glazenerd Posted March 27, 2017 Report Share Posted March 27, 2017 Neil: My 500lbs of technical grade kaolin came in this past Friday, the calcium hectorite will be in this Friday. Already have the other ingredients here to make up some Nerd porcelain. Even have a jug of Additive A on its way soon. So I will send out ten lb. samples to a select few in a month or so or two-three: soon. Might even add some oxide and stain to one bag just for Joseph. You can tell me what you think of it later. I still owe Matthew a bag of no run crystalline glaze as well. After studying this crap for seven years, about time to make something from it. CRAP = carefully recreated apportioned porcelain. Nerd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joseph Fireborn Posted March 27, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2017 Nice Nerd! I agree with Neil that bags should come ready to use. However I find most of my bags are way to hard to use with ease and require a lot of strength to use. I would rather clay be softer then hard any day, but again the Black Ice wasn't sticky or to wet to use, it was just an adjustment. I was letting it sit out as I used the bag so that I could have something I was more used to. I assume if I threw this all the time it wouldn't be a problem at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glazenerd Posted March 27, 2017 Report Share Posted March 27, 2017 Joseph: I have about 30lbs of stoneware out there that is bordering on silly putty. I have been pulling up walls by pinching it between two fingers; all the pressure it takes. Nerd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joseph Fireborn Posted March 27, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2017 Joseph: I have about 30lbs of stoneware out there that is bordering on silly putty. I have been pulling up walls by pinching it between two fingers; all the pressure it takes. Nerd Hahah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Min Posted March 27, 2017 Report Share Posted March 27, 2017 I've messed around a little with Plainsman's Polar Ice, it comes extremely wet also. This is from their website and the reason behind mixing it so wet. No clue if this is the same reason for your black porcelain being so wet but I was wondering if you dried it out a bit more if it would actually increase the plasticity like the Polar Ice does. Did they let you know which stain they are using for part of the black colour? "Polar Ice has extremely high plasticity (to properly pug it we must run it too soft). Others claim to be plastic, but they use the word in a relative sense (meaning a little less flabby than that other really flabby porcelain). Do not attempt to use Polar Ice if it is too soft (stiffen it before use to experience its full plasticity). To reduce the water content wedge it and flatten down onto a very clean plaster table or large bat (or you may be able to leave a lump under a cloth over night or longer). The most prominent side effect of the plasticity is its stickiness, this body is extremely sticky. It will stick to your hands, to the table, to the cutting wire, anything that touches it. During trimming it will stick back to itself and tools. If you attach ware to the wheelhead with water to trim, it will stick fast there also. After trimming it balls up under your fingers if you attempt to round corners by pressing on them. However if you stiffen the body to optimal throwing stiffness, it will be much less sticky." What a joke! I'm supposed to take the time to dry out my clay every time I buy it? What about my students? They have to take it home and dry it out? Or I have to set out 1000 pounds of clay to get it ready for them? It's the mixers job to sell me clay I can use. If I wanted to mess with this I'd mix my own clay. You know, until you said this I didn't think twice about it. In the last couple years or so my other clay from the same supplier is coming much wetter than it used to, maybe it's the new normal here to get it sloppy wet. Polar Ice was developed by Tony Hansen so now that you mention it it is kinda surprising he is okay with it going out sloppy. (I'm assuming he has received feedback) edit: at $70- for 44 lbs now it's going to bug me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted March 28, 2017 Report Share Posted March 28, 2017 At that price it should be perfect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joseph Fireborn Posted March 28, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2017 Black Ice was $1.53/# from the online supplier. I am not sure how much it is from my local supplier, they wont have any in until 2nd week of April. I don't mind paying a higher price as clay is still extremely cheap. But I agree, the higher price should reflect on quality and ease of use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcia Selsor Posted March 28, 2017 Report Share Posted March 28, 2017 Nice Nerd! I agree with Neil that bags should come ready to use. However I find most of my bags are way to hard to use with ease and require a lot of strength to use. I would rather clay be softer then hard any day, but again the Black Ice wasn't sticky or to wet to use, it was just an adjustment. I