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Your Favorite Go-To Online Supplier?


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Hello JustPeachy and welcome.

 

Would you care to tell us just a tiny little bit more about yourself? Best would be to fill in your profile and put pictures in the gallery!

We don't know who you are, what you are doing, whether pottery is a pastime for you or a future career, and of course we would like to know where you come from to be able to give good advice. How can we suggest suppliers when we don't know where you live?? Exactly!

 

Thank you and stay tuned. There's a lot of help to get on this forum, and we are friends, not strangers.

 

Evelyne

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Hi Evelyne, I am in Eastern Tennessee, USA.

 

I'm a total newbie to ceramics. I just finished a 6wk. continuing education class that wasn't very helpful to be honest. The only benefit for me was the open studio time several days a week. Instruction wise, I think I got more info by watching Youtube videos for free.

 

If I had pictures I'd love to post them but I don't. I get to pick up my first finished firings this afternoon when I go in to finish up glazing some of my last pieces. Those I can get next week. I'm excited to see how they turn out.

 

My husband bought me an old Skutt kiln that needs all of the elements replaced. He is also going to check the electric wiring out in small barn so I can set it up there. I've been reserching temps to bisque fire, my kiln will only fire to cone 6 so I don't think that's too bad.

 

I am practicing how to pull the clay up when I'm at the wheel. I can't seem to get my tension even and I wind up with thick/thin walls. It confounds me! Centering was no issue though. I had it on my first try. :)

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welcome to the forum. Do add this info to your profile page. It makes a friendlier group if we know a little about each other.

I don't know much about suppliers in E. TN. I will look for the buyers guide from ACERS.

 

Meanwhile there are some big ones out there like the Big Ceramics Store in NV. Bennetts Pottery Supply in FLA. AMACO in Indiana

Standard Ceramic in Pittsburgh, PA.

 

It is a good idea to find one close to you because shipping can get expensive.

 

Marcia

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Thanks Marcia, I just updated my profile. You probably won't find anything for East TN because there isn't anything here. :( It's like a wasteland for supplies. I ordered a wheel from Big Ceramic Store and it should be delivered Fri. It was a B-day pressie from my husband! Clay-King is just over the mountains in SC. I have some glazes on the way and they are like 2nd day delivery for me, but I want to really source materials for making my own glazes. Seems like that would be a lot cheaper in the long run.

 

ETA: I don't mind paying a little more in shipping if it is something of better quality. Better to do that than get something crappy for cheap just because it's close!

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I just joined to try to help.  I just started working here in eastern Tennessee this fall.  I have used big ceramic store for years when I was out west.  I did see you mention clay king and they have been extremely fast on orders.  There is also Highwater clay online and nearby.  Also, if you are near Knoxville there is Mighty Mud if you visit them rather than order online.  I have been getting my clay from them.  Farther, but if I am driving there anyway I plan to stop by Kentucky Mudworks in Lexington soon and they have an online site I just have not used them yet.  I am also working on testing clay here in Cumberland gap since there are local deposits.

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If you are in Tennessee then Highwater might be a good choice for clay. I've used some of their lowfire clays when i was making beads.

 

I'm in florida and use Standard clay just cause we have a local distributor, i usually get glaze stuff from axner or bennetts tho sometimes clay king or big ceramics store sends me an email with a coupon code and i'll order from them instead.

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I wanted to thank everyone that has replied to my post. I do appreciate all of the suggestions but I wanted to clarify my initial post.

I wasn't seeking suppliers in my immediate area, although that's nice to have.

I asked: Who is your Go-To Online Supplier? Why? What do you find yourself purchasing from them, and why, price, quality, customer service, etc.?

NO I don't want to spam this forum with sales crap! I'm just curious. I appreciate a good bargain but more so good customer service.

 

Have I stumbled on some trade secret thing? I don't know. Do potters keep tight lipped about their suppliers/supplies and where they obtain them?

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My favorite is Axner - but I live up north and they're down south, and shipping is a bear.  I still order smaller orders from them online - I've had excellent customer service there.  And when we go to Florida to visit our son, a trip to Axner is usually on the agenda.  I order some stuff from Clay-King because their prices are good. 

 

Alice

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Thanks Alice, that's what I was looking for. I totally get the stop-over while in the area type shopping. Hubby and I make a few trips down to Atlanta every year and we plan a lot of our stops while we are there too.

 

What do you load up on at Axner when you are in the area? What is it that they have that you just have to have before you hit the road home, besides lower prices?

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Clay-King is my go-to for Speedball underglazes, especially when I get their sale flyer emails. Always good service. The owner called me once about some business stuff, and he's a very nice guy. I get my teapot handles from Aftosa, other odds and end from whomever has the best price, usually Clay-King. But I buy my clay and glaze supplies locally, either from Ceramic Supply Chicago or US Pigment.

