Clay - OM4

Flux #1 - Custer Feldspar

Flux #2 - Borax

• started as a fine white powder.

• 08 remained a powder but became slightly finer

• 04 hardened into a solid button but kept its white tone and is quite brittle

• 6 ox. Hardened into a sturdier button, stuck to the clay tray and took on a grey colour. It has a texture similar to a crystal.

• 6 red. Hardened to a solid button, stuck to the clay tray and turned a light grey colour. Turned a light grey colour. Some cracking appeared but an otherwise the surface is smooth.

• Over all the clay became darker as the firing progressed.

Borax

• Started as a crystallized white powder.

• 08 melted into a liquid covering the whole clay tray. Resembled glass, there was cracking below the surface.

• 04 melted into a liquid covering the whole clay tray and going over the edges but not reaching the shelf. Resembled glass, increase in cracking below the surface.

• 6 ox. melted into a liquid covering the whole clay tray, going over the edges and reaching the kiln shelf. Resembled glass, increase and more defined cracking below the surface.

• 6 red. melted into a liquid covering the whole clay tray, going over the edges and almost reaching the kiln shelf. Resembled glass, increase and more defined cracking below the surface, and took on a green tinge.

• Over all the clay became darker as the firing progressed.

• clay was stiff in it’s wet state. It was challenging to work without getting cracking in the clay.

• 08 - 6 % shrinkage rate

• 04 - 8 % shrinkage rate

• 6 ox. - 15 % shrinkage rate

• 6 red. - 14% shrinkage rate. Some cracking on the bottom.

• Clay got progressively more yellow.

• Clay was on the dryer side and the plasticity was low.