DIY Ceramic Holey Rock

[Shrimpy]

Anyone here try this? http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/diy_ceramic_caves.php
I now someone who has a kiln. 

[darkdep]

Haven't tried it, but I'll make it a weekend project if you can hook me up with the kiln

Does your kiln-person charge?

Not knowing anything about clay, I'm assuming you can't simply use your kitchen oven as a kiln?

[Shrimpy]

Haven't tried it, but I'll make it a weekend project if you can hook me up with the kiln

Does your kiln-person charge?

Not knowing anything about clay, I'm assuming you can't simply use your kitchen oven as a kiln?

I'll have to find out if she would charge. It is a lady on my street who does pottery as a hobby. I'm sure I could get her to make some rock for a little $$$.

Not sure about the oven. I don't think they get hot enough.

[Jason]

I'd be in on trying it as well some weekend. If you can organize something count me in.

[mila]

I just call Art supply store, 231 Bank str, they have Plasticine, nontoxic clay, different colors.

[PaleoFishGirl]

Hasn't anyone noticed that the 'rock' isn't, um, very attractive? Maybe it's just my 'girl' perspective, but...

[darkdep]

Well, if you like the look of Texas Holey Rock, you will like these...it looks very similar.

[PaleoFishGirl]

I have to disagree... but I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with!

[feral]

If you haven't rolled all the air bubbles out of it when you go to bake the clay the air bubbles can explode and ruin everything else in the kiln.  Most highschools ahve kilns.  You could talke to a teacher and ask.

[Steve_2]

About the normal oven, that wont work as it does not get hot enough. Not to mention that the kiln has to be left on for a long amount of time. Yup...most highschools have a kiln. The good thing if you don't like the whitish look of the "rocks" pictured on the website is that there are many different types of clay that are all sifferent colours and shades.

[Mettle]

I just call Art supply store, 231 Bank str, they have Plasticine, nontoxic clay, different colors.

Plasticine is a very different product than clay.

[mila]

Plasticine is a very different product than clay.

I went to that store this morning.
Plasticine is definitely not good.
They have different kinds of clay, but it is not cheep.

[Nerine]

this is why plasticine is not good:

It is non-toxic, sterile, soft, malleable, and does not dry on exposure to air (unlike superficially similar products such as Play-Doh, which is based on flour, salt and water). It cannot be hardened by firing - in fact, it is flammable and attempts to harden it by heating may be dangerous.

this project sounds great!! I'd really like to design a structure that the catfish can't wedge themselves into and never been heard from again

[james]

Hi
Has anyone used cement to make these artifical rocks?

James

[new2H2O]

i made an inukshook with clay that i then made a mold of in plaster and then filled with cement and it turned out great...you wont need a kiln but the process is a little longer.

its in my african tank

[Laura]

I've only taken pottery classes for a few years, so there is lots I don't know, but the description on the site of how to make the rock sounds much simpler than it will be.  Even just knowing how to wedge the clay takes a bit of practice, and you generally need to be shown. I would only suggest doing this project with someone who knows what they're doing (not me ) and has access to a kiln.  You'll need to be steered through more details than you think.
Shrimpy, I would suggest showing your pottery friend the pics on the site and get her feedback on how best to do it.  If she would be willing to host a class for interested folk, then that may be a good way to go about it as I suspect building the rock will be somewhat time consuming. Perhaps molds would be the way to go in this case, but I really would suggest getting the potters' comments.

[Shrimpy]

Sounds good Laura. When I see her next I will be showing her the description and pics. I won't be doing it, but if she can come up with a decent design on her own that would be great. I'll just find out what she would charge to do something like that (time & materials) and if she is interested in making a little $$$ if the designs are nice.