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magic water recipe

updated mon 24 jan 05

 

Kathy A. Cheriki on sat 15 nov 97

HI ALL

Does anyone have the reciped for "magic water" Virginia Cartwright gives
the recipe on one of her videos, but I can't remember what it is. I know
it consists of 1 gallon of water, ? T silica? and 5 grams? soda ash.

TIA, Kathy near Cleveland where we had our first "wet snow" of the season.

Don Prey on sun 16 nov 97

Kathy,
I happened to run across this just recently (Pottery Making Illustrated,
supplement to the October issue of CM, page 20) "3 tablespoons of sodium
silicate, and 5 grams of soda ash to 1 gallon of water." This is an article
titled "Altered Teapot" by Cheri Glaser. She makes a very impressive teapot.

Don Prey in Oregon

Pearl Joseph on mon 17 nov 97

Kathy,
I just came across this "Magic Water" recipe in the Ceramics Monthly
supplement Pottery Making Illustrated in an article by Cheri Glaser. It is 3
tablespoons sodium silicate and 5 grams of soda ash to 1 gallon of water. She
uses it as slip to attach her pieces in constructing a teapot.
Hope this is what you're looking for.
Pearl in White Plains, NY

Barbara Lewis on mon 17 nov 97

Magic Water from Lana Wilson
1 gallon water
9.5 grams sodium silicate
3 grams soda ash

Barbara Lewis
WellSpring Clayworks
5412 Well Spring Road
La Plata, MD 20646
blewis@crosslink.net
(301) 932-3915


At 09:51 AM 11/15/97 EST, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>HI ALL
>
>Does anyone have the reciped for "magic water" Virginia Cartwright gives
>the recipe on one of her videos, but I can't remember what it is. I know
>it consists of 1 gallon of water, ? T silica? and 5 grams? soda ash.
>
>TIA, Kathy near Cleveland where we had our first "wet snow" of the season.
>
Barbara Lewis
5412 Well Spring Road
La Plata, MD 20646
blewis@crosslink.net
(301) 932-3915

Jeremy/Bonnie Hellman on mon 17 nov 97

Lana Wilson, in her book, _Ceramics: Shape & Surface_, on page 44 writes:

"Magic Water: (I use this instead of slip, but can be added to bone dry
clay for deflocculated slip):1 gallon water, 3 tablespoons liquid sodium
silicate, 1 and 1/2 teaspoons soda ash. Liquid sodium silicate is also
called egg keep and is sometimes available at the drug stores."

Bonnie Hellman in Pittsburgh, PA

>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>HI ALL
>
>Does anyone have the reciped for "magic water" Virginia Cartwright gives
>the recipe on one of her videos, but I can't remember what it is. I know
>it consists of 1 gallon of water, ? T silica? and 5 grams? soda ash.
>
>TIA, Kathy near Cleveland where we had our first "wet snow" of the season.


"Outside a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside a dog, it's too
dark to read" Groucho Marx

" " Harpo Marx

"Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like an avocado" Att. to GM

Dorie Mickelson on sat 22 jan 05


FYI, coincidentally, I just attended a seminar led by Lana Wilson at the
Ann Arbor Potters Guild today (fabulous artist/potter, wonderful person,
very personable/funny, great teacher!!) and bought her book "CERAMIC:
SHAPE AND SURFACE", which has the recipe for magic water in it on page
44. Since the recipe is also posted on her website (

http://www.lanawilson.com/Lana1/Page_3.html), I assume she would not
mind it being posted on Clayart so here is what she says about it:

"Magic Water: I often use this instead of slip: 1 gallon water, 3
tablespoons liquid sodium silicate, 1 and 1/2 teaspoons soda ash. Liquid
sodium silicate is also called egg keep and is sometimes available at
drugstores.

Paper Clay: The best mending for cracks or holes on green or bisque that
I have EVER seen is paper clay. I also use paper clay as slip when
attaching leather-hard pieces for boxes and drawers. Use about 1/4 to
1/3 volume of paper linter or toilet paper to 2/3 to 3/4 bone dry clay
by volume. Soak the paper and clay overnight in magic water (or plain
water). The water should be about one inch above clay and paper. I find
mixing with a hand-held mixer (e.g., Braun) is easiest but a blender
also works well. Pour off extra water. I have two jars of paper clay in
my studio. One is slip consistency for attaching leatherhard pieces. The
other jar is a soft clay consistency which I use to solve cracks."


I also highly recommend taking a workshop with Lana Wilson if you ever
get the chance!

Dorie Mickelson in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where we got about a foot of
snow today!!
www.FreeSpiritCreations.com




C.C. Bookout wrote:

Hi folks,

I have used magic water for joining clay to clay and have misplaced the
receipe. It has in it three things: water, sodium silicate, and soda
ash. I just need the amounts. Thanks so much. Oh yes, I know it has been
posted previously, but I couldn't locate it in the archives. Thanks.

C.C.