[Clayart] Heat gun vs. blow torch

[Ken Chase]

Hello:
I've seen a lot of potters use a blow torch
To firm up clay while throwing tall forms and before removing them from the wheel head. Also seen others use a heat gun.
Any advantage of one method or the other?
Thanks
Ken

Sent from my iPad
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[Gene Arnold]

Ken in my opinion the torch is much faster is the only difference. You do have to be careful in the fact that you can over dry and have some cracking issues.
Gene Arnold

[L TURNER]

On Fri, Nov 11, 2016 at 8:59 AM, Ken Chase <kcha...@gmail.com> wrote:

> Hello:
> I've seen a lot of potters use a blow torch ... [and] ... seen others use

> a heat gun.
> Any advantage of one method or the other?
>
>
>

Ken,

I think the choice is being made on the basis of "what the potter is
familiar with, and therefore, developed his/her technique with.

I prefer the electric heat gun/(hair drier) tool because I can use it in
places where a flame device is prohibited (school studio). Furthermore,
electric tool does not run out of propane as quickly as the flame tool
does.

As an aside, I have both; use the hair dryer when I want a gentle flow of
heat, and the heat gun when I what a BIG HOT wave of heat.

LT

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[KATHI LESUEUR]

I use a heat gun. the heat is more diffused.

KATHI LESUEUR
http://www.lesueurclaywork.com

[Vince Pitelka]

Hi Ken -
Both work the same, and in your own studio it's your choice. You should try both. In general I'd say that the propane torch gives more focused heat and must be moved around continuously to give broader heat, while the heat gun gives a wider distribution of heat.

In an institutional studio, a propane torch is always much safer, and the Bernzomatic TS-4000 is my favorite for an all-metal, instant-on, one-hand-operation torch. The reason a propane torch is safer is that you can see the flame. A heat gun looks too much like a hair-dryer, and what do people do to check the temperature of a hair-dryer? They put their hand in front of the nozzle. Of course a heat-gun is putting out heat at 1600F or so, and will cause a very serious burn, whereas no one puts there hand in front of a propane torch flame to see how hot it is.
- Vince

Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Craft
Tennessee Tech University
vpit...@dtccom.net
https://sites.tntech.edu/wpitelka/

[Randall Moody]

I prefer the torch. I know when it is off and it cools faster than the heat gun. Also the heat gun makes that godaweful sound.

Randall Moody

[Tommy Humphries]

A heat gun will give a more dispersed stream of heated air, where a blow torch will give more pinpoint localized heat. A torch has the advantage of not needing electricity, and the heat gun has the advantage of not being an open flame.

All in all, I prefer a heat gun when working with clay, as the stream of air moves the heated moisture away from the clay rather quickly.

Tommy Humphries

Sent from my iPad

[Vince Pitelka]

I think the essential warning in using either torch or heat-gun (aside from "don't set anything on fire") is to apply gentle heat, moving the heat-source around constantly. The objective is to just warm up the clay in order to hasten evaporation, but that happens fastest at the surface. I have used torches so often to warm up pieces for faster stiffening to leather hard, and I have a good feeling for it, so I never experience problems with cracking, even when warming a piece to the point where you can see steam rising. But in my Intro to Clay class, students frequently see surface cracking by applying too much heat with the torch, causing the surface clay to shrink faster than the interior. Obviously this is most critical on thick-wall pieces or small solid pieces, where it takes time for the moisture to move from the interior to the surface.

The "open flame" warning isn't really a valid reason to use a heat gun rather than torch, because the heat gun puts out air far above the kindling temperature of carbon-based fuels and can start a fire very easily. Yes, the torch flame will bring wood or paper to the ignition point much faster, but since it is a visible flame, the chances are far less that anyone would let that happen.

[M Gordon]

Another source if you don't mind the electric cost is an infra red lamp
bulb. A wet pot turning slowly on the wheel with the heat from the
bulb is a nice slow way of drying out wet clay, I also use a heat gun.
Mike Gordon

[Paul Gerhold]

I just use a hair dryer on an articulated arm. It is a fairly gentle even way to dry and I just do other studio chores for a few minutes while drying.

Paul

Sent from my iPad

[Robert Smith]

I will add that I have seen plenty of plastic splash pans with inadvertent
"melt marks" from still-hot heat guns. I prefer a one-click propane tank.
Bob

URL: <http://lists.clayartworld.com/pipermail/clayart/attachments/20161113/263a893b/attachment.html>

[David Woof]

Applying heat to the interior of a piece, as well as exterior, confines the heat and so more uniformly heats outward thru the inner walls and so brings the entire piece up to an evaporative state, vs trying to evenly heat the exterior either with torch or gun, both of which "spot" heat in the larger sense.