was letting it sit out as I used the bag so that I could have something I was more used to. I assume if I threw this all the time it wouldn't be a problem at all. Joseph, Most commercial clays are very hard when you open them. Before removing from the bag. Throw them on the floor on each side maybe even twice. Then, Slice and wedge. The thumping on the floor softens the clay significantly. There is some kind of thixotropic development that happens after it is mixed. Marcia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joseph Fireborn Posted March 28, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2017 Nice Nerd! I agree with Neil that bags should come ready to use. However I find most of my bags are way to hard to use with ease and require a lot of strength to use. I would rather clay be softer then hard any day, but again the Black Ice wasn't sticky or to wet to use, it was just an adjustment. I was letting it sit out as I used the bag so that I could have something I was more used to. I assume if I threw this all the time it wouldn't be a problem at all. Joseph, Most commercial clays are very hard when you open them. Before removing from the bag. Throw them on the floor on each side maybe even twice. Then, Slice and wedge. The thumping on the floor softens the clay significantly. Marcia Marcia, Thanks I do this with every bag I open. I also wire it in 4 parts, slam 2 together then wedge them up. It is still drastically harder than I would expect it to be. The SIO2 clay was a dream to work with really. I would gladly pay more for that experience. I think either my supplier has very little people buying the clay I use thus it is drying out in the bag. Which I find pretty crappy TBH, their bags have definitely went down in quality compared to when I first bought their products a few years ago. I have a bag of Helios that is still soft as the day I bought it almost 2-3 years ago, the bag quality is much higher grade of plastic. So either I am getting old stock and the clay is drying out in the bag, or HW isn't adding enough water. Or the 3rd option. I am a pansy and can't make a 4# plate easily anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joseph Fireborn Posted March 31, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2017 Well. Here are the results of a cup I fired. This cup was bisqued beforehand to cone 6. The test tiles were single fired. No Bloating. No cracks. No surface defects of any kind noticeable. I am out of the clay. As promised the results of the firing: Props to SIO-2 for an amazing product. Even the non glazed tile is beautiful. First thing I plan to make is a tall bottle non glazed for my home. I am officially joining the single fire club. Woop woop, so all around success. Which is nice for me coming back from burnout. Very happy. One thing I am finally happy about is I can actually enjoy leaving more of my pots clay showing. Before with the brown storeware it was just kinda meh, but this clay is so beautiful bare that I am happy to show more of the pot, which might increase a lot of my production as I can dip bisqued pots 3/4 of the way and leave big fingermarks in the glaze and be pretty happy with it. Now I just have to find my voice in my work. Finally found a body I think I can be happy with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High Bridge Pottery Posted April 1, 2017 Report Share Posted April 1, 2017 What is this? Pixel rations!?? I can hardly see them at 255x300 pixels. Always wanted to try single firing but thought the pots will fall apart. It's also 02:40 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joseph Fireborn Posted April 1, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2017 What is this? Pixel rations!?? I can hardly see them at 255x300 pixels. Always wanted to try single firing but thought the pots will fall apart. It's also 02:40 For you: http://josephfireborn.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/IMG_20170331_185251.jpg http://josephfireborn.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/IMG_20170331_185546.jpg http://josephfireborn.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/IMG_20170331_185504.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High Bridge Pottery Posted April 1, 2017 Report Share Posted April 1, 2017 Now I can see why you are happy, it looks awesome Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joseph Fireborn Posted April 1, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2017 Now I can see why you are happy, it looks awesome Those tiles are single fired too. That is the best part. I spray my glazes and bisqueing was so meh for stoneware. Now I can throw, dry, spray, and glaze fire. Much more awesome than loading and unloading a kiln 2 times. Spraying takes a lot of time, so being able to skip the bisque helps make up for that time and lowers bottleneck of cooling. Now like I said I just have to find my aesthetic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldlady Posted April 1, 2017 Report Share Posted April 1, 2017 joel, single firing is not that hard. it just depends on what kind of work you want to make. if i can do it, you can, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glazenerd