|
Post by colorado on Nov 18, 2011 21:43:21 GMT -5
I have not worked with clay. In high school I did a amall horse. Never fired. I doubt she had akiln for us to use. Leather toolng class. Mom refused me any more money to buy leather. I did one purse and two billfolds.
I have heard of pit fireing after that. I learned to tool leather. I have done some since then. After I was married I wanted to put some small leather stuff to start with in the station. But husband said he did not want to be bothered with it. He sold cheap key chains and such. That build is now a craft shop and the guy does lot of pattery and sells other stuff. Two more crafts shops went also after we left. Things did get better there.
I want to run a craft shopafter retirement but county took the building for part of the new jail site. Could not aford another one. When prices were low. I have all this stuff piled up to make. Iam trying to use te material up in quilts.
I am going to head for bed.
|
|
|
Post by rockhound on Nov 20, 2011 6:49:28 GMT -5
Supposed to be rainy here for 3 days so I won't get a chance to build a fire outside for the pipe head until that's past. Could have done it yesterday but it was way too windy.
|
|
|
Post by colorado on Nov 27, 2011 19:58:16 GMT -5
At the ranch there was a streak of clay. Least guess it was. Greenish and did get some out and worked to get out the rocks. Seems I made some little thing. Not much of streak . showing.
Have you fired yet?
|
|
|
Post by rockhound on Nov 28, 2011 4:29:50 GMT -5
Not yet, no. I was so windy friday when I had planned to build a fire, then either wind or rain since then. Now they're calling for flurries in the next week but cold weather won't prevent me from building a fire if it's not so dern wet. I watch the weather predictions daily and hope for some good weather....maybe I'm asking too much for November, lol.
|
|
|
Post by colorado on Nov 29, 2011 11:26:52 GMT -5
This weather. So far no snow down here in the valley. Getting cold nights. Been in mid 30's when I walk before noon. I do that mile a day. Pretty normal really here I think. Last few years Nov is when we get the coldest weather. We use to get a sub zero week in Jan and that was it. Things have changed. Been snow in the mountings. We are warmer here than a lot of COLO. Got to get some washing done. I got to mail in my ins and get it changed to another one as moving to a county where one I have does not have theirs.
One sure has to be careful with fire.
|
|
|
Post by rockhound on Nov 30, 2011 5:36:23 GMT -5
The weather is looking better for fire purposes now and for the next few days. Rain is going to hold off till Sunday, so I need a couple clear days to dry the wood and firepit. I might have to build a kiln of sorts with stacked bricks and use propane, hope it don't come to that.
|
|
|
Post by rockhound on Dec 2, 2011 16:55:08 GMT -5
Sunny today and clear, in the 50's so I started a wood fire and pre-heated the pipe head....BUT evidently not enough. It exploded about 10 minutes in. Impatient old man! I can only laugh at myself, I know better. Back to the drawing board, again. I'll use some of the blow-up pieces for temper after I crush and screen them. Hey I might get this pipe made by Christmas, lol.
|
|
|
Post by rockhound on Dec 2, 2011 20:33:21 GMT -5
I should be glad so few are reading this. I thought about doing a major edit, maybe I'd look like less of a fool, lol. That wouldn't be right. Anyone who is following the thread might pick up a few tips on what NOT to do, that's gotta be worth something. So...here's my plan B, (or is it c or d?) In the morning I will search the ashes for shards I can use for temper material and add them to the last ball of clay remaining. I know there's enough for one pipehead at least. Maybe I'll change the style so there's less thick places to harbor chemically-bound water or air pockets. I will do each step slowly and take my time with drying before firing. Not having touched this stuff for ten years is leaving a few gaps in my memory.....
|
|
|
Post by rockhound on Dec 4, 2011 5:55:54 GMT -5
Got the grog ground up, or rather hammered-up, then strained thru screen wire. Mixed it into the last of the clay and shaped a rough ball to dry a little. It's still pretty tacky and tends to come off on my hands. That is probably because it was dug so near the surface, only a foot deep or so. Clay that has a little silt in it is usually sticky, but it will surely dry enough today to begin handling. I poked a pilot hole for the stem and bowl already, need to drill them out. I'll take a pic after I begin carving, hope it's not all for naught this time, wasted hours there on that last one!
|
|
|
Post by rockhound on Dec 6, 2011 18:51:59 GMT -5
Clay is drying enough to handle, so I removed a little of the extra bulk. I won't bore y'all with a picture every day since that has led to some dead ends. Wish me luck on this one or rather wish that I have the patience to go slow and not wreck it, lol.
|
|
|
Post by colorado on Dec 6, 2011 21:53:51 GMT -5
Wish you good luck.
|
|
|
Post by rockhound on Dec 7, 2011 5:07:41 GMT -5
Thanks, Colorado. I worked on decorating the pipe stem a little last night. Found some buffalo horn beads and bone beads and leather string plus an agate arrowhead and some brass wire. It should be ready to stick the head on and hang on the wall before long.
|
|
|
Post by rockhound on Dec 10, 2011 23:00:46 GMT -5
Here's the latest attempt at a pipe head. Still have some carving to do. It has a bigger bowl and needs to dry more to finish the design.
|
|
|
Post by Pharmerphil on Dec 12, 2011 13:49:58 GMT -5
Here's the latest attempt at a pipe head. Still have some carving to do. It has a bigger bowl and needs to dry more to finish the design. Dang Bro, that's nice looking..can't wait ti see the finished product!!
|
|
|
Post by rockhound on Dec 12, 2011 17:35:02 GMT -5
Thanks Phil. Hard to believe I started this thing on Halloween, lol. I guess I'm a little "older and slower" than I thought.
|
|