Denice

Refiring is need,  speckle clay have a  lot of impurities that need to burn out,  I use several clay's that have a excess of impurities.  I fire a slow C04 to keep my glazes clean.   Denice

Slam wedging before you hand wedge and sometimes if your hand is twisting the wrong way you wedge bubbles back into it.   I use my recycled clay for handbuilding or mold making,  I don't  hand wedge any more.   I slam wedge clay from a fresh bag,  I go a step further and put the bag of clay in a 5 gal bucket of water a day or two before.   The clay comes out smooth and even consistency  and soft enough for old tired wrist, fingers and hand to throw.  If is is to soft I will pull the plastic down and let it air dry for awhile.   Denice  

I have one purchased set of half shelves,  eventually your full shelves  break in half.   I use them as half shelves,  I always end with steadier stack when I use full shelves.   Two half shelves cost more than one full shelf.  Denice

I bought Corelite shelves for my new kiln,  I have only 16 firings on them so I can't review them yet.   I was a little disappointed when I got them I thought they would be a lot lighter than my old standard shelves.  I guess at my age I should be happy with a little less weight.    Denice

I have fired many large pots and sculptures that filled the kiln.  Taking the kiln apart and candling over night is the way to go,   I also use a shelf to  build  and fire it on,  I pick one that is not in the greatest shape.  I am getting ready to work on new sculpture,  I have already figured out a way to make it in two pieces so I don't have to take my new kiln apart.    It only has 16 firings on it and it is bigger around than my old skutt but shorter.    The rings are harder to manage,  I am not ready to bump, scuff and chip the edges yet.   Denice

karo, hope the wheel is still available for you to buy.   looks are only important to a fashion model.

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

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 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

I did a little research and found that old plaster sets up fast,  a bag that is 4 to 6 months may to old.   And the big hard lumps are from adding to much plaster at one time and not getting well mixed.  The plastic bag might have made it harder to mix,  I use a pretty old bucket and pop off the cured plaster and wash it.   When it gets to the point it won't clean up anymore I find another old bucket.     To make sure my water is really cold I put ice cubes in my water,  when they are melted I am ready to mix.    I never slake my plaster slab plaster,  I haven't had trouble with bubbles.  I set the edge of the bucket in the bottom of the mold and pour it out letting the plaster fill in the corners.  Sometimes I need two buckets of plaster so I find a friend to help mix a second bucket  while I empty the first one.   I made two to four piece molds for a while,  and used the finger flip method on ornate pieces to eliminate bubbles.   I was train dental lab technician and spent the first couple of years making plaster molds off the forms the dentist sent us.  You should be alright on you next slab,  just one of those days.    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

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

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

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

I feel that whatever works for you with slip use that . If it works use it. I will add that in my clay body and calc class back in collage we tested all types of attachments (long before magic water ) and what was leaned that scoring and slip make for stronger bonds. It's a night and day difference  so score and slip . If you are not that you are making weaker bonds.

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

I have a Brent with a large splash pan,  I still get curls of clay on the floor when I trim.  I hung vinyl wallpaper around my wheel because I will splatter clay when throwing.   I actually love seeing the curls,  it means that I am  still able to work in my studio at the age of 71.   To me a part of being a potter is having a mess to clean up.   Today I am cleaning the studio so I can mix up glazes for testing and making a new mess.   Embrace the mess.     Denice

I made some musical instruments for my son when he was in high school.    I believe they were African,  one you blew softly into the top and it had a hole in it that you could change the pitch with.  It was a large vase shape.   I think the other one you pounded on it like a drum.   I didn't know to much about it,  I just followed his directions  and he cut out the holes.  I found them on-line for $100.00 and higher for ones with fancy carvings on them.    My son wanted to start a on-line business selling them,  he didn't help me make any of the instruments.    I told him I didn't want to spend all of my free time making instruments for him to sell.  He was angry with me at first and decided later that it really wouldn't be fair to me.   Denice

If I just have  short seams I  use the clay body, water and lots of compression,  I am to lazy to mix up some magic water.   When I start on a large pot I will mix up some magic water,  I really never noticed any magic in slip with vinegar.    Denice

If I just have  short seams I  use the clay body, water and lots of compression,  I am to lazy to mix up some magic water.   When I start on a large pot I will mix up some magic water,  I really never noticed any magic in slip with vinegar.    Denice

Like Lee my clay is indoors,  the recycled clay is in 5 gallon buckets on dollies  and the fresh clay is stacked in their boxes.  I put my fresh bags of clay in a 5 gal bucket of water before I use it.   I  do that with clay that is on the dry side.   I have found that by treating fresh clay the same way I don't need to slam it around to soften it that Cone 5/6 clay  usually needs.  Denice

I have the same luxury so I don't buy very many at a time.    Besides I like going to the ceramic  supply store,  look at the new tools and visit with other potters.   I have been shopping there since 1968,  I was one of there first customers.    Denice

I made some musical instruments for my son when he was in high school.    I believe they were African,  one you blew softly into the top and it had a hole in it that you could change the pitch with.  It was a large vase shape.   I think the other one you pounded on it like a drum.   I didn't know to much about it,  I just followed his directions  and he cut out the holes.  I found them on-line for $100.00 and higher for ones with fancy carvings on them.    My son wanted to start a on-line business selling them,  he didn't help me make any of the instruments.    I told him I didn't want to spend all of my free time making instruments for him to sell.  He was angry with me at first and decided later that it really wouldn't be fair to me.   Denice