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watching paint dry and other pursuits

updated thu 14 aug 03

 

Joe Coniglio on tue 12 aug 03


I've actually watched water come to a boil.
---

I NEED SOME TIPS ON DRYING LARGE STONEWARE:
I need an opinion on drying an awfully large but rather groovy stoneware
terrine with lid.

I'm not new to slow drying and have done many of these before but never on
this scale!!

DO I CONTINUE TO LEAVE THE LID ON FOR FIT WHILE IT DRIES?

THE INSIDE IS DRYING SLOWER THAN THE OUTSIDE.

I use vinegar in my slips for binding my slabs and I also coat the piece in-
same-like slip to smooth it out while it is finished being built and not
leather.

THE VINEGAR HAS SPURRED MOLD GROWTH ON THE INSIDE WALLS OF THE POT.

It's completed. It's wet and still very heavy. As it dries the weight will
radically diminish. The weight of glaze will make it gain again.

I've had it covered in plastic dry cleanering plastic for a week for it to
settle.

I am at a cross between slowly unwrapping it and keeping it wrapped.

It has finally gone leather.

I am keeping the pulled handle wrapped in addition to keeping it wrapped.

Tony Ferguson on tue 12 aug 03


Joe,

The lid will slow the drying down and help equalize the overall surface
drying state of the piece. The best thing you can do is either create or
place the pot in a dry area, no humidity. You can, of course, drap it with
a single piece of plastic (the idea is no breeze will hit one only one side
of the piece) and poke small holes in the poly all around it.

Also--I frequently cover my work with newspaper because it keeps any breezes
off the work yet allows the work to dry easily. Otherwise, bring the work
into the hottest room you have and uncover it and take your chances. IF you
are not in a rush, leave the lid on, and forget about it till its dried.

Oh, yeah, you could put it in your kiln and put the kiln on low--I usually
don't bisque but I just rembered this. I've put wet pots in the kiln, put
it on low with the lid closed but peeps open and dried them out in a few
hours. Lot's of options. And one more thing--I tend to work in a
series--so if I have lets say 8 large works in clay--I experiment with a few
pieces to find the optimum way of drying that particular form. Same with my
sculpture. I figure out the quickest way in case I need to push a deadline.
It is good to know your options.

Thank you.

Tony Ferguson
On Lake Superior, where the sky meets the Lake

Stoneware, Porcelain, Raku and more
by Coleman, Ferguson, Winchester...
www.aquariusartgallery.com
218-727-6339
315 N. Lake Ave
Apt 312
Duluth, MN 55806


----- Original Message -----
From: "Joe Coniglio"
To:
Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2003 11:31 AM
Subject: Watching Paint Dry and other Pursuits


> I've actually watched water come to a boil.
> ---
>
> I NEED SOME TIPS ON DRYING LARGE STONEWARE:
> I need an opinion on drying an awfully large but rather groovy stoneware
> terrine with lid.
>
> I'm not new to slow drying and have done many of these before but never on
> this scale!!
>
> DO I CONTINUE TO LEAVE THE LID ON FOR FIT WHILE IT DRIES?
>
> THE INSIDE IS DRYING SLOWER THAN THE OUTSIDE.
>
> I use vinegar in my slips for binding my slabs and I also coat the piece
in-
> same-like slip to smooth it out while it is finished being built and not
> leather.
>
> THE VINEGAR HAS SPURRED MOLD GROWTH ON THE INSIDE WALLS OF THE POT.
>
> It's completed. It's wet and still very heavy. As it dries the weight
will
> radically diminish. The weight of glaze will make it gain again.
>
> I've had it covered in plastic dry cleanering plastic for a week for it to
> settle.
>
> I am at a cross between slowly unwrapping it and keeping it wrapped.
>
> It has finally gone leather.
>
> I am keeping the pulled handle wrapped in addition to keeping it wrapped.
>
>
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>
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melpots@pclink.com.
>

psci_kw on wed 13 aug 03


snip
> Then in the bisque kiln, I pray.

Gosh, Tony, what size bisque kiln are you using?!
I can't even fit half my body in mine, let alone getting
into a kneeling position. Must be nice to have all that
room.

Wayne in Key West

clennell on wed 13 aug 03


Sour Cherry Pottery

> I've actually watched water come to a boil.
> ---
>
> I NEED SOME TIPS ON DRYING LARGE STONEWARE:
> I need an opinion on drying an awfully large but rather groovy stoneware
> terrine with lid.
>
> I'm not new to slow drying and have done many of these before but never on
> this scale


Dear joe: If there is a potter on Clayart that has made all the mistakes,
it's me.
I am a maker of Texan sugar bowls (60 lbs) which are really casseroles that
you need to wear a Home Depot back brace to lift( and that is without the
contents).
I have taken to covering them with a old cotton bed sheet or wrapping them
with newspaper and then putting plastic on them. the sheet/ newspaper does
absorb some of the moisture and you don't get the sweating of just plain
plastic. I leave the lid on until after leather hard. Then I dry it out on
it's own on a piece of drywall.
Then in the bisque kiln, I pray.
Best of luck.
Cheers,
Tony