Benzine

My workbench /wheel is now empty after a two week production  run that may have been one of my largest output periods ever. The last two kilns are firing now and the van is about 2/3 full for an upcoming big show. This last two kiln loads has my wall fish and odds and ends in them. I plan on a small ceramic break after the show and do some diving before returning to my remodel for a few weeks in August. I'll get back to clay near end of month for fall shows .
Now packing for a huge show and a dive trip all in same vehicle .

Best of luck Liam!

This week has been fairly frenetic, I'm prepping for a farmers market next Wednesday, and at the same time researching resinous lustres and experimenting with them.  Made my first batch of straight bismuth lustre yesterday after months of dissecting trade secrets and obfuscated SDS's, reading research papers and books, etc. There's just not a ton of information available on the science of them.  Will be doing my first tests probably tonight to see how close I am, we will see!
As far as throwing, I made a bunch of thrown sponge holders, a bunch of succulent platters, and a bunch of small lidded containers, and need to trim them all and bisque them so I can get a glaze firing in this weekend before the market!
I finally got all of my ducks in a row, formed a business, established marketing materials and bought a canopy and tables.  Only time will tell if it ever pays off!

As I noted, in my recent Status Update, my cat Mari, hangs out in the studio, sometimes more than I do.  The past couple months, she was sleeping against my tool storage bag, and it was matted with her fur.
She used to get into my throwing water bucket, and steal my sponge.  I'd have to follow the trail, to figure out what she did with it.  
My daughter will occasionally come in, as she has an easel in there.  When she was younger,she used to come in, when I was trimming, and collect all my scraps to throw in my reclaim container.  She doesn't do that anymore...

Understand house having an attitude. Years ago, our starter home that we never moved from had an attitude. Doors we knew were closed were open, footsteps sounded in the middle of the night, things in the attic were moved around, doors would slam without any reason. Disconcerting! Over the years, we have made major changes to the house, stripped rooms to bare walls and redone, added space with bump outs at old porches, created different movement patterns by consolidating smaller rooms, and made a bathroom suite across the back of the second floor while adding a downstairs bath. House is now quite quiet. I guess things are at rest or it wasn't home anymore. We did find out that there was a tragedy when someone died in a burning kitchen, evidenced from framing exposed during a kitchen renovation a few years ago.
 
best,
Pres

I have full blown large set of speakers(cerwin-vega) in studio also a set in outer kiln loading area-and 5 more sets spread around like kitchen living room salt kiln-office all hooked to two 300 cd disc players and also can pipem pandora thru the system.Most speakers have their own volume control nearby. The players and amp is in the living room so its dust free.There is a 8 speaker control as well. Player goes all day on shuffle .Or pandora on a shuffle mix .
Music is must for me. 

As there have not been any new questions in the question pool, I will pose an old question.  QotW: What is your studio companion lately? This for some of you may be a pet, or it may be a radio, or a television or some other device . . . CD player. . . 8 track tape?  At any rate, I pose the question.
I have a television in my studio, and use old movies or movies that I don't have to watch to keep me company. Long hours of wedging and throwing can be repetitive and to some degree boring. The tv adds a little noise and on occasion I do watch. Lately though, I have been wondering about putting an Echo Dot in the studio. The prices right now are really low. it is voice controlled, and can play off of a variety of streaming services both free and for subscription. I prefer free! It will also play audio books. Might be a possibility. What are your thoughts?
 
best, 
Pres

Right now, I've got ten, school mugs, for the new teaching/ support staff for the school year.
A couple years ago, my Art Club made over ninety mugs, for all the staff, in my building.  We gave them to everyone, for National Teacher's Day, but it was actually just part of my larger plan.  I have always wanted to give new teachers a gift, and what better for teachers, than a vessel to hold caffeinated beverages?  Aaaaanyway, I figure if I just started giving them to new teachers, the rest of the staff would feel left out.  So  we had to front load it, and make one for everyone at first.  
The plan works well in theory, as we wouldn't have to make many, after the initial batches, but we've had some steady turnover with retirements and transfers, the last couple years, so we are still making several each year.

