Interests:: I'll be taking my first soda fire class this summer from Randy Brodnax and want to know how to prepare my pieces for the Soda Firing.
What are the best Clays to use. Slip Recipes, etc.

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At 11:50am on April 16th, 2008, Pamela Theis said…: you can copy and paste our conversations if you like to a forum under the category of questions.
Pamela

At 11:49am on April 16th, 2008, Pamela Theis said…: Flashing slips are slips that you put on the clay (either leather hard or bisque depending on the recipe) that "flash" or change color with the flame and the atmosphere of the kiln. Most of the images that you see on this site that are orange/red/brown with lots of variation is a flashing slip. flashing slips react to the flame pattern which also carries the salt/soda.
Pamela

At 11:43am on April 16th, 2008, Pamela Theis said…: Sorry, didn't mean to post that twice.
Pamela

At 11:42am on April 16th, 2008, Pamela Theis said…: Hi Brenda,
Are you a potter or a sculpture, thrower or handbuilder? This will make a difference with the clay body that you choose. Also, who are your major clay companies out there? I imagine Laguna and Axner? Clay bodies will effect the colors that you achieve when using slips due to a combination of iron content and reduction in the atmosphere of the kiln. For my functional work I use a porcelain, currently Helios, b/c I am looking for brighter colors. For sculptural work, currently I am using Laguna's WSO. I have also used B-Mix, but it is not good for sculpture or altered work. Doesn't handle attachments well. Currently, I am searching for a new clay body myself, b/c I moved from the West Coast to the East Coast and most common clays used here are from Standard and Highwater. Phoenix, from what I hear is a good all around clay body. I am not sure about for sculpture. I haven't done the tests yet, since I still have some WSO. I also hear that Standard #470 and 380, and 153, I think those are the numbers, are good especially for sculpture. Let me know what your needs are.
As far a slips go, some slips are for wet/leather hard work and some are for applying to bisque. It really depends on the slip. This is where testing comes in handy. However, You can look it up in the Daniel Rhodes book, Clay and Glazes by the recipe. I use slips on everything, but I haven't found a clay body that I can put in raw that give me my desired effects. Consistency to which you mix the slip will depend on if it is for bisque or leatherhard application. Generally, thick for leather hard and super thin for bisque. I love slipping leather hard b/c it cuts glazing time in half. I'll post recipes later, but Emily has posted some that may be a good place to start. Some good stable glazes to use for liners or whatever are celadons, temmokus, weiser honey, oribe.
Hope this is helpful. Please let me know what your needs are specifically and I will try to help as much as I can. I would also suggest posting this under the questions forum to see what other people have to offer.
Pamela

At 11:29am on April 16th, 2008, BrendaBeeley said…: Hi pamela,

I'm a hand-builder and sculptor
Lately I've been using WSO, Rod's Bod and Biz Bod which is paper clay.
I can get Laguna Clay here.
What is Flashing Slip? When do you use it?
thanks for the info so far and I will post on the general forum.

Brenda

At 11:22am on April 16th, 2008, Pamela Theis said…: Hi Brenda,
Are you a potter or a sculpture, thrower or handbuilder? This will make a difference on the clay body that you choose. Also who are your clay providers? I imagine on that side of the country you are using Laguna clays? or Axner? Clay bodies effect the color of any slip that you put on it due to iron content. If you are looking for darker colors go with a darker stoneware. Personally, I use porcelain, currently Helios, for the functional work and Laguna's WSO for the sculptural work. I have also used bmix, but it is not good for sculpture or anything with a lot of altering/attachments. Since, I have just switch sides of the country myself and I am running out of WSO, I am currently looking for new clays. I hear that Highwater's Phoenix is good, Standard #470 and 380? I think. Again, since you are more toward the west coast, Highwater clays probably won't be most economical.

Some slips are best applied to leather hard and some are only for bisque. Really this is where testing comes in handy. You can look up in the Daniel Rhodes book, Clay and Glazes, based on the recipe to give you an idea when is the best time to apply. Also, this will effect the consistency to which you mix the slip. Generally, for leather hard mix thicker and bisqueware mix really thin. Generally, I really like it when I can slip wet work, b/c it cuts glazing time in half. You will still need liner glazes. Celadons, temmokus, and weiser honey, are very good dependable glazes in salt/soda. I will post some recipes to the recipe forum later. Emily has already posted some and when to apply to help you get started.

Hope this is helpful. and feel free to ask me anymore questions. You also may want to post this as a forum to get more advice from other people.