5/17/2007
[Just Raku] May 2007 #47 Open Air Raku
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JUST RAKU
The Newsletter for Raku Artists and Raku Art Lovers
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May 2007
Issue #46
Published by
Gary R. Ferguson – Raku Artist
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In This Issue
* While the Smoke Clears – Poll was a Success, Finally
* Open Air Raku?
* High Alkaline Frits
* I Raku the Body Electric
* The Perfect Setup
* Sun Fired Raku?
* Raku Links
* Workshops
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* While the Smoke Clears *
First of all I want to thank everyone that took the time to
complete the New Products Poll. Despite the technical
issues that I ran into with my database, I think it was a
real success. I really appreciated all the feedback
provided in the Bonus Questions answers as well. There
were lots of good questions and ideas that I will try to
incorporate into future newsletters, reports, and products.
If you have not completed the poll yet, it is still
available for a short time at:
www.garyrferguson.com/justrakupoll_1.htm
Before you continue on with this month's newsletter please
forward a copy to all your Raku friends and encourage them
to subscribe as well.
And if you received this newsletter from a friend consider
subscribing at www.justraku.com
I would love to continue expanding this Raku "community."
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"I must thank you for all the great recipes. I was a bit
stuck for new recipes. I'll be here for thirty years
trying all these out." - Simon D.
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* Open Air Raku?
Anne Asked:
I'm trying to find a way to Raku small items, like beads
with a torch and a small reduction can. Do you know of any
information?
Rakuing small items can be a challenge and I've mentioned a
few techniques in prior newsletters and in my books:
http://www.garyrferguson.com/justraku25.htm
http://www.garyrferguson.com/justraku26.htm
http://www.rakubeadjewelry.com
I've also used a blowtorch in the post firing process to
alter the colors in a fired piece, which I have covered as
well at:
http://www.garyrferguson.com/justraku25.htm
The problem I can see in trying to use a blowtorch to fire
a small piece is it would be very difficult to get even
heating of the piece. Even with very small pieces the side
of the piece that is being hit with the flame is going to
be much hotter than the side away from the flame. This
will very likely cause the piece to crack or even explode.
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"Our class fired again last night, and the instructor
followed your tips and voila. Boy do we have copper. Its
great knowing we can do it, and I really appreciate your
help. Thanks again!"-Shannon P. http://www.rakusecrets.com
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* High Alkaline Frits
The following two glazes are from "The Complete Potter" by
Steve Mattison. I'm having trouble knowing which frit to
use. Laguna Clay told me to use 3134 for the alkaline frit
and high alkaline frit, but then I noticed there is also a
borax frit. Thanks for any insight you can provide.
Turquoise Luster 1830F
High alkaline frit 50
Borax frit 20
Copper oxide 4
Bentonite 3
Copper Matte 1740-1830F
Copper oxide 95
Alkaline frit 5
Well, this is what I found at:
http://ceramic-materials.com/cermat/material/f.html
This should give you some ideas of Frits to try.
Alkaline Frit
Frit 285
High Alkaline Frits:
Frit 3110
Frit 3230
Frit 3327
Borax Frits
Frit 1047
Frit 2263
Frit 3195
High Borax Frits
Frit 3278
High Boron Frits
Frit 3124
Frit 3134
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Books, Music, Videos and that's just the start. Amazon
sells more than books! Help support this newsletter by
using this link: http://www.garyrferguson.com/amazon
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* I Raku the Body Electric
Another reader provides feedback on firing Raku using an
electric kiln…
In response to the questions about firing Raku in an
electric kiln, it works just fine. I always turn the kiln
on and get it red-hot (1800 F.) ahead of time, empty, and
get a good charcoal BBQ going next to it, to use for
preheating the glazed pots.
Another thing to think about, with respect to older kilns,
is that when the elements finally do fail, and you can't
redo them (or if someone is getting rid of a dead electric)
it is a simple matter to poke holes in the brick walls, one
or two at the bottom for gas burners, depending on size,
and one on top as a flue.
Place a kiln shelf on a couple of brick pieces, to put your
pots on, and to spread the flames out. A hole saw works
well on the sheet metal, if you run your drill slowly and
you use some oil or wax as a lubricant.
If it was a top-loader, you can turn it on its side first,
to save heat each time it's opened. You don't really want
to get rid of a kiln unless it's literally falling to
pieces.
