Sunday, September 8, 2013

Bigger Wads Make Better Bottoms


That sounds vaguely obscene, doesn't it? But no:

I've always been inclined to use small wads, because to conserve wadding, because mixing it up is sort of tedious. I see now that I have been cheating myself! When the wads are too tiny, the flame, with its load of soda vapor, can't get under the pot; so the bottoms are pale and pasty and dull. Okay, that's harsh; but using bigger wads does allow vapor glaze to be deposited on the bottom, resulting in this soft, peachy, flame pattern. It's the subtle things that make a piece sing, and a beautiful bottom is definitely a plus.

6 comments:

smartcat said...

A beautiful bottom is a plus for just about anything! ;-D

Lori Buff said...

Proper wadding is an art form unto itself. You want the right height, the right diameter, artistic yet functional placement, and probably lots of other consideration depending on the pot.

Chris said...

Can wads be reused?

Lori Watts said...

Yes, but it means refraining from waxing bottoms, and glueing the already-fired wads in place well ahead of time. More trouble than it's worth.

Sue Pariseau Pottery said...

Totally agree, it's nice to see some of that toasty color on the bottom as well.

Unknown said...

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