Reinforcing A Fragile Form

[1carol]

I make leaf forms in low-fire clay. The stems are fragile and very often snap off the leaf. My first experiment was to make a kanthal wire skeleton for the stem by wrapping the wet clay around it: no good, clay shrinks and cracks around the wire. I'm going to try nylon fibers next. What else has anyone used successfully, please

[Chris Campbell]

Are you saying the stem falls off before firing or breaks off during handling?

How big are the forms and do you have an image?

[anthonyfoo]

I make leaf forms in low-fire clay. The stems are fragile and very often snap off the leaf. My first experiment was to make a kanthal wire skeleton for the stem by wrapping the wet clay around it: no good, clay shrinks and cracks around the wire. I'm going to try nylon fibers next. What else has anyone used successfully, please

 

 

 

Hi Carol,

 

The stems are obviously the most fragile part of your piece. Even if successfully low-fired, that area will still be a weak point.

 

Another alternative is to leave the stem out during the firing and then "recreate" them. One sculptor I know who makes life sized crows, leave the legs out during the firing (to Cone 5) and then make the legs out of steel wire and covered with polymer clay. The legs are then attached to the crow's body with epoxy and the entire piece painted black. If you are not opposed to this approach, that might present a viable option to creating a "super" strong stem.

 

Hope this helps

Anthony

[Marcia Selsor]

Try making them thicker and have a thick vein from the interior of the leaf blend into the stem. And try using paperclay or a clay with fiber to help with dry strength.

Marcia

[Deb Evans]

A friend of mine (former student) makes clay leaves and just leaves the suggestion of the stem, a bit fatter and no more than 1/4 long, works very well and still reads as "stem". If you want long stems > think metal or poly-clay cause thin clay onto large form = breaks. if breaking off before firing > wrap the stem w/ plastic cause it's drying before the leaf does. Have fun.

[1carol]

I make leaf forms in low-fire clay. The stems are fragile and very often snap off the leaf. My first experiment was to make a kanthal wire skeleton for the stem by wrapping the wet clay around it: no good, clay shrinks and cracks around the wire. I'm going to try nylon fibers next. What else has anyone used successfully, please

 

Thank you very much for your good suggestions. I will try them.

[Rob Hendriks]

A way I strengthen thin ceramics is -after firing and glazing-, glueing the fragile piece to bluefoam.When the glue is dry, I cut the excess foam away with a hotwire. I follow with the hotwire the contour of the ceramic piece.Now the thin ceramic figure is supported with the foam and much stronger.I also strengthen pieces with plywood,excess wood is removed with a figure saw,but I prefer the foam.

 

Of course with this method, the final piece is not a pure ceramic piece.

 

Another way I strengthen fragile work is turn the piece and paint casting clay on the back of the piece.Often in several layers with drying of the casting clay in between.

 

Rob