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Diamond Pads

1/7/2020

 

My new trick for cleaning up pots.

I’m using my 240 grit diamond pad in place of the Dremel for cleaning up small sharp areas on my pots. Not only is is more pleasant to use the diamond pad because there is less dust. It is also faster.
Here is a close up of a different pot that had a sharp edge from some of the wadding sticking to the pot. Look at the difference of the before and after using the 240 Grit Diamond Pad.
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I purchased my 240 grit pads from Diamond Core tools. I am not a sponsor for Diamond Core Tools; I just think it's a great, affordable product. Click the button below to check out their tools for yourself.
Get a Diamond Pad
If you want to learn more tips from me; join my soda fire educational series.
Ps. these ideas usually apply to wood fired pots as well, and disclaimer this was an example of cleaning up a wood fired pot.
Join my soda firing educational series

What Kind of work should I bring to a group soda or wood firing?

11/22/2019

 

Top 4 kinds of kiln filler to bring to every soda or wood firing.

1. Tiny Objects

Any kind of object that is tiny, and can be tucked around other pieces of pottery almost anywhere in the kiln. These can also serve as great test tiles for a new clay, glaze or slip recipe. Examples of tiny Objects: 
  • Shot Glasses
  • Buttons
  • Little dishes
  • Jewelry
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2. Tall and Thin Objects

"Tall and thin always gets in." This is a wood firers mantra. The size could range from 2" to several feet tall. Must often it's helpful to have tall work under 9" unless your firing a catenary arch design kiln...then you frequently need really tall pieces to help fill around the arch. Examples of tall and thin pieces:
  • Skinny Pitcher
  • Bottles
  • Tumblers
  • Budvases
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3. Pottery that mirrors each others shapes.

Look at this example of how these creamers tuck between these bowl shapes. You can intentionally make forms that are wider at the top, and wider at the bottom to fire next to each other so there are fewer gaps in the kiln load.
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4. Specialty Kiln Fillers

Work to be fired on it's side.

These vessels would normally take up a lot of vertical kiln space, and could  fit on a shorter shelf by side firing them. It is extremely helpful to have sturdy vessels without fragile handles to be side fired on side stoke aisles if it is a wood soda kiln.
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Non-open forms to go under the arch of a kiln.

It is helpful to have forms that are not very open underneath the arch; as older soda kilns frequently have crud fall from the archway/ceiling of kiln. If you put a big open bowl in the arch way you can count on something landing in it. To avoid having crud fall into big bowls fire a pair of bowls rim to rim instead.
​(note: these bowls would be wadded rim to rim to be loaded into the kiln.)
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Feel free to email me at lisayorkarts@gmail.com to suggest other topics in soda firing that you would like to learn more about.
Want to be a part of this Soda Fire Educational Series?
​Then click the button below to join.
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5 Techniques for Cleaning Up Soda/Wood Fired

8/15/2019

 

Pot Needing Work

Tool for the Job

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DIAMOND CUT OFF WHEEL FOR DREMEL
​​Purpose: to cut off wads that have fused to pot.

Watch video on how to use diamond cut off wheel by clicking button below.
Video: Diamond Cut Off Tool
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DIAMOND PAD FOR POTTERS WHEEL
Purpose: to level bottoms of pots.

Watch video on how to use diamond pad on potter's wheel by clicking button below.
Video: Diamond Pad for Potter's Wheel
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STONE GRINDING BIT FOR DREMEL
Purpose: to grind off partially fused wads.

​Watch video on how to use stone grinding bit for dremel by clicking button below.
Video: Stone Grinding Bit
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WET SANDPAPER AND/OR DIAMOND PADS
​Purpose: to give a smoother texture to pots.

​Watch video on how to use wet sandpaper and hand diamond pads by clicking buttons below.
Video: Wet Sandpaper
Video: Diamond Pads
Read more articles to learn more about soda firing by clicking button on right.
More Soda Firing Articles
Click the button on right to join my Soda Firing Educational Series.
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1. Soda Fire Artist: Tim Sherman

6/13/2019

 

Anagama Soda Kiln

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About Tim:
"I make functional, utilitarian pottery in an anagama style wood-burning kiln."

Why did you decide to build an anagama kiln?
"
After firing many types of kilns and seeing a wide range of surfaces, I decided that an anagama produces the types of effects and colors that interested me most. I also wanted a kiln big enough to fire large pots and would also have room to fire work from other potters that would make up a firing crew."
 
Why do you put soda just in the back of your anagama kiln?
"While firing with Andrew Snyder in his groundhog kiln, he explained that he introduced soda into the back of his kiln to help liven up areas that usually yielded dry pots. Because the draught in an anagama is one directional with the flame always moving toward the chimney, I saw this practice as a way to get a wide verity of surfaces in just one firing. Pots in the front have very traditional ash covered surfaces while the pots near the stack often have very colorful, textured surfaces."
 
What is your favorite part about the mix of soda and wood firing?
"It’s like having two completely unique kilns that only require the labor and fuel of one."
 
How do you put soda into your kiln?
"I make a thick slurry and spread it on long, wide boards and stoke it in between cycles."
 
When do you put soda into your kiln?
"When cone 10 is touching the cone pack in the very back of the kiln."
 
What glazes, clays, and slips work best for your soda firing?
"Both porcelain and stoneware clays work very will in the back of the kiln. I put all types of slips and glazes in the soda section as well, but recipes that are high in silica seem to attract more soda and carbon trapping than ones than don’t."
A Favorite Cone 10 Glaze Recipe:
Val’s White:
(can be easily colored by adding 1-2% of most any oxide)
Cornwall Stone 46
Silica 20
Whiting 34
A Favorite Cone 10 Slip Recipe:
Bauer Flashing Slip:
(Must be applied very thin. I use a spray gun.)
EPK 41.9
Ball Clay 41.9
Borax 5.7
Zircopax 10.5
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​
Find Tim on: 
Instagram @shermanceramics
Shermanceramics.com

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