[Clayart] Paul's cast iron pots

[mel jacobson via Clayart]

I have always used iron oxide in my clay and
many of my glazes.

As most of you know, I have worked hard to create
a decent cone 6 electric fire clay body. The key was
getting redart earthenware clay mixed into a stoneware body.
It is so simple. I also add taconite sand to my reduction clay. cone 11.

Black iron is very helpful if you want to color cone 6 clay.

I call my new iron bearing clay and glaze "CAST IRON". I was very
concerned over all the cast iron glazed mugs for my holiday sale. Not to
worry. Every one of them sold the first day. "god damn mel, love that
iron look for my morning coffee." Sure makes me smile.

I do not do complex chemistry. I would happily ask ron, or john post to help
me re/do a nasty glaze. But, in most cases a nasty glaze goes in the garbage.

Every potter has a choice...a CHOICE. you can make pots, fire them and use
someone else's ideas, recipes and creative thought. I cannot do that, it is
just not in my DNA. I have to do it all. Make the clay, make the pots, build the
kilns and make glaze. It is like doing a ten foot painting. When it all comes
together and the painting is glorious you feel ten feet tall. It is all about
solving the problem. It then belongs to you.

It is like my metaphor of sending off a drawing of a big quilt to China and have
someone make the quilt for you, then enter it in the State Fair and getting a
Blue Ribbon. Makes me want to throw up.

As a potter, clay worker you chose the steps that you love the most and then
concentrate on them. I went to Japan and learned to throw pots. I love throwing
a matched set of dishes. I loved learning to throw with skill. I love making kilns
and firing them hot. I love my pug mill and trying many clay ideas. Coloring clay
is really fun.

Carol Marians has two ph/d's from MIT. She is a chemists chemist. She is a world
expert in Silica. She loves it. She teaches us that we can down fire and make changes
in a glaze. I do that. But, I will never be a chemist. I am a potter.

I have four electric kilns. They are now all manual kilns. No computers, programs.
I fire the kilns to my specs. It is really not that hard to turn up those dials.
Someone else does not tell me how fast to fire. I make all the choices. It is called
love of the craft.
mel

website: www.melpots.com
WWW.clayartarchives.com

[Terry Lazaroff via Clayart]

Mel:

"It is like my metaphor of sending off a drawing of a big quilt to China and have
someone make the quilt for you, then enter it in the State Fair and getting a
Blue Ribbon. Makes me want to throw up."

Concepttual Art.

Terry


________________________________
From: Clayart <clayart...@lists.clayartforum.com> on behalf of mel jacobson via Clayart <cla...@lists.clayartforum.com>
Sent: Friday, January 9, 2026 5:37 AM
To: clay clay <cla...@lists.clayartforum.com>
Cc: mel jacobson <mel...@mail.com>
Subject: [Clayart] Paul's cast iron pots

website: www.melpots.com<http://www.melpots.com>
WWW.clayartarchives.com

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[ronroy--- via Clayart]

Just a reminder - using iron in a reduced body turns the Fe2O3 into
FeO which is a strong flux, that means you can't have as much KNaO
which is the antidote to cristobalite.

Anyone who needs to know how to formulate a cone 10 reduction body
with elevated iron and make it functional? I can help.

RR

Ron Roy
ron...@ca.inter.net
Web page ronroy.net