AusBonsai

mudlarkpottery wrote:Manganese in clay bodies tends to bloat in a reduction firing as well as posible health problems if you are not careful mixing glazes. For those of you just starting with clay work, clay is carcinogenic. So keep your work area as free of dust as possible. It's effect is the same as asbestosis (wrong spelling) and used to be called "Potter's Lung". If the lead glaze didn't get you, the dust would.
Penny.

Thanks Penny,

These are some very good points.

Safety is always at the top of the list when working with clay and glazes.

Cheers,
Paul

think In Australia there is a clay called BRT, Buff Raku with trachyte, that gives that speckled effect if the glaze is not to opaque. I have been using it for many years and it is my favourite clay and what I use for workshops because it is so forgiving. We never lost a pot even though nearly all the people attending had never used clay before. It also looks so good on it own when fired to 1200 and above.
It can also be achieved by adding Illmanite to the glaze, or magnasite (iron spangles). I have a glaze made with illmanite I will try to find a photo
Lynette

I don't know what happpened there and all the simple spelling mistakes. I think all this rain has gone to my brain. I am on the computer again to day as it is pouring again and can't get over to the shed or out to the bonsai. Our Pottery Supply business was flooded last week and it looks like it might happen again. We were lucky with not a great deal of damage, but other bussiness near us will be out of action for weeks.
Lynette

Lynette wrote:I don't know what happpened there and all the simple spelling mistakes. I think all this rain has gone to my brain. I am on the computer again to day as it is pouring again and can't get over to the shed or out to the bonsai. Our Pottery Supply business was flooded last week and it looks like it might happen again. We were lucky with not a great deal of damage, but other bussiness near us will be out of action for weeks.
Lynette

Lynette,

Thanks for sharing the pot photo.

I am sorry to hear about your weather related problems. I hope that mother nature relents so you can get on with business.

Good Luck,
Paul

I was aghast to hear that the dust from Clay is as deadly as Asbestos. There are NO safe levels of Asbestos.
So to all you Potters young old and in between wear a Mask at all times. You do not want to be suffering the effects of lungs that are affected by these carcinogens. Believe me I know. It is not nice.
I was a young man when I went to Wittenoom took my family. Unfortunately I have the legacy of it my ex wife is no longer with us. So be careful please. Pup

A lot of people don't realize about the clay dust. A spray bottle of water is handy to have at the ready and always wet mop and sponge down surfaces. Living alongside dirt roads is a hazard too (so is walking across the street). The more infornation you have, the better you can deal with the possible problems. Pup, it's the silica in both asbestos and clay which causes the problems as you well know.
Penny.