Necessity is a Mother. Or Not Killing Myself with Dust.

Hey!  I shot this video today to describe a little about how I'm trying to decrease the dust in my decorating process.  It seems like I am always running up against some obstacle, which is fine, as it leads to new ideas and ways of doing things.  Challenge is good, so are having good studio practices that decrease health hazards.

It's a big wonky since I wasn't used to being in front of the camera but you'll get the idea.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAoRU7AnMK0

P.S.  A six count pack of those needles runs about $2.

Comments

[Cindy]

I really like your new work, especially the way you frame the images. I just started using that Forbes wax myself. It works well over glaze. Thanks for sharing.

[Anna]

Glad you're thinking about all the dust. I still carve my pots leatherhard, partially because I do like a bit of relief....partially because I throw with a cone 6 with a bit of grog (dry wouldn't give me smooth lines) and partially cause I am impatient! It does make for a small window though.

I need to read up on the terra sig. I've been hearing more about it but am not quite sure what that is all about. :)

Can't wait to see the results and hear what you think.

[Nate]

Hey Ron. I helped Linda Sikora and Matt Metz out at haystack this past summer and Matt is very conscious about the dust, especially because he uses a sig with best black mason stain in it. A few things he pointed out...When he has his pots bone dry, he will sig them one at a time with a brush. Immediately after siging he starts carving....the sig layer has a little bit of dampness that keeps the dust down. He says he always wears a respirator if hes doing a large bunch of pots. He also puts a dry towel on his lap and a slightly damp one over that to catch the dust and rewet it, if you work over a table or something you could just put the towel on that. The wax seems like its working great for you though!

[Rob - Simple Circle Studios]

I do sgraffito work as well and have been dealing with the same problem. I have tried wax to a degree and it has not really worked for me. Recently I have been trying to work on my pieces when they are leather hard to cut down on dust. It is definitely difficult keeping up with them and keeping them from drying out before I get to the deco. I am planning to find some sort of damp box to keep them from drying out too fast. Hopefully that will open the decorating window a bit.

[ron]

Hey. Thanks for watching the video, I know it was a bit long. I'm going to be firing next week so I'll be putting some sig and engobe on these tests and see what happens. There's going to be a learning curve using the wax. Just getting it in the right place and finding brushes that work.

Nate, I appreciate you letting me in on what Matt does. I had thought about calling him a while back but I've held off b/c I only met him once and I wasn't so sure about just giving him a cold call. I have noticed that the pot stays damp a bit after the sig goes on so this could be something that I could try. Esp on the ones where I don't feel like I need much of a pencil layout.

Rob, a damp box sounds like just the thing.

[Nate]

I totally emailed will ruggles out of the blue about a year ago about korean wheels and i could not believe the response I got. Just a super nice guy.

[ang]

wow those needles look exactly like the tip on my ceramic pen...off to the livestock store!!! not sure that we have one but i'll look em up....thanks ron :)) brilliant vid

[Clay Blog Review - September 2]

[...] Philbeck shares the tools he uses for carving clay and a video to reduce dust while decorating [...]

[littlewrenpottery]

Nice, the wax gives a nice smooth finish, its something that I work with myself. It's a mixed bag working with wax it can sometimes be forgiving if your a little sloppy, like me! But other times its not especially if you get it on your hands and then a little drop gets somewhere you dont want it.

Great work!

[Tom H. Johnson, Jr.]

Very good. Ah bin worried 'bout you. No kidding.