hanee Posted December 23, 2014 Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 I'm planning on formulating some clay from a few native deposits and/or mixing from purchased dry materials if that doesn't work out for some reason and am looking for a good book that I might be able to turn to for little questions/tips along the way. I don't really need any coverage on glaze issues, just clay issues — something for people who like to do things themselves and want an understanding of the variables at play. Especially good would be something that had a historical/low-tech orientation. Wouldn't mind finding a book on kiln constructions (especially DIY kilns and historic woodfire kilns) too but that's a bit more of a daydreamy future thing... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeU Posted December 25, 2014 Report Share Posted December 25, 2014 A book I have used (a long time ago, to make my own clay bodies) is Clay and Glazes for the Potter-Daniel Rhodes. This link is for resources on building kilns (Robert Compton) and he is into woodfire. http://www.robertcomptonpottery.com/Kilns-Books&Tips.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biglou13 Posted December 25, 2014 Report Share Posted December 25, 2014 + 1 for Rhodes book for clay. Maybe add pioneer pottery to list. Thing is clay making book is a very very short Iist. I ended up studying and reading known recipes. Learning bout ingredients. And slowly began seeing patterns then add to that some experimentation..... Kiln building .... Olsen , Rhodes, kusakabe/lancet, finch, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bciskepottery Posted December 25, 2014 Report Share Posted December 25, 2014 For kiln building, try Mel Jacobsen's 21st Century Kilns. Not overly technical; includes some plans. http://www.21stcenturykilns.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alabama Posted December 25, 2014 Report Share Posted December 25, 2014 Hey, Go ahead looking for the recommended books but do keep in mind that the book that specifically fits your needs may have to be written by you. Start a notebook to keep up with the experiments. 1 part natural clay, 1 part earthenware clay, temper=results Fired in pit/fired on ground - result Fired with sticks or fired with grasses or both....results It won't be long til the notebooks are filled up. Look at book titles that begin with "Traditional" . Traditional pottery of Papua New Guinea Traditional pottery of Guatemala.... Etc. Interlibrarià n loans are helpful. Good luck, Alabama Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sammule Posted December 26, 2014 Report Share Posted December 26, 2014 Being of the "do it my own self" mindset, one of my favorite books that is a treasure trove of information is: The Potter's Alternative, by Harry Davis. It covers in depth processing local clay, making wheels, pugmills, ball mills, pyrometric cones, just to name a few. If you enjoy making your own way, this is a must read. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hanee Posted December 26, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 26, 2014 Thanks to everyone for all the recommendations! (though it appears all the ones I'm most interested in are both out of print and surprisingly pricier than I expected for used, but several seem worth the premium price) And alabama's advice of individual trial, error and analysis is spot on, especially as my needs will probably not run in the needs of most potters, being a figure sculptor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biglou13 Posted December 26, 2014 Report Share Posted December 26, 2014 The premium priced books can be had for msrp. If you. Know where to look. Do tell which ones are " premium " priced I or someone else here may steer you to better $. Here is my secret ..... Gold art..... It tends to equalize most faults in most of my worse clay experiments........ http://www.amazon.com/Kilns-Construction-Operation-Daniel-Rhodes/dp/0801970644 http://www.amazon.com/Kiln-Book-Materials-Specifications-Construction/dp/0801970717 http://www.amazon.com/Kiln-Construction-Brick-Approach/dp/0812219848 http://www.amazon.com/Japanese-Wood-Fired-Ceramics-Marc-Lancet/dp/0873497422 This one I know where to get in $40 range I have this one. http://www.ceramicartslibrary.com/?page=shop/flypage&product_id=698 But is first saw all of these first in a public library..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Allen Posted December 26, 2014 Report Share Posted December 26, 2014 http://www.bookfinder.com/ is my mother the librarian's favorite multiple listing service and price comparison tool for used booksellers on the internet... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biglou13 Posted December 29, 2014 Report Share Posted December 29, 2014 Hanee.while there are other here that have more expertise in making clay bodies.... ... Please contact me to further discuss. Thanks to some great advice from others here, Some experimentation, some research ..... It has come to this....... About 1/2 of last run cone 6... Porcelain- ish. It's basis is cushing cone 6. It was very short time ago, I was a clay making virgin......... ( call it ignorance or call it bliss, but this was approx. a 300# experiment, aka new recipe ..... Still keeping fingers crossed to see how it fires........ I'll post more about this on another thread....... Point is. The advice and support here is prolly more valuable than any book you could read.!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alabama Posted December 31, 2014 Report Share Posted December 31, 2014 Not sure if you be had time to read any books yet, but try looking for magazine articles from Ceramic Monthly in the 1970 and 1980s about primitive pottery. But make sure the potters are from Africa and other third world countries, not Arizona or New Mexico. Books like The Clay Sleeps, by R. Krause and Ceramic Theory, by I forgot are dry but contain a little information. I think you'll find that books and magazines written about potters who use the vessel are better than the potters who make to sell to tourists. See you later, Alabama Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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