About 5 years before retiring from teaching, I was commissioned to throw 2000 vessels for a religious retreat, the particular even was called "Filling your Vessel". Truth be told I decided to take the job as I needed to improve my skills at throwing off the hump. I would seem to get "s" cracks in everything. By the time I was done, no "s" cracks. They disappeared after about the 300th vessel. Makes life easier today when throwing off the hump.  A lot can be learned from repetitive throwing, even though not changing forms is quite boring, IMPO. 
 
best,
Pres

Un loaded two kilns  this week and have dispersed most of it. I'm taking a break from clay some (still putting in a few days a week) in next 6-8 weeks.
The last remodel project is starting on the house .Its a big one -but only one room-the main bedroom. About everything one can do to a room-

Right now 40 jars sitting in the shop waiting for honey/spoon lids, 26 in the kiln, Mug throwing next week 75 for the order, probably get them thrown on Tues & Thursday. Recycling thawed out clay is rougher this year, but doable. Now use a heavy wiggle wire to cut bread slabs, spray and slam. Used to put finger holes in the slab, this is quicker and easier. Wiggle grooves hold water well.
 
best,
Pres

I've been using some leftover scraps from "Construction Plastic".  It's what contractors and such put up, to protect against dust getting out of the work area, to catch paint drips, etc.  It's thicker stuff, and keeps the moisture in quite well.
It's been so rainy here lately, that my basement stays pretty damp itself.  If I just poured some plaster on the floor, it would be one big damp box.

I've been using some leftover scraps from "Construction Plastic".  It's what contractors and such put up, to protect against dust getting out of the work area, to catch paint drips, etc.  It's thicker stuff, and keeps the moisture in quite well.
It's been so rainy here lately, that my basement stays pretty damp itself.  If I just poured some plaster on the floor, it would be one big damp box.

Thinner brick use slightly more electricity, but they cool faster. The other potential issue is that they radiate more heat because they aren't insulated as well. Depending on your space and how it is vented, that may or may not be an issue.
If a kiln is rated to cone 10, it will get to cone 10, regardless of the brick thickness. I rarely sell new kilns that aren't 3" brick, but 2.5" brick is not a deal breaker with a used kiln at a good price IMO.
L&L's most powerful kilns, the JH crystalline series, are rated for cone 12, but are built with 2.5" brick. The thinner brick allow for faster cooling times, and more precise temperature control.

There's very little reason to fire to cone 10 in an electric kiln. Your glazes won't look the same as pots fired in a gas kiln to cone 10, because you can't do reduction in an electric. You might as well fire to cone 6 and save the wear and tear on your kiln. There are really nice vitrified, translucent, cone 6 porcelain bodies available from most clay suppliers.

And can someone tell me if I *Have* to have 3” bricks in a ^10 kiln?    Or can I get away with the 2.5” brick?
 
Yes you will need 3 inch brick for cone 10 and really that is just a bare minimum .Forget about 2.5 for cone 10

A cone 6 kiln will only get to cone 6 when the elements are in perfect condition. That may mean only 30-50 firings. You could contact Skutt and ask them about using different elements that would allow that kiln to go to cone 10. That would mean that the kiln would pull higher amperage, though. Typically in an 18x18 kiln they pull 24 amps, which means you'd need a 30 amp breaker. You would probably need a new power cord to handle the higher amperage, and the internal wiring may need to be upgraded as well. All of that is pretty inexpensive, though, if you can do it yourself. If you got the kiln cheap, and the bricks are in good condition, it would be worth it.

Thanks so much, Arnold.  I have to be honest, I saw a Paragon Dragon on Craigslist for $1000 and I almost went for it.  But a 75 amp breaker with 4 gauge wire.... gasp!  It’s too much for what I need.  But what a kiln. 

And for anyone who may come across this post in the future, here is a great, great video I found that teaches you all about maintaining your kiln, along with how electricity works lol.  I needed to learn both of those things.
 

Thanks again.  

 

Am I the only dork left using dry cleaner plastic?

Thought that was a foam cooler.  That's a great idea for a damp box, since it's strong, yet light.  I just lightly cover my mugs, after attaching handles, basically until the handles firm up.  I used to have issues with the join developing hairline cracks, when used to use magic water *and*  a joining slip.  Since then, I switch to only magic water, and zero cracks. 

Yep, Costco tote with a couple inch o plaster in the bottom.  If I put them in there for a day or two after attaching handles they even out a bit

@liambesaw are those mugs in a damp box of sorts?

I would vote on a red clay with wax resist or some other resist as you can see the change in thickness in the white areas.
 
best,
Pres

I made a thing. 

Mugs mugs mugs.  Gonna do another 45 this week and then work on some other things.  Been chasing around a teapot idea for a while so we will give that a shot.  In the meantime, mugs mugs mugs