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raku color development

updated sat 26 jun 99

 

HandsInCla@aol.com on wed 2 jun 99


Dear Clayarters:

What is the best way to achieve color development during Raku reduction?
Most of my pieces wind up an uninteresting uniformly bronze luster. Any
suggestions?

Linda

Mike Gordon on thu 3 jun 99

try spraying copper carb over the glaze and then firing. Mike

Pottery by Dai on sat 5 jun 99

I think the solid copper effect you're getting is from over-reduction. Try
letting the flames really get going in your reduction barrel before putting
the lid on, and don't use a huge amount of reduction material. You may also
try firing to a slightly lower temperature; we find that if we fire quite
high, there is a bigger chance of pure copper and not a lot of good color.
But, then again, everyone has their own personal way of successful
rakuing---what works for one person may not work at all for another. Good
luck!

Dai in Kelowna

Ellen Koment on fri 25 jun 99

Linda;

You are forcing darkness in your color by over reducing your kiln, this
results in loss
of brightness in colors. Oxy firings give bright and reduction give dark.

Try just a slight reduction at very end by stalling or closing down for
2-3 mins, or
the chimmeny(manifold) and see if you get improved results.

I'm presently getting brighter surfaces by using a slip made from "Big
White" over
Soldate60 and the crakle and color reflectiveness is amazing.

Let us know if this is helpfuMario Q., in santa fe.