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Have you had to make custom stilts for an unusual project? I would love to see other's ideas on how they have solved glaze-firing unique items.

 

I am currently working on a series of organic shaped wall vases  that will need to be stood at least somewhat upright in order for the glazes to cascade the way I would like. A fellow clay artist at first suggested hanging them on a bead tree type of set up but we both feel the thick running glaze could fuse to the wire/rod leaving an unsightly mark at the hole (at best). There is also some concern about the amount of stress placed on the hole by the weight of the vase.

 

Inspired by a ladle stilt, I have made a pretty elaborate slab-built angle with metal spurs of high-temp 17g Kemper wire. There are two pairs of spurs, set wider at the top and closer together at the base to accommodate the vases' tapered shapes. The vase will sit at about a 60 degree angle. I am hoping it will work (fingers crossed). If it does I will have to make a few more of these "stilt jigs." If not, then it's back to the drawing board...

 

I am interested in seeing how other ceramic artists have solved their own need to create customized stilts.

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The couple times, where I have had awkward, delicate items, they were student-made. In both cases, they had delicate bottom portions, that most likely would not be able to carry the weight, until fired, and couldn't be fired upside down or sideways. So I made a stand, that had a u-shaped cutouts on each end. I was able to lay the projects on their sides, without the delicate pieces touching anything. They were just made from slabs.

 

I generally don't have something like this come up, so I just made them out of the same clay I use in class. they wouldn't handle too many repeat firings, but last a couple... I honestly don't know what I did with them.

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I have posted this before. It is a recipe for making your own kiln furniture or use Laguna #2272

 

 

Kiln Furniture Clay

Ball Clay       10%

Fire Clay        50%

Ground Brick   50%

OR

Laguna #2272   fire to ^10

Marcia

Marcia, do you have to fire to ^10 in both cases?  Is there any way to make ^6 furniture if you only fire to ^6.   ja

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  • 2 weeks later...

Thanks for the feedback, folks.

I made my stilts out of basic white earthenware; the same clay I am using to make my pieces.I know they won't last forever but I have to work with what I have for now. The first one was a bit over engineered but the second one I made is a simple Z or S-shape slab having a U-shape cut out at the bottom part that sticks up with 2 wires angled towards one another to support the tapered base of the vase. Two  more wires project from the top bent part. It works ok but I am having an issue with the tips of the high temp wire sticking to the glaze. I have to Dremel the burs off but there is still a black spot at each point of contact. Any advice?

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