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gerstley from the mudpit

updated wed 18 apr 01

 

Andie Carpenter on tue 17 apr 01


I have seen alot of postings about the Gerstley for sale from the
MudPit, and while I've seen several negative posts about
buying/selling/using Gerstley, I haven't seen any posts from anyone who
bought any of it -

I did.

I have all but one glaze reformulated Gerstley free, and the 30 lbs I
bought should get me through testing this glaze without any bumps. I'm
pretty happy to have it.

It was pretty expensive compared to when it was readily available, but
nowhere near what I expected. In fact, the Gerstley I bought from them
was cheaper per pound than the Lithium, Copper, and Zinc that I order
via Baltimore Clayworks -

Plus, they were really nice on the phone, and my package arrived fast &
ultra-packed, and I weighed it - they made sure I got every last gram.

I just thought I'd post for the record that while we SHOULD all be
trying to get Gerstley free, and we SHOULD have all bought our own stash
way back when, and compared to the old days it IS pretty expensive, it
was still a good buying experience for me and for those of us still
working out the kinks in our glazes, it's a real lifesaver.

: ) Andie

Jonathan Kaplan on tue 17 apr 01


o
> I just thought I'd post for the record that while we SHOULD all be
> trying to get Gerstley free, and we SHOULD have all bought our own stash
> way back when, and compared to the old days it IS pretty expensive, it
> was still a good buying experience for me and for those of us still
> working out the kinks in our glazes, it's a real lifesaver.


Yes.

It is important that not only you learn how and why to replace that gerstley
in glazes you still want to use, but you should also make an effort to have
glazes that do not use it at all. No matter the temperature range or the
atmosphere. Remember that what you are doing is temporary, at best.

Buying a stash years back may have been a good idea as we all Monday morning
quaterback the situation, but the fact still remains, when you are through
testing your glazes with the 30 pounds or so of it, and you hopefuly will be
happy with the results, what are you gonna do when your stash runs out?

Whether it was a good or bad buying experience for you is really irrelevant.
Why bother working out the kinks in your glazes with a material that is no
longer available? Seems like alot of work for naught.

Please don't take this as a lecture. I'm just wondering what the point is.
It may be a life saver now, but when its gone its gone. The places that may
have some to sell will still charge alot and I'm willing to bet that their
supply is also limited, and as it dwindles, the price will go up in inverse
proportion to the remaining quantity.

Its important to see the big picture, IMHO

Jonathan
--

Jonathan Kaplan
Ceramic Design Group
PO Box 775112
Steamboat Springs CO 80477
infor@ceramicdesigngroup.net www.ceramicdesigngroup.net
(use PO BOX for all USPS correspondence)

Plant Location
1280 13th Street
Steamboat Springs CO 80487
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