making terra sig

[Ginny C]

I've made terra sig from slip rather than from dry clay, just guessing as to how much water to add. After siphoning off the good middle part, I used it on some stoneware pot feet and it seemed to work. However, after leaving the closed jar sitting for a few months, it now has settled into layers. Should this have happened? What can I learn from this? Any thoughts from folks who make terra sig successfully? Should I just stir it up, or should I again siphon off the middle part?

I never saw answers from Jeremy (?I forget his last name...) to the questions people left about his great video demonstrating making terra sig, which was on Ceramics Arts Daily back in April, I think. Several people wanted to know more about adding color to terra sig. I know you can add iron oxide, and I presume just a bit does it. And you probably need to dissolve it in water before adding it. Does anyone have other tips? Can you use black stain in terra sig?? How much?

And does firing the pot to cone 5 ruin the sheen and negate the whole point of using terra sig??

 

Ginny Clark

[bciskepottery]

Here are two references that might be helpful, from Linda Arbuckle (page 4) and Vince Pitelka.

 

http://lindaarbuckle...handout2007.pdf

 

http://iweb.tntech.e...l/terra_sig.htm

 

I believe Jeremy is Jeremy Randall.

[Marcia Selsor]

Terra sig normally settles into three stratas: clear, milky , and heavier particles with sand or grit.

Usually you syphon off the water, save the middle as the terra sig and leave the heavy part that has grit and sand.

I am not sure what the process is that you are using.

At La Meridiana we made some terra sig out of garden dirt from the back 40.

Pietro uses 2 liters water, 1000 grams soil, a drop or 2 of sodium silicate and shake. Overnight the layers appear.

 

I have followed the 24 hour ball milling process for many years but now more frequently use Charlie Riggs process

http://www.futurerelicsgallery.com/blog/charlies-home-brew-terra-sig

This is a simple process with no special equipment needed. I can teach this anywhere without needing much.

 

Marcia

[Chris Campbell]

I think the question is one I was wondering about too ...

I have old terra sig on a shelf that has settled into a clear layer and a thicker bottom one. I know that it was originally made correctly, but now I wonder if I should mix before using or just use the clear part or when does the clear part become just water? I guess you would only notice this if you store it in a clear container.

[ratdog]

I think the question is one I was wondering about too ...

I have old Terra sig on a shelf that has settled into a clear layer and a thicker bottom one. I know that it was originally made correctly, but now I wonder if I should mix before using or just use the clear part or when does the clear part become just water? I guess you would only notice this if you store it in a clear container.

 

 

in making the clay i use. i dig it and soak it for 2-3 days

 

mix batch after soak and watch the surface. as it becomes the same uniform color i siphon from about 4 inch from bottom.

 

this goes into a bucket. it sits overnight and i poor off the water on top the remaining clay silt mix is transfered to new bucket less the silt lair and combined with a few other transfers till i get a full bucket.

 

the full bucket sits overnight and i poor off the water and combine several buckets less bottom layer.

 

let sit and poor off water..............hang ..... dry.....pug.

 

so i guess I'm throwing Tera sig? ....lol its terracotta

 

but to answer the question poor off water and save . mix sig good and add water back to suit your taste in specific grav. ......some would say the thicker the better.

 

clay will settle as long as it is undisturbed. Tera sig is clay and some say its a thin slip and some use it thick

 

i say play play play and see what comes of it. good luck old sig is good sig...as long as its in a air tight container...........................side note if fresh made from wild clay dont seal bottel right away it will blow up.

[Marcia Selsor]

Chris,

I have used dried up terra sig by adding water to it. I seemed pretty well mixed i.e. the greasy feeling slip for burnishing.

 

Marcia

[Mossyrock]

I think the question is one I was wondering about too ...

I have old terra sig on a shelf that has settled into a clear layer and a thicker bottom one. I know that it was originally made correctly, but now I wonder if I should mix before using or just use the clear part or when does the clear part become just water? I guess you would only notice this if you store it in a clear container.

 

 

I purchased a jar of TS a couple of years ago (before I saw C. Riggs make it and saw how easy it is to make) and I don't use it often enough to keep it from settling (it's in a clear container). I dropped a couple of marbles into the jar the first time it settled out to help agitate it when shaken. It's almost gone now, but the effect hasn't suffered from shaking it up every time. I never poured any of the clear water off.....just shook what's in the container.

[Chris Campbell]

Thanks, that's what I wanted to know ... didn't want to shake it all up just to find out I had the best ever stuff on top.

[Marcia Selsor]

I've made terra sig from slip rather than from dry clay, just guessing as to how much water to add. After siphoning off the good middle part, I used it on some stoneware pot feet and it seemed to work. However, after leaving the closed jar sitting for a few months, it now has settled into layers. Should this have happened? Yes. It is settling

 What can I learn from this? The settling is finer than the original You can stir it up and use it as is. 

Any thoughts from folks who make terra sig successfully? see previous description

Should I just stir it up, or should I again siphon off the middle part? Stir it up and use it.

how dark do you want it 

I never saw answers from Jeremy (?I forget his last name...) to the questions people left about his great video demonstrating making terra sig, which was on Ceramics Arts Daily back in April, I think. Several people wanted to know more about adding color to terra sig. I know you can add iron oxide, and I presume just a bit does it. And you probably need to dissolve it in water before adding it. Does anyone have other tips?

and you might need to add a little more deflocculant to help with suspension

Can you use black stain in terra sig??Yes but why. Reduction will make it black already. . How much? you need to test the color.

And does firing the pot to cone 5 ruin the sheen and negate the whole point of using terra sig?? Yes but not completely. It will lose the sheen but still have a good quality for a sculptural surface.

 

Ginny Clark