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In This Issue
* While the Smoke Clears
* Crackle, Crackle, where art thou Crackle
* Raku After Burners
* Blogging Raku
* Iron "Chef" Raku
* Raku Links
* Workshops 
* Pottery Business Available
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* While the Smoke Clears *

Hello All,

I hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July Holiday (US
subscribers) and you had a great July 4th (non-US
subscribers)

The response to Sue Ki Wilcox's Raku Beads CD eBook has
been great! There are apparently a lot of you that either
create jewelry or want to start.  And now is probably a
great time to get started for the dreaded "C" word –
Christmas. You can check out what's available at
http://www.rakubeadjewelry.com

I've got to comment on this.  It used to be a great excuse
to blame the US Postal mail for loosing things.  With email
that was supposed to go away, but it is actually worse now. 

For example, I had someone contact me that they didn't
receive my latest eBook. So I tried to reply and my email
was returned with a "not accepted" message.  I tried again
using a Yahoo account, an ATT account, and a Gmail account
- all with the exact same result.  Near as I can tell there
is no way to contact this person by email and I have no
other contact information for them.

So keep this in mind – it might not be "them" it might be
"you".  If you are trying to contact someone by email it
might not hurt to include a phone number or physical
mailing address as a back up measure.

Related to this, with every issue of Just Raku that I send,
I loose subscribers primarily due to obsolete email
addresses or SP.AM blocking. I want to thank you in advance
for forwarding this newsletter to your Raku friends with
the suggestion they subscribe as well.  I would love to
keep this listing growing.

As always, I look forward to your feedback, suggestions,
questions, and article ideas at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  

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"I must thank you for all the great recipes. I was a bit
stuck for new recipes.  I'll be here for thirty years
trying all these out." - Simon D.  http://www.rakuglazes.com
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* Crackle, Crackle, where art thou Crackle

Jean writes:
I have bought your Raku Glaze ebook (www.rakuglazes.com)
and have a question. How do you achieve more crackle when
using the clear crackle glazes?
- - -
I love a good crackle glaze too, and there several factors
that affect the results you achieve.  The primary factor is
the glaze-to-clay "fit".  How well the glaze shrinkage
matches the clay shrinkage – or in the case of crackle
glazes how they don't match.

A crackle glaze actually shrinks slightly more than the
clay body does during the firing and reduction process. If
the glaze and clay body shrink the same, you won't get much
crackle. If the glaze shrinks more than the clay body you
should get more crackle.

So the first thing you can try is either a different clay
body or a different glaze.  There are dozens and dozens of
glazes out there so it might be easier to start with a
different glaze.

Now there are a couple addition techniques you can try to
influence the crackle effect.

Thicker is generally better. Normally a crackle glaze
should be applied a little thicker – maybe two are three
coats of glaze if you are brushing instead of just one.

Cooling fast is normally better.  Generally the faster the
glaze cools the more likely it will crackle.  That pinging
sound you hear is the glaze crackling.

You can speed the cooling by leaving the piece outside the
kiln for a longer period of time before you place it in the
reduction chamber.  You can ever hit the piece with some
compressed air to very quickly cool a piece.

Finally, smoke is good. In some cases, if you look real
close, a glaze will have crackled but the lines are not
dark.  You need lots of smoke in the reduction chamber to
color the clay in the cracks.

~-~-~
"Our class fired again last night, and the instructor
followed your tips and voila. Boy do we have copper. Its
great knowing we can do it, and I really appreciate your
help. Thanks again!"-Shannon P. http://www.rakusecrets.com
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* Raku After Burner

Sue writes:

I have recently discovered your web site
(www.garyrferguson.com) and am very excited about your
newsletters (www.justraku.com).

I attended a Raku workshop yesterday (have been to
several) and have decided to finally build my own kiln. I
have several books and articles with different varieties,
and have decided on one using the bricks for sides with
slab top and front-loading door.

Now though I am trying to purchase the blowtorch and am not
sure exactly what I am asking for. I am getting a lot of
blank looks from any local welders etc. that I have
approached.

Would appreciate any help. Thanks in advance.
I live in Canada, so please understand shipping things here
from the US is costly.
- - -
I'm glad you have decided to jump into the Raku kiln "pool"

The burner for your kiln is very important and I have a
pretty strong opinion of what you should do, but I will
present some options.

I understand some Rakuist use a weed burner for their kiln
burner.  You can probably find these at farm supply store
in your area.  This will probably be ok, for a small kiln
but nothing too large.

You can also build your own. Several Raku books include
plans to build a burner out of various pipefittings,
connectors etc.

The piece that is often over looked in the homemade burner
is the regulator. This is the knobby metal thing that sits
right next to the valve on your tank that controls how much
propane is released and how fast. If this is not set at the
right rate you won't be able to fire hot enough.

So my ultimate recommendation is not to skimp in this area. 
If you don't have the right burner, regulator, etc. you
won't be able to reach temperature to melt your glazes.

So I would head to Ward Burner systems at:
http://www.wardburner.com/burnersparts/rakuburners.html
and buy one of their burner kits.  They come with a
variable regulator with gas gauge, hose, and burner with
variable valve. It may be slightly more than building your
own, but it "will work" and removes one element of trouble
shooting a problem kiln setup.

