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raku glazes help

updated mon 14 apr 03

 

Charles DeLoach on fri 11 apr 03


I have been doing raku for almost two years with limited success. I have =
all of the books and looked at all of the web site that offer glaze =
recipes. And I have practiced, practiced and practiced. Things are =
beginning to get better; but I think that I need professional help.

If you would take the time to share your favorite (or the one with which =
you have had the most success) raku glaze recipe and a detailed =
description of how you handle it from the raku kiln through reduction. ( =
I know that there are at least 1000 copper matte glazes.) A recipe =
without some type of detailed instructions probably will not help; the =
process is most important.

Thanks,
Charles

Marcia Selsor on sat 12 apr 03


Dear Charles,
I have been doing Raku for 35 years. It is still amazing for me. I also
use a copper matt. I work wiht large slabs using the copper matt as
abackground for images which are unglazed (black). I pull the slabs out
of the kiln at 1850 degrees F. and place them face down on straw, cover
it with a large steel bucket (about 28" dia.) and let it cool. I
sometimes "burp" it which means open it to let the air in to re-ignite
the flame. I do not put water on the surface until it is cool.
I clean it with just water and nylon pad.If there is a persistent tar, I
will use soap.
You can see the recipes in CM May '97. There are many in the archives
and there are several websites with huge lists of recipes. Tom Buck has
a list on Dragonfire.
Best,
Marcia

Charles DeLoach wrote:
> I have been doing raku for almost two years with limited success. I have all of the books and looked at all of the web site that offer glaze recipes. And I have practiced, practiced and practiced. Things are beginning to get better; but I think that I need professional help.
>
> If you would take the time to share your favorite (or the one with which you have had the most success) raku glaze recipe and a detailed description of how you handle it from the raku kiln through reduction. ( I know that there are at least 1000 copper matte glazes.) A recipe without some type of detailed instructions probably will not help; the process is most important.
>
> Thanks,
> Charles
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
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>
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>


--
Tuscany in 2003
http://home.attbi.com/~m.selsor/Tuscany2003.html

Susan Setley on sat 12 apr 03


I am not an expert on Raku but our experience has been that when you use a
copper-based glaze you have to get it into the reduction medium and sealed up
quickly. We also burp the can sometimes.

If you're doing it all by yourself there may just be too much time between
when you can get your pieces pullled and "in the can" (we use trash cans). If
that's the case, can someone assist you?

Edouard Bastarache on sat 12 apr 03


Hello Charles,

Smart.Conseil and I have upoloaded 118 American Raku tested glazes
at this URL:


http://perso.wanadoo.fr/smart2000/Raku_glazes1.htm


Later,




"Ils sont fous ces Quebecois"
Edouard Bastarache
Irreductible Quebecois
Indomitable Quebeker
Sorel-Tracy
Quebec
edouardb@sorel-tracy.qc.ca
http://sorel-tracy.qc.ca/~edouardb/
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/smart2000/index.htm

Ababi on sat 12 apr 03


Hello Charles
I had made raku firing about five years with limited success I have most books most
understanding
My advise for you, raku is a very tricky virtuosi art.
Go to a workshop if you can!
Ababi Sharon
Glaze addict
Kibbutz Shoval Israel
About Raku
http://members4.clubphoto.com/ababi306910/838890/
---------- Original Message ----------

>I have been doing raku for almost two years with limited success. I have all of the
>books and looked at all of the web site that offer glaze recipes. And I have practiced,
>practiced and practiced. Things are beginning to get better; but I think that I need
>professional help.

>If you would take the time to share your favorite (or the one with which you have had
>the most success) raku glaze recipe and a detailed description of how you handle it
>from the raku kiln through reduction. ( I know that there are at least 1000 copper
>matte glazes.) A recipe without some type of detailed instructions probably will not
>help; the process is most important.

>Thanks,
>Charles

>______________________________________________________________________________
>Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org

>You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
>settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/

>Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at melpots@pclink.com.

Marvpots@AOL.COM on sun 13 apr 03


Hi Charles:
There are many many recipies in the books you may have consulted, e.g., Steve
Brnafman's book, Robert Piepenberg's books etc.
What I have found most important is consistancy of process, carefull bisquing
thje pieces, glazing carefully, getting up to the proper temperature, (I aim
for 960 degrees Centigrade-just under 1800 Farenheit) speed of transfering
pieces from the hot kiln to the reduction buckets, modest amount of
combustible material in the bucket (shredded paper, dried leaves, wood chips,
torn newspaper, whatever you can make available for yourself) and when the
hot piece has ignited that stuff well, adding more of the combustibles over
the piece rapidly, and then firmly placing the lid on the reduction container
and leaving it alone until it stops smoking, unless you want to try "burping"
(i.e., removing the lid, letting the stuff flare up again, and then closing
the lid again to attempt to get more crackle). I then just remove the pieces
and patiently let them cool on a dry, non-combustible surface, until they are
cool enough to handle and get scrubbed.
I'm sure one or more of our Clayart gurus will have comments for you too. Be
patient and don't get discouraged.

Marvin Flowerman
marvpots@aol.com