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water proof

OK guys, if you buy or sell a plant container with a base tray do you think it should be water proof? We bought a living christmas tree and I got a nice pot (no time to make one myself) from the pot warehouse and planted our little tree in it. Moved it outside today and the tray has leaked and the carpet is stained. I probably should have tested it, probably should have put some plastic under it, but it was glazed and so I assumed it would be water proof. In NZ here I suspect it is a breach of the consumer rights act. I will think about what to do. What do you all think, do you test for water proofness of your work. I do always, I think it is a potters responsibility. Oh well live and learn Annemarie

Reply to
annemarie
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sounds like it was maybe glazed teracotta. just like raku ware, it'll kinda hold water but not. it's ok on cheap floors - or outdoors. but generally still leaks.

unless it *feels* like cone 6 or cone 10 ware. i wouldn't expect them to leak.

but i'm corupted as a potter to review pots differently in the stores. i think the average consumer would expect a tray under a pot to hold back water. after all, isn't that what it's for?

see ya

steve

steve graber

Reply to
Slgraber

It sounds like it was glazed, but the glaze crazed, letting the water through. Best cure for that (other than re-glazing it with a glaze that fits, not always easy with earthenware) is to soak the dish with polyurethane varnish, diluted with about 5 percent white spirit so that it soaks in.

Steve Bath UK

In article , Slgraber writes

Reply to
Steve Mills

I think a tray is designed to hold back water and therefore should. It does not look like terracotta, after the leaking (should have thought before) I had a good look. To me it looks a greyish stoneware clay that has been underfired and glazed with an earthenware glaze. Just a guess. I haven't done anything about it. If I am going past the shop in the near future I might pop in and have a chat about it. Thank goodness I don't have new carpet.

Reply to
annemarie

Its not crazed. Making it waterproof now is not the issue, my carpet is stained because I trusted anothers glazed pot. Before I bring the tree in next year I will just put plastic under it.

Reply to
annemarie

Doesn't matter if the carpet was new or not. You are lucky you didn't have parquet flooring under there! And so is the store! They should pay for a replacement carpet.

As others have said - consumers are not all pottery experts. If there is a dish that comes with the pot, you naturally assume that it will hold the water that comes out of the pot! Especially if it is glazed!

Marianne

Reply to
Bubbles

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