[justin1287]

so, is there something i can wrap clay around that will disinigrate when firing that is soft and moldable? i want to make hollow curvy tubes......but if i put something in the middle that is hard, the clay will crack cause it will shrink.

thx

justin

[Marcia Selsor]

If you take a tube, wrap paper around it. Wrap the clay around it. Slide the tube out of the paper and clay wrap.
Done! I do this for large tubes 8" x 28" ht with a tarpaper outside wrap. For smaller pieces the tar paper isn't necessary. I do remover the tar paper after it sits overnight. You can still manipulate it while it is soft leather hard.

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[Chris Campbell]

Another idea I've used is to fill a nylon stocking or children's balloon with sand to get it to a tube shape then fashion the clay around it.
When it sets up a bit just open the end and dump out the sand. This works very well for any soft flowing forms ... also for fat vases with tiny openings.
Sometimes you can just fill up the balloon with air, but if you are going to roll it and work on a form, use sand to avoid the chance of bursting the balloon.

[Cass]

how about the balloons a clown would make animals from, then pop it

[justin1287]

Thx....I,ve done the paper thing.....i like the balloon idea as well. Thanks for sharing!

[minspargal]

i like the stocking idea, never thought of that for free flowing hollow shapes.

[Chris Campbell]

One downside to the nylons is that sand dust can pass through and leave marks ... they are not terrible, just something to know if you want the inner surface to be smooth.

[Marcia Selsor]

James Melchert used vermiculite in stocking for curvy tubes. Vrmiculite is considered hazardous now because of possible asbestos content.
Maybe something that would not leak through the stocking would be perlite granules. It is lighter weight than sand.

Marcia

[bciskepottery]

You can use an extruder . . . curl and shape the tubes as they come out. Different size dies will give you different size tubes.

[weeble]

OH! I like the idea of the nylon full of sand for a project I've been wanting to do! I tried a balloon, but had a heck of a time getting anything inside, and without something inside it is just too squishy and deforms, so my project self destructed.

Now I need to locate some old knee-highs or something... MMMmmmmmmm

[Marcia Selsor]

bciskepottery, on 29 November 2012 - 01:36 PM, said:

You can use an extruder . . . curl and shape the tubes as they come out. Different size dies will give you different size tubes.

you're right. I was thinking bigger than the capacity of my extruder. Your answer is so simple and evident I missed even thinking of it.
Good idea.!
Marcia

[Marcia Selsor]

when I changed cat boxes yesterday, I thought of this thread and thought kitty litter is lighter weight than sand and easily available. Also large enough not to leak out of pantyhose.
Marcia

[minspargal]

Marcia Selsor, on 02 December 2012 - 07:37 AM, said:

when I changed cat boxes yesterday, I thought of this thread and thought kitty litter is lighter weight than sand and easily available. Also large enough not to leak out of pantyhose.
Marcia

Cat litter, good idea...easier to find than the other two things mentioned. We have sand every where here but it is soooo fine it would go thru the stockings. And i finally have a use for all those ruined panty hose, now i can make my mermaid!

[Pres]

Chris Campbell, on 29 November 2012 - 11:18 AM, said:

One downside to the nylons is that sand dust can pass through and leave marks ... they are not terrible, just something to know if you want the inner surface to be smooth.

The sand dust does go through the stockings, this can be cut back if you use the stockings made for diabetics or people with leg circulation problems. The denser weave will cut back on the dust.