Denice

I hadn't thought about the plates retaining moisture, I could put a salad plate in the oven and let it heat for a while before I test fire it. I don't need to refire the whole set just the plates. I probably should start using my china dishes, I no longer have a family to cook a holiday dinner for. They also don't sell well at estates sales, younger people aren't interested in formal occasions. I have extra sets of stainless silverware that I might as well start using everyday. I have been trying to talk my husband into putting in a pool table and getting rid of the unused dining room furniture. Denice

You might also include your firing schedule, moisture in your piece is usually the cause of pots exploding or firing to fast. Denice

I have been thinking about refiring some dishes I made 20 years ago. We use them for our daily dishware, the glaze is a dark cobalt blue developed by Tony Hansen. It is a glaze that is suppose to be durable on dish ware. I guess 20 years is to long to expect it to hold up, the surface of the plates look like a wedgewood blue now from utensils scraping against it. I still have some of the glaze, I guess I will just have to test fire and see what works the best Denice

I bought a used Brent wheel that had a sticky foot pedal, everyone here of the forum told me it probably needed adjusting. I found a video on-line that showed how to fix it. It was adjusted totally wrong, I followed the instruction and put it back together. It ran like a new wheel. Denice

A roof top satelite dish make a good drape mold for a birdbath. Denice

I bought a L&L from Neil a couple of years ago, I also purchase the longer lasting elements. Few months before that I purchased a Paragon Caldera test kiln, both kilns have thicker bricks and the same Barlett controller. The paragon doesn't have the element holders, it is a very small test kiln. The thicker bricks gives a more accurate results. Denice

I don't remember his horns but I do remember hit work. Fantastic!

Finding a used or free slab roller is like finding a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. You might try some pastry rolling pins for some of your stronger artists, this is something you might be able to get donated. A slab roller also takes some strength to use, I used a pastry rolling pin and boards of different dimensions until I could save up enough money for a slab roller. Are there any clay equipment manufactures in your area that would be will to donate. Denice

I would set up my studio for electric and gas. You can get some work done in the studio and fire it in your electric kiln, while you build the gas kiln. You wouldn't need to buy a high dollar computerized kiln a used smaller manual kiln would be suitable until the gas kiln was finished. It is handy to have a kiln that you can fill up quickly, I am in the city limits and fire electric I have a test kiln, a small kiln and a larger L&L. There is always someone wanting a gift or urn made in a hurry. The small kiln is my go to kiln on rush jobs, it isn't computerized like the others but fires great. You could also do bisque firings in it for the gas kiln. Denice

The only thing I am out of is Lithium, so I don't mix any glaze that contains Lithium. One of these days they are going to figure out how to make a battery easier and cheaper without using Lithium. Denice

How fast did you fire it? Is it still sitting on the garage floor, if the floor is concrete you could have a uneven firing. The concrete is cold and will keep the bottom of the kiln colder. I understand that this is a small kiln, small kilns have to be set up correctly. I had one in front of a window but had to keep the window closed. It could really slow the firing and cool it down to fast. Small kilns already have a problem with fast cooling. Denice

I have a sieve that fits a 5 gal bucket, I bought it about 40 years ago. A few years ago the screen started break along the edges, so I went to the supply store and the same screen had a flimsy plastic body on it. My old screen has a heavy plastic body, my husband sealed the screen in with a waterproof adhesive. It isn't very pretty but it works and I have a really small sieve for test glazes. Denice

A tool bag that mechanics use might be something to look into. There are many different sizes and features, I have tool box trays in my studio, you couldn't carry them but they are very handy and inexpensive. Denice

It sounds like you need to have a neighborhood meeting to discuss how to handle your problem. To start with everyone should start keeping a folder on medical expense, the whole works time, date, cost, receipts, symptoms, loss of wages. I sure there is more cost to organize, cost of repairs, specialists, hotel expenses. Take photos of creepy growth on the walls and start researching the lands history. My town has had to reimburse families that bought houses in a area where large dry cleaning facilities were located. People started becoming ill especially children, after some research they found out the chemicals they used for dry cleaning was dumped on the ground for decades. Good Luck. Denice

Actually the vinyl is for protecting your paint and cleans up easily, certain clays can stain your paint. If you are renting you would have to repaint. My first studio was a small folding top and chair, bowl for water and a few tools. I made mostly pinch and coil pots not enough room for slabs. I eventually bought a used small kiln, the garage area was so small I could barely fit it in. My husband used the garage to repair cars, the desk top and chair had to fold up so he could walk around the car. Every potter I know has had a crummy first studio, the studio situation in college isn't great. A lot of yelling going on you just have to ignore it. Denice