For the really big "pots" of yester-year I rigged a propane fueled weed burner onto an adjustable tripod stand and with wheel turning slowly applied heat where needed. Out doors, crumpled news print tossed and burned inside the piece is effective, and a "get their attention" crowd curiosity pleaser if done in a public venue. Been there, done that....this old dog is no longer seeking the public eye. Oops did i just say "old?" Nah!

david Woof

**********************************************************************

From: Clayart <clayart...@lists.clayartworld.com> on behalf of Vince Pitelka <vpit...@dtccom.net>

Sent: Saturday, November 12, 2016 4:33 AM
To: 'Clayart international pottery discussion forum'
Subject: Re: [Clayart] Heat gun vs. blow torch

Vince Pitelka - Tennessee Technological University ...<https://sites.tntech.edu/wpitelka/>
sites.tntech.edu
I have been a studio clay artist for 45 years, teaching clay at the university level since 1986, the last 22 years in Tennessee Technological University's School of ...

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[M Gordon]

Toshiko Takaezu did the burning newspaper inside as well. Best done
outside. Can you imagine the smoke alarms going off and the overhead
sprinklers? Mike Gordon

[David Woof]

Hi Mike, I think you would agree.....thinking, questioning, taking calculated risks with due regard for caution supported by experienced knowledge pays off.....nothing intrepid ventured...nothing new gained......

I once did a 52"X 26" coil thrown jar form one evening in Tlaquepaque at a Steak and Surf using my weed burner on a tripod. I kept a running conversational presentation going for the patrons through-out and received several commissions and a dinner for two certificate for my efforts while having a great time with people and clay.

David Woof
************************************************************

________________________________
From: Clayart <clayart...@lists.clayartworld.com> on behalf of M Gordon <cla...@earthlink.net>
Sent: Tuesday, November 15, 2016 11:49 AM

Vince Pitelka – Tennessee Technological University ...<https://sites.tntech.edu/wpitelka/>

sites.tntech.edu
I have been a studio clay artist for 45 years, teaching clay at the university level since 1986, the last 22 years in Tennessee Technological University’s School of ...

> Vince Pitelka - Tennessee Technological University
> ...<https://sites.tntech.edu/wpitelka/>

Vince Pitelka – Tennessee Technological University ...<https://sites.tntech.edu/wpitelka/>

sites.tntech.edu
I have been a studio clay artist for 45 years, teaching clay at the university level since 1986, the last 22 years in Tennessee Technological University’s School of ...

> sites.tntech.edu
> I have been a studio clay artist for 45 years, teaching clay at the
> university level since 1986, the last 22 years in Tennessee
> Technological University's School of ...
>
>
>
>
>
>
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[Vince Pitelka]

With due respect to the wonderful and amazing Toshiko Takaezu (she's gone, bless her soul), I found the burning newspaper technique messy and ineffective, and as has been pointed out, you can't really use it indoors. Also, it doesn't work once you start closing in a large form, because the flame immediately smothers itself.

I do a lot of very large coil vessels, and I teach people to make them in my handbuilding workshops. We use the standard Bernzomatic TS-4000 instant-on propane torch every effectively for that. It is not "spot-heating," because we constantly fan the flame around, and I have found it a very effective method to speed up stiffening. If you warm the clay gently overall with the torch, you don't have to apply heat inside and out. The heat passes through the wall and the vessel stiffens very evenly.

When I am doing my large coil forms, I am too impatient for a small propane torch. I use adjustable Sievert Pro-Matic instant-on torches that run off a standard propane canister or a 20-pound tank. They have interchangeable tips, and the largest I have produces 500,000 BTUs, which is gross overkill in this situation. It came in a set I bought on eBay. The Sievert Pro-Matic torches are very expensive if you buy them new, but enter "Sievert torch" as an ongoing search in eBay and you'll eventually find one for an affordable price. For the torch handle (containing valve, instant-on lever, and piezo ignitor), hose, and regulator to fit a standard propane canister, the cost new is about $350. To see one, enter "Sievert Industries HSK1-04 Heat Shrink Kit" in the amazon search box. You can often find them on eBay for less than $200. That might seem a lot for a torch, but when buying tools, you generally get what you pay for.
- Vince

Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Craft
Tennessee Tech University
vpit...@dtccom.net
https://sites.tntech.edu/wpitelka/

[David Woof]

Vince,

thanks for sharing your opinion as to, as you say, the unnecessary and messy in-effectiveness of interior heating to stiffen the walls of a large vessel or burning newspaper to the same end.

I have found that when beginning to close in (neck in) a large vessel, the already supportive properties of the stiffened lower walls, combined with the physical dynamics of the circle and the arch that come into play and if executed properly one has no further concern or need to stiffen the closing form.

I did not know that Toshiko was burning newspaper when I invented the technique for myself out of curious necessity. And I must say if it was good enough for Toshiko, it has served me well also and I feel I'm standing in good and creative company. (Though as I prev. stated I too use torches and heat guns.)

Burning newspaper and interior heating of a piece is a viable alternative to what you outline as your favorite technique, and doesn't require an institutional expense account to fund the acquisition of higher tech gear.

