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JUST RAKU
The Newsletter for Raku Artists and Raku Art Lovers
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June 2006
Issue #39
Published by
Gary R. Ferguson � Raku Artist
http://www.garyrferguson.com
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In This Issue
* While the Smoke Clears
* I've seen the light...
* 411 on ITC
* Another Crawling Cause
* N&ked Firing Revisited � Wally Asselberghs
* Raku Links
* Workshops
* Pottery Business Available
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* While the Smoke Clears *

Hello All,

Well May was my best month of Internet sales ever.
Especially for plates and shard wall art. I guess some
people got nice tax returns and I definitely don't mind
them sharing with me! I'm going to have to get busy and get
some more pieces done. There just seems to never enough
daylight.

I wanted to give you a heads up that a new Raku book should
be available soon. I'm not writing it, but I was asked to
contribute a section to the book. I was quite honored
given the list of other contributors. I got to proof my
sections (and saw a sneak peak of the other guest artists)
a few weeks ago. I understand it will be available round
August of this year. So I'll keep you posted when I know
more.

As always, I look forward to your feedback, suggestions,
questions, and article ideas at: editor@garyrferguson.com

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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.
http://www.garyrferguson.com/cgi-bin/amlmlite/r.cgi?u=VWeMwhSZ603T&l=1&m=7
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* I've seen the light...

Louise P. writes:
"I have a question for you. I want to make those glazes
with silver nitrate in them to reach those marvelous golden
colors but I was wondering, I know that silver nitrate
reacts to light so I will keep the glaze in a container
that doesn't let the light through, but are there some
other precautions I have to take while glazing? Should the
pieces remain covered before getting them in the kiln? How
long those glazes could keep?"

Ah, Silver Nitrate can create a wonderful effect but can be
such a pain to work with. For those of you who don't know,
Silver Nitrate is the stuff they put on picture film
(remember cameras that actually use film before digital
cameras ruled the world) that reacts to the light to
produce a picture. So the stuff is very light sensitive.

So how do you handle it? First you need to keep if from the
light as much as possible. Keep it stored in a dark
container or even a dark container in a dark container.

Now you only want to mix up the amount of glaze you can use
in a short period of time (a few minutes). Then after the
pieces are glazes get them fired as soon as possible (a few
hours or less). Again if the glazed pieces can be stored
in a dark place the better off you will be.

Another thing to keep in mind is Silver Nitrate is very
reactive on your skin. If you get any on you it will be
there for a long while so make sure you always use gloves
when dealing with this chemical (you should be using glove
to glaze anyway � right?)

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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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* 411 on ITC

Carole L. asks:
"What is ITC, and where can I get it? It sounds like a good
addition to my self-built RAKU kiln."

In my last issue of Just Raku I mentioned the use of ITC in
a fiber based kiln, but failed to explain the details of
ITC. So here goes:

ITC is a ceramic coating that can be sprayed (or painted)
onto a surface to aid in the efficiency of kiln maintaining
heat and also to protect the surface from the corrosive
environment inside a kiln.

There are different formulas of ITC for different purposes
such as, kiln coating, kiln furniture protection, brick
repair, and heating element protection.

The stuff is a little expensive but over the long haul the
cost should be made up in fuel savings.

You can read more about this stuff at the Axner pottery
site link below (you can also order it here)
http://www.pottery-books.com/axner/equipment/itc-ceramic-
coatings.php

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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.garyrferguson.com/cgi-bin/amlmlite/r.cgi?u=VWeMwhSZ603T&l=2&m=7
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* Another Crawling Cause

In the last issue we covered some of the reasons for a
glaze to crawl on a piece. Well Red in Roachville,
submitted the additional idea:

"I over-bisque fired a group of pots. My kiln sitter was on
the blink, and I miscalculated the firing time for the
greenware. The pieces were just a bit too "hard" to accept
the glazes as usual, and crawled when Raku-fired."

So add that to your bag of tricks.

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Raku 2nd Edition � Tim Andrews
This new edition has been completely re-written and updated
with over 200 all new, full-color photos of beautiful Raku
pottery http://tinyurl.com/bt7fk
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* N&ked Refiring Revisited
by Wally Asselberghs

Some additional feedback on the "refiring N&ked Raku" topic
discussed last issue:

I agree with you about not recommending to apply a clear
Raku glaze on top of a n&ked Raku surface, and then fire it
again. Most likely, the original surface will be burnished
to some extent or another, and the Raku glaze will not melt
down the way it should normally do on a rougher bisqued
surface. Chances are very high that the glaze will peel off
later on, completely or partially. Most of the time this is
not very aesthetical pleasing.

