How can you tell raku pottery?
You’ll take your raku ware out of the kiln when it’s red hot, so you won’t be able to see the result until the piece has cooled. Some of the interesting results you might see are crackled glaze surfaces, black smoked unglazed clay or even beautiful metallic effects.
How is raku pottery different?
Raku firing is much quicker than normal firing, taking around 1-2 hours in comparison to regular firing which can take up to 24 hours. The first process is to glaze your ware using a specialist Raku glaze, which can be found at some craft shops and pottery equipment wholesalers.
Is raku pottery durable?
Because raku is fired for a shorter period at a lower temperature, the ceramics and glaze are not fully mature. The clay is still porous. This means it absorbs liquid and it is not especially strong or durable. As a result, raku pottery unsuitable for being a water-holding vessel like a vase.
Can you drink out of raku pottery?
May I use your Raku ceramics to eat and/or drink? Yes, you may. Unlike traditional Raku ceramics, we use only food-safe glazes without lead or other metals.
What is raku pottery What is the origin of the name?
Toyotomi Hideyoshi presented Jokei, Chōjirō’s son, with a seal that bore the Chinese character for raku (“Enjoyment”). Raku then became the name of the family that produced the wares.
Can you use any clay for raku?
In general any stoneware or even crank clay would be suitable however there are also a variety of Raku clays available and when you are starting out it is a good idea to try a few different clays, if you can, so you can discover your own personal style.
What kind of clay do you use for raku?
Grogged stoneware clay is suitable for raku firing. Grog helps make the pottery more resistant to thermal shock and reduces shrinkage. There are specially made raku clay’s that often contain kyanite. Porcelain can be raku fired if it contains a suitable grog, is well made, and is fired under 1200F.
What temperature does raku fire at?
Western raku is typically made from a stoneware clay body, bisque fired at 900 °C (1,650 °F) and glost or glaze fired (the final firing) between 800–1,000 °C (1,470–1,830 °F), which falls into the cone 06 firing temperature range.
Can raku pottery get wet?
Limit the contact a raku piece has with water. Although there are measures that can be taken to make raku water-resistant, ultimately raku is vulnerable to water. As such it is best to keep its contact with water to a minimum.
What is the best clay to use for raku?
Most of the time, stoneware is the clay of choice for raku pottery. However, it is much more likely to survive the raku process if it has additional materials to prevent it from cracking. Grog can be added to clay bodies to make them more resilient. It can be made of various different materials.