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paperclay and mixers

updated thu 5 aug 99

 

Randall Moody on tue 27 jul 99

I have found out how much paper to use for paperclay but every thing
seems to point toward mixing small (25lb) batches as slip them pouring onto
a plaster slab for drying. Is it possible to use a Soldner mixer and mix the
paper pulp in as you would mix a normal batch of clay?

Marcia Selsor on thu 29 jul 99

I use a Soldner mixer to make my paper clay at the U although in Spain
we used a really incredible heavy duty mixer on three legs and poured
batches onto the brick patio to let the sun and bricks do the drying.
The Archie Bray is selling really nice recycling vats of plaster which I
have used at home for making my paper clay.
I have a homemade mixer for making the pulp and slurry with the pulp in
it. It is a 1/4 horse power motor with a 30" shaft with two levels of
mixing blades with the motor mounted on a shaft that slides into another
shaft on a mount support to fit over a 5 gallon bucket.
-bad thing is I made a bunch of Raku paperclay and also terra cotta
paperclay before I went to Spain. I have been using both since I got
back and it does really stink at times. -I even don't smell well due to
a concussion a few years ago, but I can smell this!
Fired the TC to ^01 last night and practically no shrinkage. -very strong.
Marcia in Montana

Randall Moody wrote:
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> I have found out how much paper to use for paperclay but every thing
> seems to point toward mixing small (25lb) batches as slip them pouring onto
> a plaster slab for drying. Is it possible to use a Soldner mixer and mix the
> paper pulp in as you would mix a normal batch of clay?

--
Marcia Selsor
selsor@imt.net
http://www.imt.net/~mjbmls
http://www.imt.net/~mjbmls/spain99.html
http://www.silverhawk.com/ex99/selsor/welcome.html

Linda Blossom on thu 29 jul 99

It is possible to mix paper clay in a mixer. I use a Peter Pugger and it
works just fine. You can add the paper and water and then the clay
ingredients without pulping the paper first.

Linda Blossom
2366 Slaterville Rd
Ithaca, NY 14850
607-539-7912
blossom@twcny.rr.com




-----Original Message-----
From: Randall Moody
To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
Date: Wednesday, July 28, 1999 8:41 AM
Subject: Paperclay and mixers


----------------------------Original message----------------------------
I have found out how much paper to use for paperclay but every thing
seems to point toward mixing small (25lb) batches as slip them pouring onto
a plaster slab for drying. Is it possible to use a Soldner mixer and mix the
paper pulp in as you would mix a normal batch of clay?

Mark Mondloch on fri 30 jul 99

In my Bluebird mixer, I start with:

1. a couple buckets of sloppy wet clay scraps
2. add a couple cups scrap glaze ( David Hendley's idea I believe)
3: the feldspar and flint.
4: I put one roll toilet paper(minus the tube) in a half bucket of water and mix
it with a jiffy mixer. I add this as is to the slop in the mixer.
5: run the mixer for maybe 15 minutes
6: add the dry clays( about 75 lbs) and finally kyanite and grog.

This usually comes out pretty close to the right consistency. Sometimes I have
to add a little extra water or scrap clay slop. This is only a small amount of
paper pulp, but I can't see why it wouldn't work for larger amounts too.
Sylvia

Randall Moody wrote:

> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> I have found out how much paper to use for paperclay but every thing
> seems to point toward mixing small (25lb) batches as slip them pouring onto
> a plaster slab for drying. Is it possible to use a Soldner mixer and mix the
> paper pulp in as you would mix a normal batch of clay?

--
Mark & Sylvia Mondloch
Silver Creek Pottery & Forge
W6725 Hwy 144
Random Lake, WI 53075

mondfam@execpc.com
http://www.execpc.com/~mondfam

Thonas C. Curran on fri 30 jul 99

Randall Moody wrote:
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> I have found out how much paper to use for paperclay but every thing
> seems to point toward mixing small (25lb) batches as slip them pouring onto
> a plaster slab for drying. Is it possible to use a Soldner mixer and mix the
> paper pulp in as you would mix a normal batch of clay?
I have mixed ready-to-use paper clay in a mixer, and it works fine.
Because there is a good deal of leeway in the percentages of clay slip
versus paper pulp, I have just used common sense and eyeballed the
amounts. I used approximately equal parts of thick slurry (of the
desired clay body) and drained paper pulp, then added dry clay body to
the slurry mix until desired plastic state was reached. I would
recommend making a small batch, then testing it. The next batch can be
prepared with either less or more paper pulp as you wish. (You want to
end up with the paper pulp percentage of about 10-30% of drained paper
pulp to clay SLIP. I have used the "wing it" method, which works for me.
Perhaps other Clayarters will have figured out more exact recipes. Good
luck. Carolyn aka CNC

john eden on wed 4 aug 99

Whenever I mix paper clay I use a Soldner mixer. It does the job extremely
well. Cheers, John.

John Eden / Ceramics
John Abbott College
Ste. Anne de Bellevue
Quebec, H9X 3L9
Canada
Tel. # 514-457-6610 ext.395