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I'm in PA, so I try to get things in the mid-atlantic/New England region where possible -- because the shipping is far more reasonable. I get stuff from Bailey Pottery Supply (www.baileypottery.com) most of the time; I get my bats from Clay-King; I've used Bennet's in Florida because they were the only place that had an item I needed. I have also used Coyote Clay & Color in New Mexico because it's the only place I found micaceous clay for a reasonable cost and I wanted to try it. Armadillo Clay is another I have used; again, because they were the only place that had a tool I wanted. I got my wheel from Big Ceramic Store -- if not for free shipping, their distance makes shopping with them really cost-prohibitive (though their site is really chock-full of great info for the beginner!).

 

I'm kind of weird in that I made a list of stuff I wanted to get, found suppliers online, compared prices and shipping costs, and gave the cheapest place a whirl (for me, that's often Bailey's). Sometimes you get what you pay for in certain items like sponges and off-label items, but if you don't like a place, try another.

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I'm in north Georgia and can second Highwater clays. I use their Little Loafers which is a cone 6 white clay. Love this clay! I also shop tons at Clay King and everything ships really fast to me. Their customer service is good too, had an issue with some latex resist and they promptly corrected it. I bought my kiln, slab roller, extruder, a lot of hand tools, and Coyote glaze sets as well as Amaco underglaze sets and clear glazes from there. I also shop at Big Ceramic Store as well and will often compare those 2 sites and go with whichever either has the best coupon giving the best price or has the most items that I need in stock so can save on shipping getting it all from one place. I have bought mason stains, Gerstley Borat, RIO, and other dry materials from Axners.

 

Terry

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Hey Peachy,

 

I'm in Vermont and am lucky to have a clay supplier, Vermont Ceramic Supply, within a couple hour drive. But for most everything other than clay and dry glaze chemicals, I purchase through online retailers. My go-to is EuclidsChoice.com. They are based outside of Toronto and make my "can't-live-without-it" trimming tool, their Williams Tool. Only $4! I use their Tile Batt system just about every day (though now I cut my own tiles from Masonite rather than buying more bisque tiles made by Euclid's). They have a great selection of Kemper, Sherrill Mud Tools, Dolan and Dirty Girls, as well as a bunch of cool tools that they either make in-house or just aren't branded... their chattering/jumping irons are great.

 

Because of international shipping, I tend to place larger orders with them once or twice a year and use Bailey's or Sheffield for the times I need one or two items quickly. But to answer your question directly, Euclid's Choice is my go-to.

 

Welcome to the forum, and the world of clay!

 

Chris

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JustPeachy, thank you for filling in the profile. That looks good now. How was the outcome of your first firing? We are curious. Hope you are satisfied. There really are a lot of good videos on the net and, don't forget to look in the CAD bookstore! You can even download learning videos:

 

all products: http://ceramicartsdaily.org/bookstore/browse-storefront/

 

downloadable videos: http://ceramicartsdaily.org/bookstore/browse-downloadable-videos/

 

Simply go to: Ceramic Arts Daily/bookstore and you find a ton of good videos and books to learn more.

 

Since I'am living overseas I can't help much with suppliers. I often order from Aftosa and from Bailey's (glazes and tools) and was always very content. Very good and handmade tools you can also order from Steven Hill.

 

Greetings from Switzerland

 

Evelyne

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JustPeachy,

 

I'm in central NC. I'm a hobbyist (far from making a living at this). My long time friend and I got into this about 15 years ago as way to spend more time together. We fell in love with the art and now have a small in home studio.

 

We order from Clay-King, Axner and Highwater. Even with suppliers fairly close, the shipping can be out there! Mixing your own glazes is much cheaper in the long run than the commercial ones. However, there is that initial investment in supplies. Pottery Making Illustrated had a great article in the latest edition regarding stocking for studio glazes. I believe you can purchase back issues.

 

Hope this helps and welcome to the forum! It's a great group of folks who will always try to help and answer questions.

 

Cheers,

Pam

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Hi Peachy

 

I am at the south most tip of Texas 2 miles from Mexico and 20 miles from the Gulf.

My closest suppliers are Clayworld in San Antonio, 260 miles away

Armadillo Clay in Austin about 320miles

The Ceramics Store in Houston 370 miles away

 

for online I use Bennett's, NM Clay, Archie Bray, Amaco, Axner depending on what I need.

 

Marcia

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Any recommendations for EU area?

I use scarva.com and I am happy with the service but some of the stuff I need, they do not have (some tools etc).

I use Scarva too, good service from them as you say; I've also used Potclays and Clayman Supplies, both are in the UK, (and with equally good service as Scarva).

 

Thank you ayjay.

If you ever run in to something good in mainland EU (must have English interface or translatable by Google) let me know.

 

I have visited potclays.co.uk site but they have no images for most of the products so it really feels like buying a pig in a bag. :)

 

And same applies to Clayman Supplies (tools, brushes etc)

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