Posted April 18, 2017 Report Share Posted April 18, 2017 Well Joseph, after reading this thread I decided to whip up a batch of black porcelain. Left the bottom unglazed for visual reference of the clay. My personal favorite: crystalline on top bleeding into clear gloss on the bottom. Nerd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joseph Fireborn Posted April 18, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2017 Haha. I too hope to be a mad chemist and clay engineer one day. = ) those crystals are beautiful. Planning on using this stuff in the future? Nice work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcia Selsor Posted April 18, 2017 Report Share Posted April 18, 2017 SiO2,com is from Spain , just outside Barcelona. If you visit there , you will see a mural by the Diagonal group where Evelyne and I participated with 9 others in a symposium last year. I have jpgs of Corrie Bain working on with the Black ice making the Buncheong technique when she taught a session with the Potters Council trip to Barcelona last April. http://community.ceramicartsdaily.org/topic/14154-buncheong/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glazenerd Posted April 22, 2017 Report Share Posted April 22, 2017 Joseph: My supplier and I were talking about you and your black clay today. Apparently the Rep for Sio2 in America is making their rounds trying to sell black clay: one of many specialty bodies they produce. I pulled up this thread in his shop and showed him your results and mine. He has asked me about making specialty clays before, guess I never took him seriously. So I will be back over there next weekend bringing him a box of black clay to play with. Nerd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joseph Fireborn Posted April 23, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 23, 2017 Interesting. Congrats nerd. Seems like you might have just found your first outlet for sales of clay. As far as the Black Ice goes. I still haven't been able to get my hands on any more. I ordered it from my supplier on the 1st and I am still waiting on it. I am presuming this week it will be in. I am about ready to throw in the towel on the process. If I have to wait months to get my hands on more each time I run out then it just isn't something I am interested in. We will see how it goes. Keep us posted on any good results you get with your black clay stuff Nerd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glazenerd Posted April 23, 2017 Report Share Posted April 23, 2017 Joseph: I look at clay the same way you look at glaze: what can be done to make it more texturally appealing. Personally, I think it's possible to make clay do a host of things never attempted before. Glazes leech materials from clay: and that is the basis of my chemistry. I can make a clay that accelerates glaze run or hinders it. Right now I am working on a clay body that bleeds color randomly: beats having to color it. I have a bubble bowl I need to take a picture of and post it. The bubbles did not come from the glaze, but bleed up from the clay. Lots of things are possible, just have to believe they can be achieved. Nerd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joseph Fireborn Posted April 23, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 23, 2017 Lots of things are possible, just have to believe they can be achieved. This is how I feel deeply about ceramics. I have stopped testing glazes as much as I have been just randomly applying things to my clay body and my glazed pots. I have been making flat bowls and glazing them with a white glaze then just sprinkling ingredients into the glaze. So far a lot of interesting things. One of the next things I want to try is a titanium slip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPyle Posted July 7, 2017 Report Share Posted July 7, 2017 Joseph, Did you ever get your 2nd batch of Black Ice? GlazeNerd, are you still mixing up different clays? I'd love to see more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glazenerd Posted July 7, 2017 Report Share Posted July 7, 2017 Yes CP, been working on several bodies: cone 04 & cone 6 colored porcelains. Several are test driving my porcelain and stoneware bodies. Got one playing with my red stone body. Will have some pics up late Sunday? After they come up, Chris Campbell will be calling me . You are close to me I see. Nerd Call Anna at Krueger Pottery in St. Louis.. She had a hand in giving me my moniker....nerd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joseph Fireborn Posted July 7, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 7, 2017 I still use sio2 every now and then to make some yunomi. I'm not a huge fan of the clay. the more I worked with it the more I didn't like it. I have to dry it out to throw tall with it because it buckles or you have absurd thick walls if you use it out of the bag. I will probably end up using most of it for slip. Which is sorta sad but whatever. Live and learn. If you want to see my test with it. Just look at my gallery in my profile I have a section for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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