SIMON LEACH - A simple clay / ash glaze

[djdepaolo]

Do you think that this would work on a Cone 6 stoneware if I were to use a local terracotta?

I also have a local lead colored clay too.

I am making some chestnut, butternut and locust ash to test for my locavore glazes.

I am just starting to fire and glaze my own work so I find the technical stuff difficult to predict. Any help would be appreciated about proper melting at cone 6.

Thank you

[fuzzycreative]

helooo master

could you please tell us abaut the appropriate temperature for this glaze ?

thanks a lot !

[parrotpotterstudio]

That's going to change for every found clay used. You'll need to make a test batch and vary the amount of ash for the clay, the clay body you 're using it on, and the temp that you're firing the clay at. Hope that helps!

Dan

[crataegus17]

Simon

You are an inspiration

[Robkat3751]

show some finished pieces with your wood ash glaze. Show the finished fired pieces on each of your demostrations.

[nate777]

ahh such a good book!

[LeaTownsend]

longbeforedawn, I really thought that was the purpose of a ball mill! We have one at my school, however, and when I asked my instructor about it she was very adimate that I NOT use the ball mill for that purpose. I asked "Then what is a ball mill for"? I was told that it was to grind powders into finer powders. Personally, I think that she is wrong. We have a large, powerful ball mill and believe that it is designed for that purpose.

[LeaTownsend]

Simon, I have also been attempting to create glazes from local materials. I am absolutely passionate about it! I have also been on a neverending search for a wonderful purple glaze. I have a deep purple granite in my area and have been collecting peices in hopes of making a glaze from it. The problem that I am having is in crushing it finely enough. Do you have any suggestions for grinding materials into powder? Thanks, Lea

[sleachpots]

Try your local marble / granite yard where they should cut these materials with a water cooled disk , the tank where all this 'dirty' water goes will have a sludge in the bottom of very fine dust/mud .If they let you have the sludge you can begin testing it .

Your purple granite probably wont make a purple glaze though ! Granite is very hard so you would have some problems to crush it fine enough in your own back yard I guess. SL

[longbeforedawn]

The "Illustrated Dictionary of Practical Pottery" by Robert Fournier, recommends a "ball mill" for milling your grit into usable form.

Michael Cardew's book, "Pioneer Pottery" has an appendix on ball mills. It's basically a rock polisher type cylinder which tumbles your "charge" with a "grinding medium" consisting of flint pebbles, or porcelain balls.

Harry Fraser, describes a much faster technology, the "vibratory mill" in his book, "Glazes for the Craft Potter"

[turuanu]

Oh... this video is so much in line with the kind of potter I want to become. I just wish I could know what substance gives what color, at least indicatively. Where are these lots of books about it you talk about? I haven't had much luck so far. Please give us a few titles.

[DASRAY]

Simon, on the contrary,

you are not a lazy potter, I feel you have just made some compinsations to work everything all in to date! Now you are stretching out a bit and helping us all to do the same! Thank you

Just got back from camping on the Cashe La Poudre River, in Colorado Mntn's threw several pots up there while the weather was nice. We out ran the 8+ Tornado's on Thursday last, many of which took out part of a town not far away from us! Prayers to all in Windsor CO

Many Thanks Simon!!!

[dashpots]

ANY FELLOW YOUTUBE/SIMON GROUPIEs who are enthusiasts of learning should definitely make a trip to spain to work with simon. he is an amazing teacher and a very genial guy as well. (you all knew that from the videos) the countryside is gorgeous...and even after two short lessons i came away with increased knowledge of all the basic throwing techniques i was trying to master.

cylinders improving, simon! drake

p.s. love this glaze idea

[liamg1995]

Hey Simon,

was the red clay that you were mixing in with the ash a cone 10 clay or was it a low fire clay?

thank you

Liam

[monty918]

Hello from the Yukon once again....was pleased to see your clip on making glaze from local materials. We have many different natural deposits in the Territory...volcanic ash, glacial silt, calcium carbonate..as a mining community copper, nickel, zinc..lots to experiment with which has been my passion every since moving here some 36 yrs ago...cheers...thanks for sharing..someday if I ever get to Spain !!??

[tarahloveshentai]

Haha, I love how you started out the video.

My ceramics teacher does the same thing you do too. It's so simple.

[mudpuppy61]

I love experimenting with glazes! I'm afraid I get a bit hampered by the 'science' of it though. Without knowing what the clay is made of, how do you know it's going to contain enough flux material to melt the glaze? Just curious - looks like fun! :)

[sleachpots]

...because i have tested it ! SL

[mudpuppy61]

Ok - one more question then if you have time.:) I'm still learning about mixing glazes and their components. What would be the difference between this glaze and an engobe?

[liamg1995]

could we use a cone 10 store bought clay body for this glaze as well?

If so I will check it out.

Thank you.

Liam

[sleachpots]

try it out ..why not .Probably not such an interesting result though !

SL

[enslaver]

My line blend is going in the kiln on tuesday :D

Can't wait to see your results on a pot

[pensandcalls]

Very interesting. I just found a 'Leach White'. I assume that is from your family, Simon? Any experience with that one?

[thelyzardiam]

I think it is, we have several "Leach" colors in our class. I threw a vase in class with porcelain and dipped it into leach white then midnight blue and back into the leach white and it came out VERY nice. Midnight blue at our school is almost black unless put over a lighter glaze.

[andrewwiddis]

Excellent.

I've been testing some Ash glazes lately. I'm useing my local Eucalyptus trees. Also the local clay. Thanks for the book ref.

Cheers, Andrew.

[slipmymind]

You have inspired me to arrange an expedition in search of local materials to create my own glazes.

To anyone who is game to do the same, please don't forget to bring a notebook and log all findings. This will ensure your ability to return and recover the found treasures that are successful.

[thelyzardiam]

Thank you so much for showing me this clip. It has helped me out a lot. Now I know what to expect. One more question, why do people wash the ash?

[adlesk54]

Hi Simon. Thanks for sharing. I look forward to what you will be up to next! I assume this glaze will be fired to cone 10? Do you know if a glaze like this would be suitable for firing to cone 6 oxidation? Im sure the result would be different? Thanks, Sue.

[chopin65]

Simon your a cool dude. I wish I could afford a trip to Spain. I would be honored to call you Teacher.

[Kam3k]

We have a red clay locally in Dorset that I've been told is suitable as a terracotta - it bisque fired fine. Do you think might work in this recipe? I also have access to a large quantity of mixed wood ash so I might give this glaze a go. I like the look of the test piece you did, it'd be nice to get more of a close up. I'll be watching these videos of glazes from local materials with great interest. Thanks.

[clearvision5]

You know, I really appreciate how you use what is around you to use for tools & glaze. I live in the middle of an almond orchard, who would have thought I had so much supply around me!

[leweeja66]

Hi Simon,

I have been using an ash glaze from Amaco that has ash from Pompei. It also contains a lot of cobalt. It produces a nice effect, but I like using in conjunction with other glazes. Have fun! Janice

[parrotpotterstudio]

Working with clay & glazes...it's inspiring, isn't it Simon!