AlanMalawi

Dale Savoie is one such reader. Recently he sent me this video that he created in which he explains how he designed and constructed his own slab roller. It’s pretty impressive, so I thought I would share it with you! - Jennifer Poellot Harnetty, editor UPDATE (10/7/19): If you would like Dale to send you updated plans for this slab roller, email him at awardpro@awardmaster.com. Hi all, I saw the above recommendation but unfortunately, the email address given does not seem correct. Does anyone have contact details for Dale or copies of his Slab Roller plans? Regards, Alan

Homemade Glazes I live in Malawi and am new to pottery. We do not have craft stores and our postal system is not reliable enough to do international on line shopping. Thus buying glazes is extremely difficult for me. As a result I need to be able to make my own glazes. They do not have to be strikingly beautiful - just functional and ,hopefully, varied in terms of basic colours. Using the various ingredients listed below, what glazes can I make suitable for my raw clay and wood fired kiln? In addition, I would love any advice from people who have faced similar issues and or suggestions as to my recipes etc. Regards, Alan Available Ingredients / Chemicals Laundry Bleach Caustic Soda Soda Ash Sodium Carbonate Anhydrous Magnesium Oxide Copper II Oxide Aluminium Oxide Ferrous Oxide Sodium Meta Silicate Sodium Silicate (Waterglass) Gypsum Powder Plaster of Paris Hydrated Lime Portland Cement Silicon Sand (Pool Filter Sand) Clay dug Locally Cat Litter (Clay) Wood Ash

Hi, Thank you for response. My remaining question is - "What is definition of fireclay?" I can't get any clays in the stores here. I have dug and processed my own clay here. How would I know if it is "fireclay" ? \Regards Alan

Thanks for the advice. Problem is there is chance of getting that book here in Malawi Glass, clay, and ash are a historic glaze. does the kind of clay and or glass matter? Can I make my own glass cullet by v crushing old bottles etc?

Thank you

Hi All, I live in Malawi and I am primarily into Bonsai. Proper pots aren’t available locally so I am experimenting with making my own. As such I am building a wood fired kiln (Electricity expensive and not reliable) (LPG Gas expensive) So I need advice on the following 3 issues: A Making High Temperature Mortar I have a recipe : 3 Parts Silica Sand *1 1 Part Hydrated Lime 1 Part Fireclay *2 1 Part Portland cement Q *1. Can I use pool filter sand? Q*2 Can I use the raw clay I have dug up, sieved and dried and/or Clay based cat litter ? B. Making Fire bricks Recipe 1 : 2 Parts Fireclay *2 2 Part Sawdust 1 Part Wood Ash Q*2 Can I use the raw clay I have dug up, sieved and dried and/or Clay based cat litter ? Recxipe 2 Silica Sand *1 Sodium Silicate Q *1. Can I use pool filter sand? C. Homemade Glazes Using the various ingredients listed below, what glazes can I make suitable for my raw clay and wood fired kiln? In addition, I would love any advice from people who have faced similar issues and or suggestions as to my recipes etc. Regards, Alan Available Ingredients / Chemicals Laundry Bleach Caustic Soda Soda Ash Sodium Carbonate Anhydrous Magnesium Oxide Copper II Oxide Alumium Oxide Ferrous Oxide Sodium Meta Silicate Sodium Silicate (Waterglass) Gypsum Powder Plaster of Paris Hydrated Lime Portland Cement Silicon Sand (Pool Filter Sand) Clay dug Locally Cat Litter (Clay) Wood Ash