JohnnyK 685 Posted November 26, 2020 Report Share Posted November 26, 2020 Here is the latest in advancing my jewelry glazing...Rather than going out and spending a chunk of change on some manufactured jewelry racks, I decided to make my own. Hopefully the wire won't sag and everything stays separated in the kiln which is firing as we speak. Roberta12, oldlady, Hulk and 2 others 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mark C. 4,862 Posted November 26, 2020 Report Share Posted November 26, 2020 (edited) Best laid plans of mice and men they say show us an after photo Edited November 27, 2020 by Mark C. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bill Kielb 1,119 Posted November 27, 2020 Report Share Posted November 27, 2020 (edited) We have done a fair bit like that although we just put them on stilts turned sideways and stacked. The wires would sag but never enough to touch the shelf and the pendants (in this case) did not slide to the middle thank goodness. These were cone six firings. I did start bending the wire over the far side of the posts to limit the sag a bit but they were just stilts turned sideways so friction was my friend. Your rig looks way better! Edited November 27, 2020 by Bill Kielb LeeU, Roberta12 and Callie Beller Diesel 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LinR 36 Posted November 27, 2020 Report Share Posted November 27, 2020 I have done something similar but with a post in the middle of the wire to prevent sagging. Lin Bill Kielb and Roberta12 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bill Kielb 1,119 Posted November 27, 2020 Report Share Posted November 27, 2020 (edited) I’ll just add, Marcia (My Marcia) made a ball (of clay) with Kanthal spikes sticking out in all directions. . She could bend those wires and hang a boatload of earrings off that thing. Pretty cool idea for tiny stuff. Edited November 27, 2020 by Bill Kielb Callie Beller Diesel 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JohnnyK 685 Posted November 27, 2020 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2020 Major fail, but lessons learned. I found that the jewelry racks have to be fired to vitrification. The pics show why. These racks were just bisque fired. The holes on the jewelry pieces were just big enough for the wire to pass through and the holes shrunk to bind on the wire. So the holes have to be drilled a little bigger to keep them loose on the wire. The sagging caused the pieces to touch and fuse together... I may be able to salvage 4 or 5 pieces if I can get the wire out. I guess I'll be making new racks and firing to ^6. Then I'll test fire with a few scraps before making a production run. Roberta12 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Min 3,432 Posted November 27, 2020 Report Share Posted November 27, 2020 I wouldn't use your regular cone 6 clay, it's still going to slump, more and more so with subsequent firings. April 2020 C.M. has a kiln post recipe from Jeff Diehl that he uses up to cone 12, EPK 25, XX Saggar 25 and grog (30 mesh) 50. Another recipe that would probably work would be a mullite setter mix. C.M. June 2017 article from Glynnis Lessing making kiln setters ^10 using 20 Talc, 25 Tennessee Ball clay and 55 Mullite (100 mesh). JohnnyK 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LinR 36 Posted November 28, 2020 Report Share Posted November 28, 2020 Ouch! My method was to place 3 posts in a row. On top of that was a 1 inch post with a hole in the middle on its side.. The wire went through the 3 holes. The middle post kept the wire from sagging. I don't think you can have much distance between supports of the wire if you have much weight at all on the wire. This method used the kiln furniture that I already had. Lin Roberta12 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Min 3,432 Posted November 28, 2020 Report Share Posted November 28, 2020 4 hours ago, JohnnyK said: Major fail I wouldn't call it a major fail at all, they didn't tip onto the elements, didn't hit the bricks, didn't make a glaze mess on the shelf. I think you were very lucky with how it turned out, not a major fail. You lost some pieces, no biggie. JohnnyK and Roberta12 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
oldlady 2,802 Posted November 28, 2020 Report Share Posted November 28, 2020 johnny, you have provided a wonderful lesson in thinking it out and redesign of something that did not come out the way you planned. there are lots of new folks who will read this and not do the same thing and should thank you. well, i hope they will read it first. Roberta12 and JohnnyK 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Roberta12 447 Posted November 28, 2020 Report Share Posted November 28, 2020 Thanks for sharing the info!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JohnnyK 685 Posted November 28, 2020 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2020 Thanks to all for the insight and support! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mark C. 4,862 Posted November 28, 2020 Report Share Posted November 28, 2020 yes a body made for kiln furniture is best. Mins post above covers that.This eclay boidies are made for kiln furniture like stilts best laid plans of Mice and men Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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