2eternity Posted December 17, 2014 Report Share Posted December 17, 2014 I just had a different idea that might work. What if I used toothpicks, shaved down to size? The clay shouldn't crack then should it even if it shrinks? The toothpick should burn away. I liked the idea about prefiring some spikes. I know maybe a lot of you probably do wheel work but I couldn't center a pot to save my life and I had classes from 4 different instructors. If you are a sculptor do you sometimes use some kind of support material inside the statue, like paper? Maybe to avoid air pocket explosions? Do you think the toothpicks would keep the spikes from drooping? I was thinking of putting little timy thorns on the side too. Thanks for all your help. You gave me a lot of good information. I'm glad I found this place. Have any of you seen what some sculptors are doing on pintrest? I saw I sculptor who dips cotton balls half way down into slip and then attaches them to a base. After it fires it looks like coral or barnacles, really different. If any of you have a pinterest account with sulpting pictures, could you send me your name to fish4northerns@yahoo.com. (I'm using my secondary email address, don't like to give out my main one and if you don't want to give me your name then I'll give you mine and you can message me there or on facebook). Can't be too careful these days. Someone stole my email account and I didn't get any messages for days before I knew what had happened. (Better to lose your email account than your credit card) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Coyle Posted December 18, 2014 Report Share Posted December 18, 2014 As the toothpicks start to burn, gasses will be produced that may crack the clay. it depends on the overall configuration of the piece. My default advice, as usual, is to try a small prototype of what you want and see what happens when you fire it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bciskepottery Posted December 18, 2014 Report Share Posted December 18, 2014 As the clay dries and shrinks around the toothpick even before firing, it could still crack. Plus, the wood will combust during firing early, leaving the spike unsupported as the work is fired to higher temperatures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benzine Posted December 18, 2014 Report Share Posted December 18, 2014 For my "precarious" work, and that of my students, I usually use scrap clay, of the same body, to act as supports. On larger, overhanging pieces, I'll make a post out of the clay, and hollow out if it is too thick. For smaller props, I'll just use a little wad or ball of clay, lightly pressed against the rest of the sculpture. The good thing about the clay props, is that they shrink at the same rate, as the clay your firing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Campbell Posted December 18, 2014 Report Share Posted December 18, 2014 The toothpicks will swell as they absorb water from the clay which might cause problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted December 18, 2014 Report Share Posted December 18, 2014 Could you post a drawing of what you're trying to make? I really have no concept of how these spikes will be used. They may not need any support at all depending on how they're used. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Class 53 Posted January 29, 2020 Report Share Posted January 29, 2020 Could I use wooden toothpicks in air drying clay or will the clay still crack? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hulk Posted January 29, 2020 Report Share Posted January 29, 2020 Good question 53! Suggest checking your drying progress periodically - adjust supports so the shrinkage force isn't being localized; the piece needs to move as it shrinks. Can you post a pic? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babs Posted January 29, 2020 Report Share Posted January 29, 2020 Airdrying clay?? So is this a product or are you just drying "normal "clay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callie Beller Diesel Posted January 30, 2020 Report Share Posted January 30, 2020 @Babs air dry clay is sort of like a cooked salt play dough, but made with cornstarch, baking soda, and sometimes oil and glue. At a cursory google search, it might be possible to make it with powdered porcelain, but I didn’t really want to go down that rabbit hole at the moment. You can buy small tubs of it at craft stores or make it yourself. I have not tested it to see how much it shrinks as it dries, so I think any experiments with toothpick supports are worth a shot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babs Posted January 30, 2020 Report Share Posted January 30, 2020 5 hours ago, Callie Beller Diesel said: @Babs air dry clay is sort of like a cooked salt play dough, but made with cornstarch, baking soda, and sometimes oil and glue. At a cursory google search, it might be possible to make it with powdered porcelain, but I didn’t really want to go down that rabbit hole at the moment. You can buy small tubs of it at craft stores or make it yourself. I have not tested it to see how much it shrinks as it dries, so I think any experiments with toothpick supports are worth a shot. Thanks Callie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Min Posted January 31, 2020 Report Share Posted January 31, 2020 There are also clays like Amaco sells that are called Air Dry Clay that are actual clay. Just looks like a low fire clay (they say it can be fired to 04), so the name is a bit misleading. I guess technically we all use air dry clay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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