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

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

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

Are you firing a electric kiln?  A lot of kilns won't make it to cone 10  if it does it will shorten the life of your elements.   I had a friend who thought she made some dishes out of a  Cone 10 porcelain.  she put them in the last firing of the year at the university.    When they unbricked the kiln they found out her dishes had melted all over the kiln and  the rest of the work.  I don't have any low fire clay in my studio or fire another persons work,  this type of accident happens a lot.   Denice

I am so happy that you are able to spend so much time in your studio.   I hope you are able to get some big bucks for your works of art.  It is always nice to know that someone appreciates your work and are willing to pay for it.  I think I will make a sculpture of my dog when I finish making some repair tiles for a mural.  He is a Chiweenie  so he is on the small size,  I could fit a life size sculpture of him in the kiln.  My last dog would go crazy when I was working on a portraiture sculpture.  I'd better start taking some photos,  he looks like the dog in the old RCA ads.   I think I will try that pose.   Denice

I am so happy that you are able to spend so much time in your studio.   I hope you are able to get some big bucks for your works of art.  It is always nice to know that someone appreciates your work and are willing to pay for it.  I think I will make a sculpture of my dog when I finish making some repair tiles for a mural.  He is a Chiweenie  so he is on the small size,  I could fit a life size sculpture of him in the kiln.  My last dog would go crazy when I was working on a portraiture sculpture.  I'd better start taking some photos,  he looks like the dog in the old RCA ads.   I think I will try that pose.   Denice

I like using a small shallow bowl and have a 5 gal bucket near by to wipe scraped clay into.  I was also taught to throw dry and like to use a thin slurry starting with warm water.    Denice

I like using a small shallow bowl and have a 5 gal bucket near by to wipe scraped clay into.  I was also taught to throw dry and like to use a thin slurry starting with warm water.    Denice

I owned that model for 30 years I bought it used,  it was from a commercial studio and had been fire constantly so I had new elements and cord installed.   I used a Skutt dual digital pyrometer  set to do holds and downfire.  Getting old so I decided to get a smaller kiln,  I sold my old one  for 600 dollars.  It had a new lid and a couple of shelves,  posts, cones and new elements.  Make sure the lid isn't cracked.   The expansion of a lid can cause crumbs from the crack to fall on your pots ruining any glaze beneath it.  I sold it about year ago.   Denice

I owned that model for 30 years I bought it used,  it was from a commercial studio and had been fire constantly so I had new elements and cord installed.   I used a Skutt dual digital pyrometer  set to do holds and downfire.  Getting old so I decided to get a smaller kiln,  I sold my old one  for 600 dollars.  It had a new lid and a couple of shelves,  posts, cones and new elements.  Make sure the lid isn't cracked.   The expansion of a lid can cause crumbs from the crack to fall on your pots ruining any glaze beneath it.  I sold it about year ago.   Denice

There is two private pottery schools in Wichita when we decide to downsize again I will contact them to see if they are interested in any of my studio materials.   One private school is  fairly large  the other school  is in a large arts center building with other schools.   The pottery school was already growing out of its space and it hadn't been open that long.   It probably had 30 powered kickwheels  in the main room.    We have one large college and three small colleges that have a ceramics program.   There is hope that handmade pottery will survive if not future archeologist will be digging up our pots out of the dump.   Wondering who made them and why?  For now I plan to keep working in my studio until my hands turn into curled up pretzels.  Denice

You may not have the right foundation for your clay soil,  a pier and beam foundation is recommended for some types of clay.   Heaving of the clay can cause leaks and cracks in your foundation creating wood rot and mold in the frame of the house.   My house in built on clay soil and I am having cracking in my garage wall because of a drought the last few year.  I  don't have any odor's or moldy wood smell in my house.   Denice

There is two private pottery schools in Wichita when we decide to downsize again I will contact them to see if they are interested in any of my studio materials.   One private school is  fairly large  the other school  is in a large arts center building with other schools.   The pottery school was already growing out of its space and it hadn't been open that long.   It probably had 30 powered kickwheels  in the main room.    We have one large college and three small colleges that have a ceramics program.   There is hope that handmade pottery will survive if not future archeologist will be digging up our pots out of the dump.   Wondering who made them and why?  For now I plan to keep working in my studio until my hands turn into curled up pretzels.  Denice

You may not have the right foundation for your clay soil,  a pier and beam foundation is recommended for some types of clay.   Heaving of the clay can cause leaks and cracks in your foundation creating wood rot and mold in the frame of the house.   My house in built on clay soil and I am having cracking in my garage wall because of a drought the last few year.  I  don't have any odor's or moldy wood smell in my house.   Denice