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problems with a claybody

updated mon 2 dec 02

 

Jorge Nabel on wed 27 nov 02


Dear Clayarters, I need some help and advise. Things are that I work with
white earthenware that I buy.Its never been reliable but theres only one
person doing it and I dont have place nor time to prepare it.Due to our
national crisis they changed some clays of the body and now its darker. This
is not a problem as it burns white, but I began to have problems with a
couple of glazes not staying in the rims on some square plates. But what
drives me crazy is that the first 40 kg I use at arrival are OK but a couple
of days later the other packages appear to be full of air bubbles.You dont
see them unless you stretch the clay. I remember somebody mentioned
something about loosing plasticity of this kind of clays. Guess what was the
producers answer???You got it, That Im the only one complaining about this
clay and that he sells 9 tons a day.Theres no other kind of clay, by the
way, but I may be using 60kg a week and maybe the factories are receiving
this clay every other day having always "fresh one". This is an issue with
slab rolling. For the wheel I can manage. And of course I have an order and
I need to slab roll.
Dont tell me to get a deairing pugmill as its cost is equal to 30tons of
clay, and of course I dont have the money.
I dont know what to do.
Hope somebody knows.

Jorge en Buenos Aires .
Sun and 22C.Nice day to be a potter

Ron Roy on sun 1 dec 02


Dear Jorge,

I have noticed this with a porcelain body on occasion - clay wedged up a
few days in advance did develope small bubbles - I attributeed this to
bacteria getting fresh oxygen and becoming more active - sounds like this
may be your problem.

If you can't afford a deairer then you are going to have to wedge the air
out - or hire someone - like most of us. Excellent exercise by the way and
a way of conditioning clay that will improve it's workability and allow
adjustment of consistancy.

RR

>Dear Clayarters, I need some help and advise. Things are that I work with
>white earthenware that I buy.Its never been reliable but theres only one
>person doing it and I dont have place nor time to prepare it.Due to our
>national crisis they changed some clays of the body and now its darker. This
>is not a problem as it burns white, but I began to have problems with a
>couple of glazes not staying in the rims on some square plates. But what
>drives me crazy is that the first 40 kg I use at arrival are OK but a couple
>of days later the other packages appear to be full of air bubbles.You dont
>see them unless you stretch the clay. I remember somebody mentioned
>something about loosing plasticity of this kind of clays. Guess what was the
>producers answer???You got it, That Im the only one complaining about this
>clay and that he sells 9 tons a day.Theres no other kind of clay, by the
>way, but I may be using 60kg a week and maybe the factories are receiving
>this clay every other day having always "fresh one". This is an issue with
>slab rolling. For the wheel I can manage. And of course I have an order and
>I need to slab roll.
>Dont tell me to get a deairing pugmill as its cost is equal to 30tons of
>clay, and of course I dont have the money.
> I dont know what to do.
>Hope somebody knows.
>
>Jorge en Buenos Aires .
>Sun and 22C.Nice day to be a potter

Ron Roy
RR#4
15084 Little Lake Road
Brighton, Ontario
Canada
K0K 1H0
Phone: 613-475-9544
Fax: 613-475-3513