Heath Ceramics Tour 6/19/11

We really liked this style and took some home.

Heath makes a big variety of ceramic products.

Clay that is not used or parts that disappoint get recycled.

Many products start with a slab of clay - the machine on the right presses excess moisture from clay to end up with ready-to-use slabs.

Ready to use slabs are stacked on the right.

Other products are formed with molds.

There are a variety of molds in use.

These master forms are the basis for making the plaster molds used to shape the clay.

Pourable clay solution is carried to the molds in very large pitchers like this.

A closer look at complex plaster molds, in this case for a pitcher, and their master molds.

Some plaster molds make multiple copies per use.

The process of the poured forming was explained in detail.

Some molds form parts of objects - in this case, handles.

Ceramic clay objects must be baked in a kiln. This is a continuous kiln where objects are transported slowly through the heated space to be fired.

Some machines are available to help make the clay shapes using a mold to help shape the part.

This is a production facility, and there are lots of molds to help shape parts.

These foam belts are used to clean up the formed shapes before firing.

Many hand finishing operations use custom machines.

These are pre-fired clay parts, in this case tiles with raised numbers.

These are molded parts ready to be cleaned up prior to firing.

A variety of glazings are used - in many case with shiny and matte finishes.

More glazings.

A set of experimental finishes - intersting.

More equipment for shaping larger parts - rotating produces smoother results.

Tim, Jillian, Janet, and Cory checking out a large kiln and its contents.

Unlike school and community center ceramics facilities, the klins here are very large and arranged for ease of loading/unloading. The one on the left is open, the one on the right is closed.

To tell if the firing is done correctly, special, calibrated clay wedges are put in the kiln. Each of the three wedges droops at a different temperature/heat exposure. Used on the left, unused on the right.

Here's what a proper firing should look like on the sensing wedges.

The heat for the kiln is provided by natural gas, with manual adjustments (and indicating gauges) for several burner arrays controlled at the end of the kiln. Clearly special knowledge is required for successful firings.

A loaded kiln cooling down after firing.

Larger parts have a special tool for shaping.

A color map of fired tiles showing what to expect from different glazes.