I've used one for 5 years and have zero complaints. From
what I hear their support is wonderful as well. So you
can't go wrong with this route.

[Note: I have absolutely no vested interest in the Ward
Burner company – I'm just a happy satisfied customer]

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After reading Sue's book I discovered dozens of tips,
techniques, and methods of creating Raku beads and jewelry
that I never would have thought of.  The hundreds of color
photos are not only instructional but inspiring as well. 
There is a new idea to try on almost every page. This book
is a gold mine!" http://www.rakubeadjewelry.com
~-~-~

* Blogging Raku
Unless you have lived in a cave the last several years you
already know about Blogs (Web Logs).  Well I have found a
couple interesting Raku-based Blogs you may want to check
out.

Jeffery R. Guin – Wood fired Raku +Plus
http://mudwerks.blogspot.com/

Diary of a Potter – Large Multi-piece Raku Work
http://rahelehf.blogspot.com/

Just Raku – Gary R. Ferguson (yes this is mine)
http://justraku.blogspot.com/

Raku Man – Not updated recently but some nice examples
http://potteryblog.blogspot.com/

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Discover the secrets to creating Hypnotic Auctions that get
more bids and higher final prices. If you sell on eBay or
want to, then join the fr.ee newsletter at:
http://www.hypnoticauction.com
~-~-~

* Iron "chef" Raku
 
Mona asks:
 
I have recently moved and have found my water to have a
significant iron content as to color reclaimed clay
(orange).  However, it did not seem to affect my finished
thrown pieces. I will be Rakuing and gas kiln firing soon
and would like your opinion about the results I might
expect with the clay and glazes.  Is using bottled drinking
water or rainwater the only remedy? 
- - -
In my experience, if the iron content is high enough, you
will see an affect on your pieces.

Several years ago, I was at a friend's house for a Raku
firing.  We mixed up some glazes using his local water
supply.  It was full of minerals and somewhat rusty
colored.  I'm assuming it had a bunch of iron in it.

Well we fired various glazes and almost everything came out
a brownish color.  The blues were brown, the greens were
brown, even the clears had a brownish tint. It was early in
my Raku career and I was puzzled as to what caused this
problem, but I'm convinced now it was the water.

So I would suggest removing this "variable" in your work,
and use bottled water.  I'm my area you can buy 1-gallon
jugs of distilled or drinking water for about .60 so it is
reasonably cheap "insurance" from water-based problems.

~-~-~
"It's all your fault! I was up all night reading "Raku
Secrets". I have been Rakuing for about ten years, and
still so much to learn. Your Raku Secrets gave me a lot of
new insight. Thanks so much". - Elaine S.
http://www.rakusecrets.com
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* Click Away *

Raku Glazes http://www.rakuglazes.com
Raku Secrets http://www.rakusecrets.com
Raku Beads http://www.rakubeadjewelry.com
Got Raku? http://www.cafepress.com/gotraku
Just Raku Archive http://www.JustRaku.com
Just Raku Blog http://justraku.blogspot.com
Just Raku Logowear http://www.cafepress.com/justraku

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Books, Music, Videos and that's just the start. Amazon
sells more than books! Help support this newsletter by
using this link: http://www.garyrferguson.com/amazon
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* Workshops and Seminars

"All Fired Up" Alternative firing Techniques" conference in 
New York starting July 6th running thru the 9th. This
conference will take place in Garden City NY at Adelphi
University. It is sponsored by the potters council and will
feature raku, pit, horsehair, printmaking on clay, single
firing, and Anagama. You can get further info at
www.potterscouncil.org Lots of Raku people will be there
like Randy Brodnax, Don Ellis, Steve Branfman, Harvey Sadow
to name a few. Contact Gina Mars at www.marspottery.net for
more details.

* * *

Alternative Raku workshop will be held at Mother Earth Clay
Art Center in Sunnyvale California on July 15 and 16. 
Students are to bring 12 -20 "prepared" pots to fire during
the two days. We will cover one and two step n&ked Raku,
horsehair carbonization, and ferric chloride
applications. We will also combine these three techniques 
for special effects.  More information is available at
www.mamasclay.org then Click on workshops.

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Raku: A Practical Approach by Steven Branfman
The "nuts and bolts" how-to book of Raku
Order 30% off at: http://www.garyrferguson.com/branfman
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* Home/Business for sale

We are selling our home, potters wheel, peter pugger,
paragon kiln (large & digital), and 5 Raku kilns. There is
a 6,200 sq. home (2 bedrooms, unfinished 1,200 sq. ft dream
master bedroom) three bath.  Also there is a 1,200 covered
firing area, kiln room and two studio's on 2 acres of
land.  We are getting out of the business and want to sell
our home to another potter. There are over 35 galleries
within a 50 mile radius, several art fairs in this area and
art support in the form of Z-Arts. Our home has a 75 mile
view of Zion National park. Property taxes of $1,200 a
year. Basset mission style living room set and fruit wood
dinner table, with lots of southwest art that just matches
the house.  Asking price $525,000.00. Contact Janet
prentice at Zion canyon Raku. Toll free number is 866-301-
8649 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

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If you are interested in making a little extra money for
taking on-line surveys, click on the link below. Go to
http://www.surveysavvy.com/?id=1424287 and click on 'Join'.

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JUST RAKU (C) Copyright 2002-2006 Gary R. Ferguson