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1...2...3... testing...testing...

This week was a great challenge for me... I had tried to build my units out of porcelain, paperclay and finally fibreclay. In the beginning nothing worked - the curvy strips were getting straight when they dried or they weren't strong enough to build with them.
Even now I still don't know how they will turn out after firing.

Porcelain moves a lot in the kiln and I like it but this time I have to find a way to compromise it's desire to move with my idea of form I would like to achieve.

Here are some of my test from this week.
I am planning to fire them on Friday so the results will be on Monday. Please keep your fingers crossed for me :)




This are just porcelain tests the middle one was a W and that's what is left of it after few hours.
The last piece and the cylinder probably will collapse in the kiln... Well we'll see :)





Now that's paperclay. As you can see on the bottom photo it also went flat after joining two pieces. I really hope the middle piece will survive :)


I was testing paperclay only because I need to work with 'light' porcelain - it is suppose to move less. I definitely did't want the paper look so the 'Sandwich Clay' come up as a next test. It is a sheet of paperclay laid between two layers of porcelain casting slip. This proved to be stronger but stiffer as well.






At last: FIBRECLAY!!!! It is porcelain slip mixed with nylon fibre  2000:100 g.
It is nice and soft, stronger then paperclay and lighter then porcelain. I think it just might be a winner!!!
Now i have to test  how thick/ thin I should make it.
I am getting excited again :)
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