What can I make with terra cotta?
February 29, 2012 1:28 PM   Subscribe

What can I make with terra cotta?

My art class is doing a unit on ceramics. I want to make a couple of sculptures that are decorative and functional. They must be no more than 8 inches in any direction.

One idea I have is to make a small botijo (an unglazed bottle that cools water by evaporation). What thickness should I use to let the water evaporate without dripping out too fast? Could the terra cotta have anything toxic in it?

Thanks for your ideas!
posted by gray17 to Grab Bag (2 answers total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
Response by poster: Another idea I have is to build a small, one-piece rocket stove. It must be no more than 8 inches (20cm) tall, probably more like 6 inches (15cm).

I'm figuring that the chimney will taper to 2.5 inches (6.3cm) wide. The thickness of the clay would be about 0.5 inches (1.2cm).

Rocket stove basics: http://www.emeraldmine.com/rocketstove.htm

Also, would mold be an issue with moist, unglazed terracotta?
posted by gray17 at 5:14 PM on February 29, 2012


I've seen wine coolers made of terracotta, presumably for the same reason your botijo idea works. If you didn't go all the way up to the bottle's neck, it might fit the size requirements.
posted by springbound at 7:43 PM on February 29, 2012


« Older Coke vs Pepsi   |   What does the process look like? Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.


Tags

Share