[Clayart] rock tumbler

[Robert Harris]

I use a rock tumbler from Harbour Freight. Got it for $20 (I think. They're
always going on sale, just wait). Can't see why you'd need a $50 one. I
suppose a bigger capacity can be handy, but like you say, colourant can be
suspended with a cup of glaze.

Don't need a rock tumbler for Celadon if you use yellow iron oxide. Not
prone to spotting.

And I always get blue celadons with Custer feldspar ... as long as I use
English Kaolin (e.g. Grolleg). Just made myself a pretty nice satin/matt
blue celadon. Looks a lot more like some of the Korean celadons than the
modern ultra-glossy ones.

On Mon, 2 May 2022 at 11:14, mel jacobson <melpots at mail.com> wrote:

> I had a note from a clayarter about using a rock tumbler.
> She saw one for 50 bucks at a discount store.
>
> I keep it very simple.  I have had mine for 50 years. It goes
> round and round.
>
> You do not need all sorts of accessories. Just the tumbler.
> I add about 10 garden rocks about the size of walnuts. River Rocks
> probably.  I add some water, a measured amount of cobalt, or whatever.
> Add some of the glaze, like a half cup, and let her tumble for 24 hours.
> It takes the spots out of glazes.
>
> With glaze materials like iron and rutile, I enjoy the spots, but copper
> and cobalt spots can be offensive on some glazes or clay bodies.
>
> I love to mess with potters heads. I did that with Hank, Joe Koons, Nils
> and
> others..."How in hell do you get that great soft blue celedon.?????" "Me,
> I don't
> know, what are you talking about, my celedon is always blue, not
> green...hmmm, I don't know nuthin."
> And, I use standard feldspar.
> Mel
>
> website: www.melpots.com
> www.melpots.com/CLAYART.HTML
>
>
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