So in a more simple or primitive environment where one works and/or a situation where one must travel light, controlled application of fire has no equal.

It is a service to folks to provide alternative information to widely accepted dogma.

Is not that our mandate as higher learning educators, to break open the "Boxed" information and give free flight to entrenched ideas?

If you read my previous post in it's entirety I sure we will find that we have no points to argue.

As always, best wishes,

David Woof

**************************************************************************

From: Clayart <clayart...@lists.clayartworld.com> on behalf of Vince Pitelka <vpit...@dtccom.net>
Sent: Tuesday, November 15, 2016 4:37 PM
To: 'Clayart international pottery discussion forum'
Subject: Re: [Clayart] Heat gun vs. blow torch

With due respect to the wonderful and amazing Toshiko Takaezu (she's gone, bless her soul), I found the burning newspaper technique messy and ineffective, and as has been pointed out, you can't really use it indoors. Also, it doesn't work once you start closing in a large form, because the flame immediately smothers itself.

I do a lot of very large coil vessels, and I teach people to make them in my handbuilding workshops. We use the standard Bernzomatic TS-4000 instant-on propane torch every effectively for that. It is not "spot-heating," because we constantly fan the flame around, and I have found it a very effective method to speed up stiffening. If you warm the clay gently overall with the torch, you don't have to apply heat inside and out. The heat passes through the wall and the vessel stiffens very evenly.

When I am doing my large coil forms, I am too impatient for a small propane torch. I use adjustable Sievert Pro-Matic instant-on torches that run off a standard propane canister or a 20-pound tank. They have interchangeable tips, and the largest I have produces 500,000 BTUs, which is gross overkill in this situation. It came in a set I bought on eBay. The Sievert Pro-Matic torches are very expensive if you buy them new, but enter "Sievert torch" as an ongoing search in eBay and you'll eventually find one for an affordable price. For the torch handle (containing valve, instant-on lever, and piezo ignitor), hose, and regulator to fit a standard propane canister, the cost new is about $350. To see one, enter "Sievert Industries HSK1-04 Heat Shrink Kit" in the amazon search box. You can often find them on eBay for less than $200. That might seem a lot for a torch, but when buying tools, you generally get what you pay for.
- Vince

Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Craft
Tennessee Tech University
vpit...@dtccom.net
https://sites.tntech.edu/wpitelka/

Vince Pitelka – Tennessee Technological University ...<https://sites.tntech.edu/wpitelka/>

URL: <http://lists.clayartworld.com/pipermail/clayart/attachments/20161116/43380a71/attachment.html>

[Vince Pitelka]

Hi David -

We do agree on most of this, but you have misunderstood my situation. You wrote:

"Burning newspaper and interior heating of a piece is a viable alternative to what you outline as your favorite technique, and doesn't require an institutional expense account to fund the acquisition of higher tech gear."

I am not sure what sort of "institutional expense account" you think university faculty have, especially in state-funded universities. Every cent of my studio operation budget goes for supplies and equipment for my classes and students. All of my own tools and equipment are purchased with my own money, including all of the Sievert torches, which I purchased for bargain prices on eBay by watching saved searches over years and years.

For those of us who teach, torches are invaluable when demoing, because we can hurry things along and complete a demo in one class period. I do a lot of demonstrations in other circumstances such as public events at the Craft Center, and in that case the big torch is indispensable. And admit it, people love it when we bring out that large torch to stiffen up a big pot so we can proceed quickly.

When working in my studio, I generally do large coil vessels in series, and in that case I do not use the torch. I add some height to three or four big jars, and then go off and do something else while they stiffen enough to proceed. Believe me, in any academic teaching job, there is ALWAYS plenty else to do. One of the main things I look forward to in retirement is having a LOT more studio time.

[David Woof]

Hi Vince,

I do understand "institutional expense accounts," having "been there, done that" myself.

My misunderstanding was in thinking that your purchases of the equipment were for the classes and student use from that account, vs your private purchases and I had/have nothing negative to question in that regard.

When making that comment, I only sought to offer low expense techniques and relatively free alternatives to the folks who are raising kids on a budget etc. etc..... while also trying to feed their spirit by being involved in some aspect of serious clay work.

Best regards,

David

*******************************************************************************************

From: Clayart <clayart...@lists.clayartworld.com> on behalf of Vince Pitelka <vpit...@dtccom.net>
Sent: Wednesday, November 16, 2016 5:47 PM
To: 'Clayart international pottery discussion forum'
Subject: Re: [Clayart] Heat gun vs. blow torch

of higher tech gear."

Vince Pitelka - Tennessee Technological University ...<https://sites.tntech.edu/wpitelka/>
sites.tntech.edu
I have been a studio clay artist for 45 years, teaching clay at the university level since 1986, the last 22 years in Tennessee Technological University's School of ...

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