Subject: -No Subject-

From: Bill Mixon/IMAGINE <Bill_Mixon/[email-masked]>
Date: 18 Sep 96 22:00:57 EDT

>To:             theforge @ wugate.wustl.edu @ SMTP
>Subject: Re: Raku Tongs
>
>I've noticed on a newsgroup that I read, "bit.listserv.clayart", a mention
>of "Raku Tongs". They are used to pick the pottery up out of the kiln,
>after its fired. I was wondering if anyone here has experience with making
>this tool. Several people, one in Phoenix, that post to this pottery NG,
>have requested info on how to find a blacksmith, that can make this tool.
>
>I'd be glad to do a drawing of it if I knew the vital statistics. Then
>upload it to the FTP site, if anyone is interested.
>
>David
>http://www.flash.net/~dwwilson/
>mailto:[email-masked]

David ---

I've had no experience MAKING these tongs, but have had experience using them 
(in a former life as a potter).

Raku pottery derives from a Japanese style of ware, noted for its serenity, 
often used in tea ceremonies.  American-style raku is a bit more vigorous.  The 
ware is picked up hot out of the kiln, using tongs, and dropped into a barrel 
or pit containing combustible materials such as newspaper, sawdust, etc.  The 
combustion heavily and irregularly reduces the clay body, and the rapid cooling 
leads to a network of dark, fine or bold crackles in the glaze which is 
characteristic of the genre.

These tongs should be at least 16"-18" long as one is working around open 
flames (from the kiln and reduction pit).  The jaws should be C-shaped, to 
accomodate the possibility of a lip on the vessel;  but the ends should be 
upset to a ball or nub, or flattened to a small plate, to provide a strong but 
gentle grip on the possibly heavy but very fragile ware.  [Raku is considered a 
"low-fire" stoneware, hence is typically brittle.]

Here's an attempt at bad ASCII art to illustrate what I mean:

--------------------\
                            .oC=
--------------------/

Hope this helps!

--- Bill

P.S. --- Apologies if my mailer appends gibberish to this post, it's a glitch 
I'm working on but haven't ironed out yet.

---

From: [email-masked]
Date: Wed, 18 Sep 1996 23:00:59 -0500

> Here's an attempt at bad ASCII art to illustrate what I mean:

I have seen another type designed so that the ends don't connect but are
offset, like scissors without the stops on the handles.  This allows
them to be used on the inside of the mouth of a vessel pressing outwards
as well as on the outside pressing inwards.  A good option to have.

Cynthia
TX