28 June 2012

Pushing the boundaries or just plain silly

this week I have been remaking teapots to replace the ones that blistered/bloated in their glaze firing. Now I am using Porcelain Paperclay.  I wasn't that happy with the first body so put it aside.  Then I threw the other two, lids, spouts. When I came back I thought that first one isn't so bad and you are supposed to be able to join wet to dry with paperclay, I'll give it a go.






I wrapped it up in plastic and it was looking good - next day it looks like this :^(
I looked up a couple of sites and they still reckon you can repair cracks with more paperclay so I'm giving it one more try.
So what have you been up to this week?  Checked out Mud Colony yet?  See you over there or look for me on Facebook - Anna's Ceramics

8 comments:

smartcat said...

I have had excellent luck with spooze: 1 part karo; 1 part vinegar and enough dry clay body to make a slip or paste, depending how thick you want it. I add some dissolved toilet paper to add strength, which you would not need to do with papercaly. I have only done this with low fire clays so am not sure how well it would work for you.

You always do such interesting work thatI gave you a Sunshine Award. You can find out more about it at my blog.

Anna said...

Hi Suzi, thanks for the Sunshine Award, I'll check that out :^) I've heard of something similar to 'spooze' but I don't know what you mean by Karo? perhaps you could let me know what other name it might go under? thanks again. Anna

Linda Starr said...

I've never had much luck with repairing, I have gotten things to hold but the repair is always visible and I've never been satisfied with the results, perhaps if the work had been glazed with an opague glaze it might have been ok, but the pieces needing repair have always been underglaze or slip decorated pieces with clear and thus the repair showed, good luck with your repair. The vinegar mixed in slip has helped me,never tried the karo.

Anna said...

Hi Linda, I know what you mean but I'm pushing on with this one as I'd like three teapots and don't have time to make and decorate another one before the exhibition. Can you tell me what Karo is?? I haven't heard of it before. oh, just thought I could google it :^)

Brenda said...

I've only made one teapot and can't imagine how disappointing it must be to have that happen after all that work! Hopefully you can repair it...I have my fingers crossed!

Anna said...

thanks Brenda - just had a look at it again and I think I'll have to give up - it just doesn't want to have a spout :( it's that horizontal crack that is the main problem... so win some lose some...

Elaine Bradley said...

I am pretty sure Karo is a corn syrup of some kind used in the states for baking etc. I've seen it in the baking aisle of Coles and Woolies. Look it up. It probably acts as a binding agent or medium and gives some strength to the join. If you are joining wet bits to dry bits though you will get different tensions as they dry and contract - paper clay or not. best of luck, I have to make some teapots soon and am kind of putting it off - fear of failure and all that.

Anna said...

Hi Elaine, well I guess that would help to make it sticky :^) I have given up! The handle had fixed but the spout was too far gone so it is now in the recycle bag!
Thanks to all with suggestions and commiserations!