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In Topic: What Do You Pug?
Posted 22 May 2013
OffCenter, on 22 May 2013 - 03:43 PM, said:Benzine, on 22 May 2013 - 03:25 PM, said:OffCenter, on 22 May 2013 - 01:02 PM, said:I may have figured out why my pugmill ruins clay. My question is for those who love the way their reclaimed clay comes out of the pugmill. What exactly do you pug? Is it mostly scraps from the splashpan (if you're primitive enough to use one), pots that never make it off the wheel, etc. or is it mostly finished pots that have dried and were ready to be bisqued but you scrapped because they cracked or broke or it didn't pass the fresh eyes test?
Jim
I always meant to ask you, about your problems with pugged clay, and why you thought you had an issue.
I don't currently use, or even have, a pug mill. When I did use one, I put pretty much everything in the mill; slaked down clay, splash pan slop (I am that primitive, I basically create projects by beating them with a stick, while grunting), borderline leatherhard clay, that was starting to crack when molded. I would toss all that together, found that I got a fairly consistent result. I honestly didn't use it much for throwing, mostly hand building projects, so maybe that's why I didn't notice an issue.
That's the reason for the post. People here rave about how wonderful their pugged clay is. That splash pan slop is the fine stuff that makes their clay plastic. Good grief! How ironic would that be that I have to buy a goddamn splash pan because I threw mine away.
Jim
I just don't see you getting a splash pan, or maybe I'm just hoping you don't, as I believe that is one of the signs of the apocalypse. You said you use a sponge, held against the wheel. Couldn't you just use the water/ slurry, you squeeze from the sponge? I always have a nice layer of settled clay, in the bottom of my water bucket anyway. The only thing a splash pan might have, that you wouldn't are the scraps, that some potter's just let fly off in their splash pan. -
In Topic: What Do You Pug?
Posted 22 May 2013
You're right Jim, the Walker is almost a mixer. I love those things. They are built like tanks, and you can fit so much clay in there at a time. If I had space in my classroom, I'd be hunting for a used one, all over. -
In Topic: What aspect of clay work gives you the most pleasure?|May 21, 2013
Posted 22 May 2013
TJR, on 22 May 2013 - 02:38 PM, said:OffCenter, on 22 May 2013 - 08:24 AM, said:Try as I may, I can't think of anything I like about pottery.
Jim
Jim;
I'm with you. I ruined a couple of good grande pianos with the stuff.
TJR.
That's your own fault, for setting a full splash pan, on your piano. -
In Topic: First Kiln Advice
Posted 22 May 2013
perkolator, on 22 May 2013 - 02:11 PM, said:All my Skutt stands are 8" tall. A 1227 kiln sits around 30" to the top of the 3rd ring (under the lid). I believe this is standard size across many brands.
Getting to the bottom of a kiln is hard even for a 6ft tall person. Downside to shorter kiln is not being able to fit much inside obviously. Usually when you get shorter, wider kilns, they have to add in floor/wall elements to compensate for getting heat to penetrate the center of the stack.
I know some artists getting older who struggle reaching the bottom of their kiln, so when I was helping them research the replacement kiln I suggested looking at a front-loading electric (like the new Skutt, Hercules, L&L, Paragon, etc. -- or even one with a "Bell-Lift" system (like those fancy raku kilns where the walls lift up with the cantilever system)
I've been looking into front loading kilns, for my classroom, sometime down the road. I don't have a problem, lifting things in there now, but my parkour loading routine, hanging off the kiln stand, isn't something I'll be able to do forever. The downside is, that those front loading kilns are a bit pricey. -
In Topic: What Do You Pug?
Posted 22 May 2013
OffCenter, on 22 May 2013 - 01:02 PM, said:I may have figured out why my pugmill ruins clay. My question is for those who love the way their reclaimed clay comes out of the pugmill. What exactly do you pug? Is it mostly scraps from the splashpan (if you're primitive enough to use one), pots that never make it off the wheel, etc. or is it mostly finished pots that have dried and were ready to be bisqued but you scrapped because they cracked or broke or it didn't pass the fresh eyes test?
Jim
I always meant to ask you, about your problems with pugged clay, and why you thought you had an issue.
I don't currently use, or even have, a pug mill. When I did use one, I put pretty much everything in the mill; slaked down clay, splash pan slop (I am that primitive, I basically create projects by beating them with a stick, while grunting), borderline leatherhard clay, that was starting to crack when molded. I would toss all that together, found that I got a fairly consistent result. I honestly didn't use it much for throwing, mostly hand building projects, so maybe that's why I didn't notice an issue.
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TJR
10 Jan 2013 - 10:28I'm going to put you in as my friend, since we have so much in common as to high school arts education. Tom Roberts, high school art teacher.