search  current discussion  categories  techniques - cracking 

stress cracks in handles.

updated wed 29 sep 99

 

Vicki Katz on sat 25 sep 99

Toni,
Interesting problem...I applaud your integrity - not selling cups with
repaired handles. BRAINSTORMING - a couple things I might suggest: once you
pull your handles, allow them to dry a bit in a curved formation. I have
seen this done by other potters on thick rolls of cardboard lined with
newspaper but I tend to make a loop & let the clay 'rest' in a loop by
touching the tip of the pulled handle to the thick part of the 'carrot'. I
must admit that my method is far less efficient but it was the way I was
taught years ago. Use a great deal of water to line up those clay particles
when you are pulling handles, dipping your hand in water about every 3 pulls
and rotate the 'carrot' as you pull it.
I am interested in the suggestion of others & what clue you find to correct
the problem.
Vicki Katz

Ron Roy on mon 27 sep 99

Best to use well aged clay to pul handles with - you can age clay quick -
just re-wedge it every two days for a week - keep it in a warm place.
Adding older clay to new clay will help as well.

I work with porcelain - not as easy as stoneware you know - when I am
bending handles I give em a brush of cider vinegar just before I do any
bending - never heard of anyone doing this - just seemed like the thing to
do - haven't had one crack since.

Don't dry em out any more than you need to put them on - some clays will
not be as good as others - but the aging helps a lot. Maybe you should add
the vinegar before pulling the handles - or maybe it will work if you put
the vinegar in the "pulling" water.

Yes I am giddy tonight - it's the CO I think - wind was the wrong way again.

RR

I'm back - forgot to say something - dry em slow - if a handle dries out
too faster than the rest of the pot - as is it's wont - as the rest of the
ware dries - and shrinks - the handle - already dry cannot bend - so it
cracks - of course. Some even have to wax a handle to slow the drying down
- there must be a dozen answers to this one. I use a damp cupboard and
light plastic - a paper house would probably do just fine - as some one
pointed out here recentlly - used to do it that way myself when doing wall
tiles.

Watch out now - the heat is coming on - everything is going to start drying
faster - we don't want a lot of complaints about clay cracking all of a
sudden.

oops - how did my clay supplier hat get on? there it's off - it's all dusty
anyway - time for a new hat.

Ron Roy
93 Pegasus Trail
Scarborough
Ontario, Canada
M1G 3N8
Evenings 416-439-2621
Fax 416-438-7849

Anji Henderson on tue 28 sep 99

I have heard of the vinegar thing, only it was in
repairing the handle... Does anyone know what the
vinegar actually does to the clay??? Is it some sort
of reaction?? Or maybe vinegar dries faster????
Curious again...
Anji

--- Ron Roy wrote:
> ----------------------------Original
> message----------------------------
> Best to use well aged clay to pul handles with - you
> can age clay quick -
> just re-wedge it every two days for a week - keep it
> in a warm place.
> Adding older clay to new clay will help as well.
>
> I work with porcelain - not as easy as stoneware you
> know - when I am
> bending handles I give em a brush of cider vinegar
> just before I do any
> bending - never heard of anyone doing this - just
> seemed like the thing to
> do - haven't had one crack since.
>
> Don't dry em out any more than you need to put them
> on - some clays will
> not be as good as others - but the aging helps a
> lot. Maybe you should add
> the vinegar before pulling the handles - or maybe it
> will work if you put
> the vinegar in the "pulling" water.
>
> Yes I am giddy tonight - it's the CO I think - wind
> was the wrong way again.
>
> RR
>
> I'm back - forgot to say something - dry em slow -
> if a handle dries out
> too faster than the rest of the pot - as is it's
> wont - as the rest of the
> ware dries - and shrinks - the handle - already dry
> cannot bend - so it
> cracks - of course. Some even have to wax a handle
> to slow the drying down
> - there must be a dozen answers to this one. I use a
> damp cupboard and
> light plastic - a paper house would probably do just
> fine - as some one
> pointed out here recentlly - used to do it that way
> myself when doing wall
> tiles.
>
> Watch out now - the heat is coming on - everything
> is going to start drying
> faster - we don't want a lot of complaints about
> clay cracking all of a
> sudden.
>
> oops - how did my clay supplier hat get on? there
> it's off - it's all dusty
> anyway - time for a new hat.
>
> Ron Roy
> 93 Pegasus Trail
> Scarborough
> Ontario, Canada
> M1G 3N8
> Evenings 416-439-2621
> Fax 416-438-7849
>


=====
Anji
http://www.angelfire.com/md/Anji/
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Bid and sell for free at http://auctions.yahoo.com