HorseloverFat
Squarepants with Conkers
Wood first.. (when more moist) then Leatheeeeeer! (when in "par-moist/through bone dry.
(Is what I use)
Pottery beginnings
- Thread starter CodeMonkey
- Start date
(Is what I use)
HorseloverFat
Squarepants with Conkers
CodeMonkey
Mame
Thanks penumbra, that means a lot.
I'd never attempted to burnish anything before, but with yours and horselovers comments above, I've just spent an hour giving it a go. The pots almost too dry so wood wasn't doing much. Moved on to a hard plastic rib, a smooth stone and then buffed it with a chamois. (I couldn't find any leather in the house)
Turned out pretty good I think.
I gave it a final brush with a wet chamois cloth. I've seen people use oil instead of water for this. Any thoughts?
Not sure what to do with the feet. Think I'll leave them rough. Mostly because I'm too scared to touch them.
Attachments
CodeMonkey
Mame
Should I be worried?(did you notice this, as I did, when "zooming in" on that oval's feet?
HorseloverFat
Squarepants with Conkers
Not at all.. I just did the same thing!Should I be worried?
HorseloverFat
Squarepants with Conkers
That looks MUCH 'sexier'.Thanks penumbra, that means a lot.
I'd never attempted to burnish anything before, but with yours and horselovers comments above, I've just spent an hour giving it a go. The pots almost too dry so wood wasn't doing much. Moved on to a hard plastic rib, a smooth stone and then buffed it with a chamois. (I couldn't find any leather in the house)
Turned out pretty good I think.
I gave it a final brush with a wet chamois cloth. I've seen people use oil instead of water for this. Any thoughts?
Not sure what to do with the feet. Think I'll leave them rough. Mostly because I'm too scared to touch them.
I need new leather scraps...
There's a mink farm near here (one of the worst olfactory sensations I've experienced)... also Alpaca and Ostrich.. My Buddy is going Bear hunting this year.
And then TONS of the OBVIOUS farms.. but I'm not a real "obvious" kind of guy
HorseloverFat
Squarepants with Conkers
While I, normally, HATE how plastic feels in my hand, and conversely how it feels RELATING to my piece.
@mwar15 's insight shared in @Colorado 's thread has "gotten my internal wheels spinning" on plastic edging/scraping/pulling tools, and constructing them for my personal needs.. after playing around.. just ANY plastic does NOT work.. and here is something I found and altered to be a LARGE "flat"... which is pretty exciting to me... I'll try edge and lip tools next.
penumbra
Imperial Masterpiece
I like to burnish a leather hard piece with a plastic bag if the grog is moderate.
A smooth polished stone is the best burnishing tool for somewhat drier clay or clay that contains a lot of grog. It takes a lot longer because it does not flex to the shape of the pottery, but it will give a finish as smooth as glass with enough elbow grease.
A smooth polished stone is the best burnishing tool for somewhat drier clay or clay that contains a lot of grog. It takes a lot longer because it does not flex to the shape of the pottery, but it will give a finish as smooth as glass with enough elbow grease.
HorseloverFat
Squarepants with Conkers
You guys keep saying smooth rock.. I have not tried this.. but am about to RIGHT NOW.
(Buildin my arsenal)
Just the nearest smoothies.. I have SO many rocks/stones/crystals
(Buildin my arsenal)
Just the nearest smoothies.. I have SO many rocks/stones/crystals
HorseloverFat
Squarepants with Conkers
This one works well..
Tumbled Turmaline, I believe.
Tumbled Turmaline, I believe.
CodeMonkey
Mame
Ooh that looks like a nice one!
CodeMonkey
Mame
Biggest pot I've made so far. (10x8 inch)
Left it to dry a bit over night in a plastic bag before attaching the feet and a hairline crack appeared on one if the corners!
Smoothed it over. Here's hoping it survives the bisque... (any tips on how to handle cracking while drying? First time its happened to me. I dry as slow as i possibly can most of the time)
This one's destined for a nice grey or orange/brown glaze.
Left it to dry a bit over night in a plastic bag before attaching the feet and a hairline crack appeared on one if the corners!
Smoothed it over. Here's hoping it survives the bisque... (any tips on how to handle cracking while drying? First time its happened to me. I dry as slow as i possibly can most of the time)
This one's destined for a nice grey or orange/brown glaze.
Attachments
HorseloverFat
Squarepants with Conkers
There can be a few reasons for cracking like that..Biggest pot I've made so far. (10x8 inch)
Left it to dry a bit over night in a plastic bag before attaching the feet and a hairline crack appeared on one if the corners!
Smoothed it over. Here's hoping it survives the bisque... (any tips on how to handle cracking while drying? First time its happened to me. I dry as slow as i possibly can most of the time)
This one's destined for a nice grey or orange/brown glaze.
Most ALL end up basically being, "Due to unEVEN drying" NOT necessarily too-fast... too-slow ect..
Or Stress..Gravity and it's leverage-stress.
So knowing this.
How much water (or slip) are using to seal these joints?. Is/was this particular piece... 'wetter' at the joints than other pieces you've made that DIDN'T crack?
The solution here is watching your moisture ADDED.
If you feel you've added too much water to an stress point.. consider things expanding and shrinking as they dry... and apply some moisture to the INVERSE of that stress point.
Consider gravity.. and the weight on your pieces DURING drying..
If you put adverse tension pressure.. post-leather, pre-touch-dry... (Picking up at a stupid angle to move it... considering it "hard enough") this can cause a single 'warp' that runs THROUGHOUT (Well it SHOULD
) and alters MANY angles.. which can cause cracks at those angles stress points.
HorseloverFat
Squarepants with Conkers
But obviously.. ALWAYS slow as HELL.. slow's'ya'cun'go!
Also That piece is sexy! keep it up!
Also That piece is sexy! keep it up!
CodeMonkey
Mame
Thank you!
In terms of differences this time, I'd say the clay was a little drier than usual when I assembled the pot. This was on purpose as I tend to jump the gun.
I use slip to join (don't shoot me sorce). Maybe a little on the thick side this time round.
Other than that it's a less groggy clay than some others I've been using and it
Does tend to shrink a lot more during drying.
CodeMonkey
Mame
This is also a possibility. I had to flip it by hand at one point of the build and it did flex a little!
HorseloverFat
Squarepants with Conkers
That MIGHT be it!!
HorseloverFat
Squarepants with Conkers
REPRESENT!
Here's a tip...
STRAIN the slip that you intend to use for joining.. and go lighter.
CodeMonkey
Mame
Ooooh. Thanks.REPRESENT!
Here's a tip...
STRAIN the slip that you intend to use for joining.. and go lighter.
Is there a theory behind this?
I tend to keep a pot of slip per clay I use. I just let shavings and off cuts dry, smash them to bits with a rolling pin and then mix with water to desired consistency
