Lili Krakowski on tue 29 aug 06
1.First there was Colemanite, a "natural" Calcium Borate. We all hated it
because it was hateful , passive-aggressive material to work with. Then it
went off the US market, and Gerstley Borate came in. It was less neurotic
than Colemanite, but not much.
Then GB went off the market, although, as I understand it, there are some
suppliers that have some, or mix something like it. No idea.
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Meanwhile a lot of us threw up our hands, after throwing in the towel (INTO
the hamper, dear, NOT on the floor next to it) and recalculated our glazes
to use Frits. These, while also at times disappearing, are pretty much
reliably available.
If you HAVE GB and are happy, why bother to change? If you are running low,
check with your dealer...
2. Kentucky and Tennessee clays of course come from the same region of the
US. How do they differ? Read the analysis sheet!
I generally use Ky OM#4 in glazes, but have used Tenn #10 as well. Just
read the sheets, test....I like Tenn#10 and use it in slips when I cannot
get XX Sagger because #10 is almost white in the raw state and allows me to
see the tints in the slip more easily. Just a practical matter, personal
taste.
3. I don't know, Eleanor, but there are a lot of all-clay bodies. If I am
not mistaken, Cardew favored them, as I do. What is nice about all-clay
bodies when you are mixing your body in a bathtub with a hoe is that you
don't get the clunking, and settling out.
Lili Krakowski
Be of good courage
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