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building saggars

updated fri 18 may 12

 

Ben Morrison on tue 15 may 12


All,

What type of clay body seems to work the best for building saggars for low =
fire saggar firing with combustibles? Has anyone experimented with this muc=
h?

In Pioneer pottery he recommends using highly refractory materials, even zi=
rcon sand. However his saggars were for a much different purpose, so I wond=
er if those type of traditional saggars are the best for low fire, saggar f=
iring with combustibles.

Thanks,

Ben

Steve Mills on tue 15 may 12


Ben,=3D20
In my experience Saggars are made using pretty coarse refractory materials =
w=3D
hich by their nature are better able to withstand thermal shock.=3D20
This rule seems to apply regardless of the temperature range they might be =
s=3D
ubjected to.=3D20

Steve M

Steve Mills
Bath
UK
www.mudslinger.me.uk
Sent from my iPod


On 15 May 2012, at 18:50, Ben Morrison wrote:

> All,
>=3D20
> What type of clay body seems to work the best for building saggars for lo=
w=3D
fire saggar firing with combustibles? Has anyone experimented with this mu=
c=3D
h?
>=3D20
> In Pioneer pottery he recommends using highly refractory materials, even =
z=3D
ircon sand. However his saggars were for a much different purpose, so I won=
d=3D
er if those type of traditional saggars are the best for low fire, saggar f=
i=3D
ring with combustibles.
>=3D20
> Thanks,
>=3D20
> Ben

Taylor Hendrix on tue 15 may 12


Check out Alternative Kilns and Firing Techniques by Watkins and Wandless.
Watkins does fuming and makes saggars for that. I'm sure the clay body
would work for lowfire saggaring as well. Also, Charlie and Linda Riggs,
fantastic saggar artists, make their own saggars and you can find ample
information online about what they use. Yahoo group, Naked Raku, is also
full of great info.

Rock on all low fire smokers! Burn it up.


Taylor, in Rockport TX
wirerabbit1 on Skype (-0600 UTC)
http://wirerabbit.blogspot.com
http://wirerabbitpots.blogspot.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wirerabbit/
https://youtube.com/thewirerabbit


On Tue, May 15, 2012 at 12:50 PM, Ben Morrison wrote:

> All,
>
> What type of clay body seems to work the best for building saggars for lo=
w
> fire saggar firing with combustibles? Has anyone experimented with this
> much?
>
> In Pioneer pottery he recommends using highly refractory materials, even
> zircon sand. However his saggars were for a much different purpose, so I
> wonder if those type of traditional saggars are the best for low fire,
> saggar firing with combustibles.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Ben
>

Ben Morrison on tue 15 may 12


Hmm, never thought about doing that.



________________________________
From: William & Susan Schran User
To: Ben Morrison ; Clayart@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Sent: Tuesday, May 15, 2012 11:26 AM
Subject: Re: Building Saggars

On 5/15/12 1:50 PM, "Ben Morrison" wrote:

>What type of clay body seems to work the best for building saggars for
>low fire saggar firing with combustibles? Has anyone experimented with
>this much?
>In Pioneer pottery he recommends using highly refractory materials, even
>zircon sand. However his saggars were for a much different purpose, so I
>wonder if those type of traditional saggars are the best for low fire,
>saggar firing with combustibles.

I have experimented with building from slabs and throwing saggars from a
number of clays, ended up using a Miller clay called Soldate 60. We use
this for raku firing can be fired all the way up to cone 10.

But to tell the truth, the best I've found is just to use the red clay
pots one can get at home centers. Get the pot and tray that you use as the
lid. I've had the small to medium ones survive several firings and the
large ones a few firings. When they crack, I just wrap some heavy wire
around them to hold them together.

Bill
--
William "Bill" Schran
wschran@cox.net
wschran@nvcc.edu
http://www.creativecreekartisans.com

William & Susan Schran User on tue 15 may 12


On 5/15/12 1:50 PM, "Ben Morrison" wrote:

>What type of clay body seems to work the best for building saggars for
>low fire saggar firing with combustibles? Has anyone experimented with
>this much?
>In Pioneer pottery he recommends using highly refractory materials, even
>zircon sand. However his saggars were for a much different purpose, so I
>wonder if those type of traditional saggars are the best for low fire,
>saggar firing with combustibles.

I have experimented with building from slabs and throwing saggars from a
number of clays, ended up using a Miller clay called Soldate 60. We use
this for raku firing can be fired all the way up to cone 10.