On the other hand, my personal experience in regard of
"carbon burning off if the piece is refired" is a little
bit different.

First of all, I always tell students during my workshops
that one of the great advantages of n&ked Raku is that you
can always start all over again, if the results are not
satisfactory after the first firing.

Just remove all remnants of glaze layer and slip layer, and
fire again in a bisque kiln. Not even necessary to fire up
to full bisque temperature. When looking through the
peephole, most carbon has disappeared around 500� Celcius,
and everything is gone once you have passed the 600�
Celcius barrier.

I have re-fired a lot of my personal work, even 2 to 3
times, including objects that were made of slabs and
scorched together.

One student in Arizona once asked me what would happen if
the object was not bisqued again, but a new layer of slip
and glaze was just put on top of the original result, and
fired again in a second kiln firing. I decided to consider
it an experiment, and tried it out at the second day of the
workshop.

It turned out really nice.

Though most of the original carbon marks had faded away,
you could still see some of the original smoke patterns
left behind by the first firing, though quite subdued.
Looked like some kind of patchwork, and certainly opened up
some new perspectives.

Though I never tried it again, I kept the idea in the back
of my mind for further experiments.

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Raku: A Practical Approach by Steven Branfman
The "nuts and bolts" how-to book of Raku
Order 30% off at: http://www.garyrferguson.com/branfman
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* Click Away *

Just Raku Blog http://justraku.blogspot.com
Just Raku Logowear http://www.cafepress.com/justraku
Got Raku? http://www.cafepress.com/gotraku
Just Raku Archive http://www.JustRaku.com
Just Raku Article Archive
http://www.garyrferguson.com/justrakuarticles

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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.
http://www.garyrferguson.com/cgi-bin/amlmlite/r.cgi?u=VWeMwhSZ603T&l=2&m=7
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* Workshops and Seminars

N&ked Raku Workshops with Wally Asselberghs
2-day N&ked Raku workshops to be led by Wally Asselberghs
on June 17-18 and June 24-25, 2006, in Sterrebeek
(Brussels), Belgium . First weekend in English with French
and/or Dutch explanations, second weekend in French
(depending on participant enrollment) with English and/or
Dutch explanations. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, limited to 8
participants, up to 10 bisque-fired pieces (max. 15 cm wide
and 35 cm high) can be prepared and fired/smoked per
participant. This is a great opportunity to meet Wally and
learn his slip & glaze techniques. For more info,
electronic flyer, registration info and form, technical
sheet, etc., contact richardrobinson1@gmail.com or by phone
+ 32 479 223 047.

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"All Fired Up" Alternative firing Techniques" conference in
New York starting July 6th running thru the 9th. This
conference will take place in Garden City NY at Adelphi
University. It is sponsored by the potters council and will
feature raku, pit, horsehair, printmaking on clay, single
firing, and Anagama. You can get further info at
www.potterscouncil.org Lots of Raku people will be there
like Randy Brodnax, Don Ellis, Steve Branfman, Harvey Sadow
to name a few. Contact Gina Mars at www.marspottery.net for
more details.

* * *

Alternative Raku workshop will be held at Mother Earth Clay
Art Center in Sunnyvale California on July 15 and 16.
Students are to bring 12 -20 "prepared" pots to fire during
the two days. We will cover one and two step n&ked Raku,
horse hair carbonization, and ferric chloride
applications. We will also combine these three techniques
for special effects. More information is available at
www.mamasclay.org then Click on workshops.

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Raku: Investigations Into Fire by David Jones
Order 30% off at: http://tinyurl.com/8m5x
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* Home/Business for sale

We are selling our home, potters wheel, peter pugger,
paragon kiln (large & digital), and 5 Raku kilns. There is
a 6,200 sq. home (2 bedrooms, unfinished 1,200 sq. ft dream
master bedroom) three bath. Also there is a 1,200 covered
firing area, kiln room and two studio's on 2 acres of
land. We are getting out of the business and want to sell
our home to another potter. There are over 35 galleries
within a 50 mile radius, several art fairs in this area and
art support in the form of Z-Arts. Our home has a 75 mile
view of Zion National park. Property taxes of $1,200 a
year. Basset mission style living room set and fruit wood
dinner table, with lots of southwest art that just matches
the house. Asking price $525,000.00. Contact Janet
prentice at Zion canyon Raku. Toll free number is 866-301-
8649 or email zcr@color-country.net

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If you are interested in making a little extra money for
taking on-line surveys, click on the link below. Go to
http://www.surveysavvy.com/?id=1424287 and click on 'Join'.
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JUST RAKU (C) Copyright 2002-2006 Gary R. Ferguson