AusBonsai

Hi Guys
I thought I would start this thread so people that have home made pots could share their efforts and methods with the rest of us.
I unfortunately have nothing to share at this stage but im working on that. I have a growing interest in the non-traditional side of pots
as well as the great pots we see here every day by Australian Potters.
In this day and age, things are becoming more and more expensive and for some of us, its hard to fine those extra dollars for quality pots.
So please share your pots, be it the obscure, the perfectly crafted or the plain old daft
Thanks
Damian

I've been considering building a five or six sided pot using shale as the "walls" and possibly base of the pot.

Shale is soft enough that edges should be able to be carved to make respectable joins in the walls (to get the "faceted" look for it) for them to be glued, and I was thinking of using the naturally broken edge as the rim.

Could make a nice pot for a "root-over-rock" on a similar coloured stone, such as slate?

Another one of those "spare time" projects, as if any of us have any of that....ah, well, maybe when I find some stone to inspire me,

Jan

I've been trying my hand with concrete pots... so far though not having much luck. Just trying to find the right mix I am using rapid set, and am finding either I'm using a bit too much water, meaning its too weak... or not enough, meaning it sets before all the air bubbles can get out, so is still weak.

Is good fun though! Althought the missus doesn't appreciate the mess lol

Great ideas guys
Jason,are you using anything else in your mix like different sands or clay powders or anything like that?
I'm keen to have a crack at these papercrete pots I keep reading about. Has any one had any experience making them?
I also like the idea of stone for a pot too.

Damian79 wrote:Great ideas guys
Jason,are you using anything else in your mix like different sands or clay powders or anything like that?
I'm keen to have a crack at these papercrete pots I keep reading about. Has any one had any experience making them?
I also like the idea of stone for a pot too.

Not as yet, but that is the plan I'm going to get some concrete that isn't rapid set, as I think that'll solve a lot of my problems too

The spot that I was making them is open to the elements, so won't be able to do too much until winter is through

Bonsai4me had a good article and recipe on concrete mixed pots...

Damian79 wrote:Hi Guys
So please share your pots, be it the obscure, the perfectly crafted or the plain old daft
Thanks
Damian

Experimenting with Rockset - some promising results :

http://lennardsbonsaibeginnings.blogspo ... e-for.html

Lennard

Hi Lennard
Thanks for posting this is a great idea and I love the fact that you have done a step by step process.

Damian

Hi guys
I was looking through youtube for ideas on how to make a cheap kiln and come across this clip

Has anyone made one of these or had any experience with something like this before?
It seems like a great idea and cheap to make. My other question is how good are Raku pots to use for bonsai
Damian

Hello Damien,
This is a raku kiln it is only for low fired pots. I will be doing a raku firing next weekend with a friend, but none of the pots will be for bonsai. All the bonsai pots I make are fired to stoneware.
Many raku glazes lose there colour when left in sunlight, crackle and turquoise are the only ones, I have used which do not lose colour .
You can make a kiln similar to this which will fire higher, but the burner will cost about $700.00, then there the cost of fibre and attachment high fire wire or glue and you need to have the maths to figure our the size burner you will need.
Raku firing is a lot of fun though.
Lynette

Hi Lynette
after searching through youtube(for hours) ,I found this clip

From what this clip shows you may be able to get to the 1200-1300 degree mark for stoneware. I have never had anything to do with this sort of thing though, im only going on what the clip shows, and the comments that follow.
(the clip is long though)
the crackle finish is what im after.

Jason wrote:I've been trying my hand with concrete pots... so far though not having much luck. Just trying to find the right mix I am using rapid set, and am finding either I'm using a bit too much water, meaning its too weak... or not enough, meaning it sets before all the air bubbles can get out, so is still weak.

Is good fun though! Althought the missus doesn't appreciate the mess lol

Jason, have a look at the concrete pots I posted in Damian's other thread, dew days ago, if you like them I can tell you how I make them. I have made them for over 20 years now and they last for ever.

Demian, simon has another kiln from a drum...horizontal one...there he gets much higher temps...I meant to post this links for you and forgot.

Neli wrote:Demian, simon has another kiln from a drum...horizontal one...there he gets much higher temps...I meant to post this links for you and forgot.

I did see this one thanks Neli.
I think a high enough temp for stoneware could be achieved
Ill have to make one and find out
I think a double burner would also help in getting a higher temp too.

Also for earthen warem it depends on the flax used in the glaze...You can have perfect glaze, on earthen ware pot...I used to do it.