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After reading Sue's book I discovered dozens of tips,
techniques, and methods of creating Raku beads and jewelry
that I never would have thought of. The hundreds of color
photos are not only instructional but inspiring as well.
There is a new idea to try on almost every page. This book
is a gold mine!" http://www.rakubeadjewelry.com
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* The Perfect Set up
A reader emailed me a while back about the "perfect" Raku
setup. She was getting ready to build an area for Rakuing
and wanted to know my thoughts.
Well everyone probably has a different idea of what would
be considered a "perfect" setup. Usually there is a
financial influence on what we can do for our setup, but if
money were no object, I would have the following setup:
First I would have a computer controlled electric kiln for
bisque firing. I think it is much easier to bisque fire in
an electric kiln than any other kind.
Now for the Raku glaze firing, I would want two gas kilns
that had lids that could be operated by a single person (so
I can Raku solo). Why two kilns? Well with two kilns I
could have one load firing while the second is being
unloaded, cooled, and reloaded. It would allow for much
higher production than using a single kiln.
Finally I would want one or two dozen reduction chambers of
various sizes including a sand pit. Why so many? Well, I
find I get better results if the reduction chamber is just
slightly large than the piece. Also I want to always have
a prepared and cooled reduction chamber available to
receive a hot piece.
Now if money were really no object, I would want an extra
large electric kiln and a really large gas kiln. This
would allow me to make much larger pieces than I can today.
Currently I'm limited pieces no larger than about 17 inches
due to the size of my kilns. I would love to have the
kilns to support firing much larges pieces.
Well that would be my wish...
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Discover the secrets to creating multiple streams of income
using the power of eBay. A Powerseller shows you how at:
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* Sun Fired Raku?
In a prior Just Raku issue I address the possible impact of
Raku on the topic of Global Warming.
http://www.garyrferguson.com/issues/jr43a.htm
Well one reader had some feedback on this topic and even an
idea for firing using the sun. The idea would take some
development, but it is an interesting idea none the less...
Firing pottery, especially stoneware, does indeed put a lot
of carbon into the atmosphere. Sooner or later, in
contemplating the "greenhouse effect", we will all have to
come to terms with our habits, and modify our firing
methods accordingly.
Electric kilns will still be viable of course, if the power
derives from wind, solar, or hydroelectric sources.
However, the sterility of neutral kiln atmospheres leaves a
lot to be desired.
I propose that Raku will be an increasingly exciting
alternative, and work should begin now thinking of ways to
harness the sun's energy directly, to generate flameless
heat for firing. A good way to do this might be to make a
focusable stretched Mylar concave mirror (something like
this was actually demonstrated on Myth Busters a while
back) that could track the sun across the sky, and
concentrate its reflected heat into a small open-sided,
box-shaped kiln, made of zirconia brick. After a bisque
pot is given a suitable pre-heat, it should only take
moments inside such a kiln to melt the average Raku glaze.
The kiln would also have to be gradually moved, to stay
within range of the focused beam of sunlight. Clay
bodies will need to be formulated to withstand the thermal
shock, which will be quite a bit greater than what occurs
in present-day Raku methods.
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"It's all your fault! I was up all night reading "Raku
Secrets". I have been Rakuing for about ten years, and
still so much to learn. Your Raku Secrets gave me a lot of
new insight. Thanks so much". - Elaine S.
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* Click Away *
Raku Glazes http://www.rakuglazes.com
Raku Secrets http://www.rakusecrets.com
Raku Beads http://www.rakubeadjewelry.com
Got Raku? http://www.cafepress.com/gotraku
Just Raku Archive http://www.JustRaku.com
Just Raku Blog http://justraku.blogspot.com
Hypnotic Auctions http://www.hypnoticauctions.com
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Books, Music, Videos and that's just the start. Amazon
sells more than books! Help support this newsletter by
using this link: http://www.garyrferguson.com/amazon
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* Workshops and Seminars
June 2007: 'La Magie du Tour', Ottignies, Belgium.
Info: www.lamagiedutour.com
For more information in regards to these workshops
please contact WALLY ASSELBERGHS at corneel51@yahoo.com or
If you have a workshop coming up, let me know.
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Learn the secrets to creating eBay auctions that get more
bids and higher final prices. Don't list artwork, or
anything else without this book by your side.
http://www.hypnoticauctions.com
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As always, I look forward to your feedback, suggestions,
questions, and article ideas at: editor@garyrferguson.com
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JUST RAKU (C) Copyright 2002-2007 Gary R. Ferguson
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