Making Vertical Test Tiles with Catchers

December 7, 2007

Zinc Silicate Crystalline Glaze Pottery

A chronicle of my recent progress and a way for me to keep it straight in my head!

 

 

 

This is the technique I've been using to make vertical test tiles with glaze catchers lately.

Roll the pug surface flat.

Cut slabs with the slab cutting roller.

Remove wet slab.

A spackle spreader works well as a rib.

 

Sharp edges cut clean and foam insert ejects the cut part.

Cut an array of parts to make both the catchers and vertical tiles.

Be careful you don't hack a chunk of meat out of your finger while making this tool!

Foam block and shaper.

Center and press the shaper into the clay.

Formed pieces puffed up from the foam.

Prepare a group of parts.

Score the surfaces and add slip.

Press the vertical tile into the bases.

Dry in a dry box or slowly under plastic.

A Stanley® Sureform Shaper works great for flattening the bottoms.

 

I had been cutting the pieces out with a straight edge and pin needle, but find this faster and more uniform. In the future I'd like to try using either a slab roller to get larger slabs or an extruder to make 2" wide strips with finished edges.

 

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Phil Hamling

376 County Route 1

Warwick, NY, USA 10990

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