Schmitt Crock - micro cracks???

[pointcity-homebrew]

I just think it's cool that clay gets less porous depending on the temperature you fire it! I did not realize that at all. Now I want to know why! Lol. I'll keep reading. And I learned that porcelain is fired really really hot!! You are using a commercial kiln?

I work for a University and have been working towards my Master's in Art, so I have access to our studios. We have 3 low fire kilns and 2 high fire.

Different clay bodies with "mature" at different heats.

Porcelain is, for the most part, kaolin and lacks the iron and other impurities that stoneware has.

Stoneware has iron and grog along with other impurities

Earthenware I have never worked with. It has a low maturity temperature and is porous and relatively fragile. Usually it is used fro flower pots and such.

 

[Staestc]

I think it's both fascinating and awesome that we have somebody on the thread that really knows this stuff! So what is your best guess as to what went wrong with the process that produce the OP's problem with this crock?

 

[Braufessor]

I think it's both fascinating and awesome that we have somebody on the thread that really knows this stuff! So what is your best guess as to what went wrong with the process that produce the OP's problem with this crock?

Agreed.... I was happy to get good customer service and a replacement crock.... But also interesting and informative to actually find out the problem. Beyond cosmetic, and beyond the potential for cracks being hard to clean/risk of a bad batch of ferment..... Do you feel there are risks/problems with things leaching from the clay into the ferment that are dangerous/bad?

Thanks for the insights.

 

[pointcity-homebrew]

I think it's both fascinating and awesome that we have somebody on the thread that really knows this stuff! So what is your best guess as to what went wrong with the process that produce the OP's problem with this crock?

It could be the slip recipe or the firing process. It sounds like thermal shock to me.

We always make jokes when loading the high fire kiln about praying to the kiln gods and goddesses. You never really know what is going to happen.

Agreed.... I was happy to get good customer service and a replacement crock.... But also interesting and informative to actually find out the problem. Beyond cosmetic, and beyond the potential for cracks being hard to clean/risk of a bad batch of ferment..... Do you feel there are risks/problems with things leaching from the clay into the ferment that are dangerous/bad?

Thanks for the insights.

Stoneware is food grade, should not be any issues.

If you have a local ceramics shop they can re-glaze it with a clear and that should seal it.

 

[Braufessor]

If you have a local ceramics shop they can re-glaze it with a clear and that should seal it.

Hmmm.... I will have to look into that. Might be a possibility of something around here.

Thanks for the insights.

 

[pointcity-homebrew]

I spoke with the ceramics professor and he said you could try using whole milk and letting it sit overnight in the fridge.

 

[Staestc]

I spoke with the ceramics professor and he said you could try using whole milk and letting it sit overnight in the fridge.

Don't understand what that would do?

 

[pointcity-homebrew]

Don't understand what that would do?

He stated that he had never done it, just one of those "old timer" tricks.

I did a quick google search and apparently you use milk and low heat. The casein that is in the milk forms a "plastic" when heated.

 

[Staestc]

Casein!!! Anybody other than I remember the pizza commercial ragging on there competitors for using cheese that contained casein!!? Lol

 

[Homercidal]

Casein!!! Anybody other than I remember the pizza commercial ragging on there competitors for using cheese that contained casein!!? Lol

Didn't The Food Babe do a whole article on how bad casein is for you?

Maybe it was something else...