Rob Marquardt on sun 11 nov 07
I have been reading with lots of fascination all the discussion on wedging and soft clay since the you tube videos were posted. I like to throw large forms, but its very hard with stiff clay (obviously) and I had a car accident a few years back which makes me a bit more fragile to using excessive force.
1. How do I get quality clay with a water content high enough to make it "safe" to be throwing and centering 15+ pounds?
2. I try to avoid wedging. I have no pugmill. Do you folks have to prepare your own clay of sufficient softness?
3. any other important parameter besides water content that will determine softness??
4. I seem to have access to Laguna clays most readily. I like/have liked B-mix with sand, Long Beach White.
5. Any suggestions are very, very welcome!
Thanks
Rob
Marek & Pauline Drzazga-Donaldson on mon 12 nov 07
Dear Rob,
you can make a sandwich of slops (from throwing) and fresh clay and =
knock that up. Fresh bag of clay, drill (using a broom handle) several =
holes into the clay - carefull not to go right throuigh and then pour =
just boiled water into the holes, seal the bag and leave for 24 hours. I =
always have some slops knocking about as this softening method is the =
easiest and quickest.
happy potting Marek
Hand made Architectural Ceramics from No9 Studio UK www.no9uk.com
Fully Residential Pottery Courses and more at Mole Cottage =
www.moleys.com
"Tips and Time Travel from a Vernacular Potter" reviews on =
www.keramix.com
an irreverent point of view after 35 years in the game Marek =
Drzazga-Donaldson =20
Assemble a dragon finial at www.dragonfinials.co.uk
Free Works and Mole Cottage DVD's and Video content on all the sites
Drzazga Video Promotions at www.drzazga.co.uk Submit address for DVD
Maggie Jones on mon 12 nov 07
Try wrapping a stiff, unwedgable, lump of clay...even a 25lb bag...with a
wet towel, put it back in the plastic bag and you will be amazed at how
soft the clay will be the next day. no slicing and drilling needed.
(synthetic fabric is best, you can use it over and over without rotting)
maggie
http://TurtleIslandPottery.com
Maggie and Freeman Jones
On Mon, 12 Nov 2007 17:39:31 -0000 Marek & Pauline Drzazga-Donaldson
writes:
> Dear Rob,
>
> you can make a sandwich of slops (from throwing) and fresh clay and
> knock that up. Fresh bag of clay, drill (using a broom handle)
> several holes into the clay - carefull not to go right throuigh and
> then pour just boiled water into the holes, seal the bag and leave
> for 24 hours. I always have some slops knocking about as this
> softening method is the easiest and quickest.
>
> happy potting Marek
>
>
>
> Hand made Architectural Ceramics from No9 Studio UK www.no9uk.com
> Fully Residential Pottery Courses and more at Mole Cottage
> www.moleys.com
> "Tips and Time Travel from a Vernacular Potter" reviews on
> www.keramix.com
> an irreverent point of view after 35 years in the game Marek
> Drzazga-Donaldson
> Assemble a dragon finial at www.dragonfinials.co.uk
> Free Works and Mole Cottage DVD's and Video content on all the
> sites
> Drzazga Video Promotions at www.drzazga.co.uk Submit address for
> DVD
>
>
_________________________________________________________________________
_____
> Clayart members may send postings to: clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list, post messages, or change
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>
Lois Ruben Aronow on mon 12 nov 07
I was taught to throw really with very soft clay - my teacher's believing
hard clay was a crutch. I can throw big-ish with it. I'm not a bigware
thrower, so I never spent a lot of time with over 10 lbs, but I was taught
by wire wedging 50 lbs at a time, and also throwing with it. I was taught
that throwing large was a matter of skill, not physical strength. This is
not meant to disparage anyone - it is merely how I was taught - your mileage
may vary.
If the clay is too soft, I cut it into chunks, and leave it on the wedging
board or a plaster bat to dry out a little. If the clay is too hard, I to
the wet towel trick that was previously mentioned.
I don't know if there is a "safe" consistency. I think it's really a matter
of personal comfort.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of
> Rob Marquardt
> Sent: Sunday, November 11, 2007 1:28 PM
> To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
> Subject: wedging, injury, big stuff and SOFT clay
>
> I have been reading with lots of fascination all the
> discussion on wedging and soft clay since the you tube videos
> were posted. I like to throw large forms, but its very hard
> with stiff clay (obviously) and I had a car accident a few
> years back which makes me a bit more fragile to using excessive force.
>
> 1. How do I get quality clay with a water content high enough
> to make it "safe" to be throwing and centering 15+ pounds?
>
> 2. I try to avoid wedging. I have no pugmill. Do you folks
> have to prepare your own clay of sufficient softness?
>
> 3. any other important parameter besides water content that
> will determine softness??
>
> 4. I seem to have access to Laguna clays most readily. I
> like/have liked B-mix with sand, Long Beach White.
>
> 5. Any suggestions are very, very welcome!
>
> Thanks
> Rob
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> ________________
> Clayart members may send postings to: clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list, post messages, or
> change your subscription settings here:
> http://www.acers.org/cic/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
> melpots2@visi.com
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