But to tell the truth, the best I've found is just to use the red clay
pots one can get at home centers. Get the pot and tray that you use as the
lid. I've had the small to medium ones survive several firings and the
large ones a few firings. When they crack, I just wrap some heavy wire
around them to hold them together.

Bill
--
William "Bill" Schran
wschran@cox.net
wschran@nvcc.edu
http://www.creativecreekartisans.com

ivor and olive lewis on wed 16 may 12


Avoid of the variants of Silicon Dioxide in saggar clay recipes. Avoid
quartz sand, flint, quartzite or ganister. .
If using fireclay, choose one that are high in Al2O3 and reject those that
are high in SiO2.
The Alpha / Beta phase change in quartz can cause dunting.
Regards,
Ivor Lewis,
REDHILL,
South Australia

Alice DeLisle on wed 16 may 12


I don't do much saggar firing myself, but do know some potters who =3D
routinely make saggars from aluminum foil. I did it a couple of times =3D
and it worked well. Just an Al foil pouch.

Alice DeLisle

wanderland@att.net
http://www.etsy.com/shop/IslandTextures
http://www.flickr.com/photos/alice_delisle/

David Woof on thu 17 may 12


hi Ben=3D2C
as Steve says=3D3B an open body of coarse refractories will stand up to rep=
ea=3D
ted firings and thermal shock. Note Ivor's recent caution re silica content=
=3D
in fire clays etc....

There was/is "sagger clay" on the market. I have a half used bag sitting in=
=3D
storage. I used it 20 or so years ago in a recipe to ram form kiln posts f=
=3D
or salt firing. I Mixed a 30-30-30: low iron fire clay-sagger clay-and fine=
=3D
to coarse grog mixture.

This same recipe would work for saggers and as some have already said in th=
=3D
is thread=3D2C any ceramic container including flower pots will work depend=
in=3D
g on desired service and temp fired to.

I make stout walled saggers of uniform size in sets so that the beveled bot=
=3D
tom of one fits snuggly into the lid gallery of the one below so I can stac=
=3D
k them=3D2C using only one lid for the top sagger.

I use my "Woof Z-Mix" body for saggers which throws well=3D2C delicate to m=
ed=3D
/large ware=3D2C and is bullet proof from raku to cone 13 plus.

But before I share it I want to refine a cone 6 version because as is=3D2C =
it=3D
tests a 2.2 absorption at cone six and a cup develops a damp foot after si=
=3D
tting filled with water for 24 hrs.

One can spend a bunch of time making the "best sagger" for the "best kiln' =
=3D
using pots thrown on the "best wheel" with the "best clay" and you still ha=
=3D
ve to learn how to get the results you desire=3D2C or learn to appreciate a=
c=3D
hallenging aesthetic.
So jump in and be conscious and present. Try stuff=3D2C lots of stuff on lo=
ts=3D
of pots=3D2C fired often.

Best wishes for your sagger adventure=3D2C

Last year I suggested that a student sagger fire adding her stale dated pai=
=3D
n meds to other organic debris......She was thrilled! beautiful colors in a=
=3D
bundance!!! (Or was it some long forgotten electric cool-aid? Ha.)

David Woof
> __________________________________________________
> 2a. Re: Building Saggars=3D20
Posted by: "Steve Mills" original.mudslinger@GMAIL.COM
> Date: Tue May 15=3D2C 2012 7:36 pm ((PDT))
>
> Ben=3D2C In my experience Saggars are made using pretty coarse refractory=
m=3D
aterials which by their nature are better able to withstand thermal shock. =
=3D
This rule seems to apply regardless of the temperature range they might be =
=3D
subjected to.
>
> Steve M
>
> Steve MillsBathUKwww.mudslinger.me.ukSent from my iPod On 15 May 2012=3D2=
C =3D
at 18:50=3D2C
>
> Ben Morrison wrote:> All=3D2C>> What type of clay b=
od=3D
y seems to work the best for building saggars for low fire saggar firing wi=
=3D
th combustibles? Has anyone experimented with this much?>> In Pioneer potte=
=3D
ry he recommends using highly refractory materials=3D2C even zircon sand. H=
ow=3D
ever his saggars were for a much different purpose=3D2C so I wonder if thos=
e =3D
type of traditional saggars are the best for low fire=3D2C saggar firing wi=
th=3D
combustibles.>> Thanks=3D2C>> Ben =
=3D