any more books/ links would be much appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rayaldridge Posted June 30, 2015 Report Share Posted June 30, 2015 Frederick L. Olsen's The Kiln Book is considered the standard, I think. But there are others, as well as a lot of info on the web. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldlady Posted June 30, 2015 Report Share Posted June 30, 2015 check out your local propane dealer. i was about to go to gas because i have a shell from an electric kiln and thought i would like to convert it. my propane dealer said i had to have a 1,000 gallon tank. sounded ridiculous, i know. since i have zero experience with gas, no place to safely put a kiln outdoors, and not as much desire to fire in reduction, i gave it up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rayaldridge Posted June 30, 2015 Report Share Posted June 30, 2015 That is ridiculous. You could get a couple 20 lb. tanks, like you see on campers, and manifold them together. If your shell isn't too big, that would work fine. You could haul the kiln outdoors in good weather to fire. Put it on casters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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