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what is a shim? (was re:bisque)

updated mon 16 oct 00

 

C TRIPP on sat 14 oct 00


Hi,
Vince refers to using "shims" to stack large plates for a bisque firing.
What is a shim? My dictionary says it's wedge-shaped. Would the ones used
in plate stacking be cut on an angle too or would they be flat; looking
rather like small chocolate bars? And what if I don't have any soft bricks
hanging about? Would smooth pieces of bisque, in the right shape, do the
trick?
Thanks in advance for the information.
Carol





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Snail Scott on sat 14 oct 00


At 08:35 AM 10/14/00 -0700, you wrote:
>Hi,
>Vince refers to using "shims" to stack large plates for a bisque firing.
>What is a shim? My dictionary says it's wedge-shaped. Would the ones used
>in plate stacking be cut on an angle too or would they be flat;...

Shims, for whatever purpose (wood ones for building construction,
for instance) are often wedge-shaped to allow them to be positioned
where their thickness is appropriate, to provide a precise spacing
(such as setting a windowframe square in its hole) like a low-tech
adjustable jack. The important aspect of the shim is not its
shape, (which might be a wedge for many applications but not all),
but rather its nature as a spacing device. In spacing greenware
for bisque, the precision of the gap is unimportant, so shims
need not be wedges.

The shims only need to be thick enough that heat can flow around
each piece, and to prevent closely-sized pieces from binding when
they expand and shrink from different rates of heating and cooling.
(Imagine nested bowls, for example. When they are heated, the outer
ones will probably heat and expand before the inner ones do. That's
fine, but on cooling, the outer ones will shink faster, too, and if
they're too tightly nested, there's no room for them to do that.

Shims also allow more even heating of things like platters, where the
tendency of the rims to heat and cool first is exacerbated by
stacking them directly on top of one another.

-Snail

vince pitelka on sun 15 oct 00


> Vince refers to using "shims" to stack large plates for a bisque firing.
> What is a shim? My dictionary says it's wedge-shaped. Would the ones
used
> in plate stacking be cut on an angle too or would they be flat; looking
> rather like small chocolate bars? And what if I don't have any soft
bricks
> hanging about? Would smooth pieces of bisque, in the right shape, do the

Carol -
Just use an old saw (it will be no good for any other purpose after this) to
cut 1/4"-thick slices from a softbrick, and break them into pieces about
1/2" to 1" across, and use them as I described.
Best wishes -
- Vince

Vince Pitelka
Home - vpitelka@dekalb.net
615/597-5376
Work - wpitelka@tntech.edu
615/597-6801 ext. 111, fax 615/597-6803
Appalachian Center for Crafts
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
http://www.craftcenter.tntech.edu/

Edouard Bastarache on sun 15 oct 00


Hello Vince,

in french Quebec a shim is called "rossignol".
In international french "rossignol" is the word for
"nightingale" but also for "piece of junk".

Later,

Edouard Bastarache
Dans / In "La Belle Province"
edouardb@sorel-tracy.qc.ca
http://www.sorel-tracy.qc.ca/~edouardb/
-----Message d'origine-----
De : vince pitelka
=C0 : CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Date : 15 octobre, 2000 06:49
Objet : Re: What is a shim? (was re:bisque)


>> Vince refers to using "shims" to stack large plates for a bisque firin=
g.
>> What is a shim? My dictionary says it's wedge-shaped. Would the ones
>used
>> in plate stacking be cut on an angle too or would they be flat; lookin=
g
>> rather like small chocolate bars? And what if I don't have any soft
>bricks
>> hanging about? Would smooth pieces of bisque, in the right shape, do =
the
>
>Carol -
>Just use an old saw (it will be no good for any other purpose after this=
)
to
>cut 1/4"-thick slices from a softbrick, and break them into pieces about
>1/2" to 1" across, and use them as I described.
>Best wishes -
>- Vince
>
>Vince Pitelka
>Home - vpitelka@dekalb.net
>615/597-5376
>Work - wpitelka@tntech.edu
>615/597-6801 ext. 111, fax 615/597-6803
>Appalachian Center for Crafts
>Tennessee Technological University
>1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
>http://www.craftcenter.tntech.edu/
>
>________________________________________________________________________=
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Tom Wirt/Betsy Price on sun 15 oct 00


From: Edouard Bastarache
Subject: Re: What is a shim? (was re:bisque)


> in french Quebec a shim is called "rossignol".
> In international french "rossignol" is the word for
> "nightingale" but also for "piece of junk".


Geez...and I thought my Rossignol skis were rather good....:>)

Tom Wirt