From: Fara Shimbo
[shimbo@crystalline-ceramics.info]
Sent: Sunday, March 26, 2006 9:39
PM
To: Philip Hamling
Subject: Re: Crystal Glazes
Hi,
Phil,
Philip Hamling wrote:
Fara,
It's nice to learn about you
from your website. I find your website and book Crystal Glazes very
interesting.
Thanks!
Is "Crystal Glazes" available
in print? I would like to buy a hard
copy.
Alas, it's been sold out. The
publisher tells me they won't be doing a
second printing.
Is your work for
sale?
I have it in a couple of friends'
stores. Art & Soul in Twin Peaks
Mall, and http://beadlounge.com
Allow me to introduce myself.
My name is Philip Hamling. I am:
1) President of ZIRCAR
Ceramics, Inc. See www.zircarceramics.com We manufacture
high temperature ceramic fiber based materials used for all kinds of high
tech, high temperature applications ranging from 500F to
3300F.
I love that stuff!
2) A 1979 graduate of the New
York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, Alfred,
NY.
Oooo, you lucky guy!
I earned a BA in Ceramic
Engineering and while there spent a fair amount of time persuing interests in
the ceramic art field. I did an independant study in crystalline glazes under
Wally Higgins. When I was in
college the amount
of literature available on crystalline glazes was minimal. There was work
published by individuals from the University of Illinois in the 1930's, but
that's about it. I see today that the web is full of information, including
yours.
Funny how these things take
off. The internet is a wonderful thing!
Oh,
how beautiful! I'm in the middle of putting in two new rose beds.
That's a hobby?! It's
beautiful! Good luck with it, I hope you don't
have to go through all
the building permit hell I had to go through
with my studio!
I have always planned to get
back into making crystalline glazed ceramics at some point in my life - and I
think that is now.
Good for you!
The
size of some of those things makes my head spin!
Gorgeous gorgeous
gorgeous!
I am about 4 days home from
an extended business trip in China. During this trip I stayed at a resort (The
Beijing Longxi Hotspring Resort) where I saw a set of Crystal Glaze Vases on
display. It was like an omen. See the first picture on http://www.puttgarden.com/family/dad/crystal/Page.htm After
seeing this I started looking for items like this for sale in local "flea
markets". I found the 2 large crystal vases in the second picture. The 40"
high white, green and blue vase cost $100. The 52" high green vase cost $75
(go figure?).
AAAAUUUGGHHH!
I think it is time I got back
into it.
You bet!
I have many years experience
with high temperature kilns and heating systems. See
for a brief look at my
background.
You would probably love to meet
a friend of mine, Jon Singer,
who is highly into things like this. Good
work!
On your website where you
discuss electric kilns and heating elements you state "For a
kiln...Norbert.... six elements are required. The usual elements will cost
about US$40 per element; for heavy-duty elements, US$92. Each.
.....normal elements will last 20 firings..... the heavy-duty elements may
give you 30-35. Are the "usual heating elements" made of coiled
Kanthal A1 alloy wire ?
I have been told both
that they are and that they aren't. I'm pretty sure
they are, and that
the heavy duty elements are just a heavier gauge
wire.
> What is the failure mechanism? Do you have
any experience with
> Moydbdenum disilicide heating elements?
The
failure mechanism, so far as I can tell, is a combination of the
gradual
thinning of the actual conductive wire caused by the gradual
thickening of
the oxide layer that forms on it. I have one electric kiln
that I do
nothing but reduction in (post fire reduction). Amazingly
enough I'm on
firing 40 or so with these elements and while they
are slower than they used
to be they're still working well, I think because
the constant reduction
keeps the oxidation layer from building up too
much.
MoSi2... no,
actually, never heard of them. I expect they're
expensive...
Sorry to bombard you with all
of this. I am just real excited to find you and your
information.
No problem!
One last question....Where on
the planet are you physically located?
About an
hour and a half northwest of Denver.
Hang in
there,
Fa