I have been starting on a path of exploring high percentages of cordierite in clay bodies. Cordierite is one of the minerals which is commonly used for making kiln furniture, and its a magnesium alumino silicate. I like magnesium, I like alumina, and I love silica so I thought this would be a cool material… Continue reading Cordierite in a clay body for soda firing
Tag: Clay
Soda firing: the intro
It has taken me some time to build up the courage to start to write about the soda firings I have been doing at Clay College in the small test kiln (the descendant of little wobbler, a combination cross draught – downdraught design with one burner). It is hard to say why I have taken… Continue reading Soda firing: the intro
Ash in glazes
I am a huge fan of ash glazes. The most simple combinations of clay and ash, free of any industrial touch, can form some of the most beautiful glazes imaginable, and mostly all of the great glazes we admire so much from China are of this composition. One of my favourite ash glazes is based… Continue reading Ash in glazes
Oxidation Clay Bodies
Successful pots all start with clay. But clay suppliers have a vested interest in producing clay bodies as cheaply as possible to maximise profit. Which means in some cases the bodies they supply do nothing for the glazes and the bodies themselves look dull and lifeless – for some reason this seems especially true for… Continue reading Oxidation Clay Bodies
Little Wobbler
Little Wobbler was a short lived but fun and cute kiln that sparked my interest in soda firing again, and taught me a lot about firing and kiln building. Here I share the design and build of the cutest kiln there has ever been at Clay College
Mashiko Clay
Sakura Tsuchi, a beautiful local clay from Mashiko in Japan, made it’s way home with me in my hand luggage to be tested in a range of stunning glazes
Callum Forbes 