Roberta12

I throw and build inside. Small room, easy to heat. Even with the continual below 0 weather we have had this winter. However, the glazing, and firing happens in a detached workshop. My area of the shop can be closed off and warms up quickly. But like @Kelly in AK mentioned, big cleanup is an issue in the winter, so I do the best I can with wiping things down. I do need to mix glazes but have been waiting for sunshine, no wind, and a slightly warmer day to do that outside. We have so much snow this winter, I can foresee us taking off for a month when it all begins to melt in order to get out of "mud season". Trying to build up inventory before that!

Hmmm good thread. I did not realize there were lead tests kits out there. I have purchased and been gifted pottery from other countries. But they are simply decorative for me, I am concerned about lead. HOwever, I do use some of my grandmother's random bowls, mostly as prep bowls. Rather than have them sitting on a shelf. I will get a lead testing kit. If a person is testing a kiln for lead, do you swab the bricks? Roberta

Sounds like a great QOTW!

Agree with Tom. Air movement is crucial. But like @Hulk I am trying to slow it down at times. I have very low humidity where I live. A friend of mind in L.A. is having problems getting anything to dry at all right now. Lot of rain. She is resorting to fans. Roberta

@Ben xyz ++ for test tiles. That is truly the only way you will know which method gives you what you are looking for. All of your suggested methods should work, but will they achieve your vision? I have used all of your ideas on porcelain, buff, white stoneware and dark brown clay. I have my preferences and you will have yours! Post some pics when you get things fired! Inquiring minds want to see! @Min I am going to try the grey under red! great info. Roberta

Great videos! I use saran wrap for ornaments and jewelry that I have printed on, but never thought to use it like she does on larger pieces.

I have used white transfers (the rice paper kind) on dark brown clay without an issue. I glazed with clear over all and it was just fine. The white transfers stayed white. Roberta

I have a dear friend, a potter, whose studio is more chaotic than mine. We laugh about how we would love to work together on projects but we know we could not share the same studio. We have worked on a couple of things, but it was summer and we were able to expand outside! I get frustrated with the stereotype of the unorganized, flakey artist. So many potters and artists are very structured and attentive to details, (marketing, finances, licenses, etc) As a person who came to clay late in life, I have noticed that one of the qualities that has held well for me is my persistence. I have watched others in classes and studios who simply do not have the patience or persistence to take the time to really get to know the medium of clay. And are easily frustrated with the failure rate that comes along with a clay practice. Am I on that ADHD spectrum? More than likely. So yes, clay does require focus which is soothing for some of us, but what drew me and my personality to clay was the endless possibilities of the medium. It can become almost anything. I am still in love with that!!

You can also use the same material people use for stencils that are cut with a die cutting machine. Oracel 651 permanent vinyl is one brand, or the Cricut permanent vinyl. There are others. It's not permanent on bisqueware. It peels off but gives you a crisp area. After you glaze or underglaze, then yes, wax that area . Once it is dry peel off the vinyl. The wax burns off and gives you a nice crisp area. Many people report success with contact paper as well.

I do not participate in as many shows as some of these folks, but I can pack my Subaru Outback fairly tightly. No room for passengers. I did a larger show a few years ago and my husband came along to help so we used his Chevy 1/2 ton pickup. I have 6 ft long shelves that break down and fit perfectly in the Subaru.

I have mixed a clear matte out of John Britt's book that is similar. 3M satin matte. Let me know if you want the recipe. Amaco makes some lovely matte glazes. Check those out and see if they have a clear. They come in pints, so you could do some testing without breaking the bank. Roberta

What they are telling you is true. I used to melt a lot of glass into the bottom of small pots. I actually had a small sliver come loose and cut a person. Not badly, but that stopped me in my tracks. And @Callie Beller Diesel and @neilestrick are correct about the explosion. I had a smaller incident with glass in the kiln. It's simply not a safe practice. If you have seen commercial coasters with some sort of melted glass in them, I surmise that they were treated with a form of resin to seal the glass. I have one on my desk. Which is what prompted me to try it in the first place! Live and learn. Roberta

I have to say I have had some of the most delightful customers over the years. Some are educated to the world of clay and others not. I too, love the questions. Kids are great! One young person (probably 7 or 8 years old) buys a small piece from me each year telling me he likes pretty things. One of the more interesting questions I had a few years back was a woman whose adult daughter was having health issues, auto immune of some sort, and she was asking exactly what are the components of glazes. Specifically. We talked for a long time about that. I explained what most of the ingredients were. I think she was trying to determine if there were ingredients in certain glazes that could cause health issues. She didn't buy anything, but it a great connection! customers who flip a piece over to check the bottom looking at the foot or comment on the weight of the piece, you know it's not their first piece of handmade pottery. The customers who seek me out each year to buy another piece, who tell me they won't let anyone else in the house use their pots, kids who express awe and wonder that I have made everything from a ball of clay....that's a joy, right there.

Use a car dent puller to dip your pots in glaze! https://tinyurl.com/2p9y6bn3\\\\\\\\\\ I bought a couple of dent pullers for that reason. It only works on waxed, very smooth, flat bottoms. If that describes your pots, it will probably work.

And I also have an L&L. E23T the 2 inch brick. My beauty has 943 firings on it. I have been programming slow glaze, cone 5, 10-15 min hold. I have been putting in the 15 minute hold if it's a lighter load. My thinking was that the lighter load might need the longer hold because there wasn't as much work in there. But 5 minutes probably doesn't make that much difference. Just trying to problem solve on the go. And like you, I try to turn the fan off right after it finishes firing. If I am reading my cones correctly, I am getting about 5 and a half with heatwork. And bottom and middle are hotter than top.

@Hulk Thanks for the picture. I misunderstood when you said a "sharp corner" I was thinking it was a "sharp corner" of tape. I have had this really challenging order that I have been working on. I needed a clean line on the foot. I usually use Forbes wax and since it was porcelain I put alumina oxide in the wax, but the glaze was a strong blue color and I wasn't happy with just wax. I did end up using frog tape, and I did get a clean line. Outside of the bowl was the dark blue, interior was 2 glazes and a flux. So I was working to keep everything clean. I should post of picture of what I ended up doing. It made me laugh when I saw them all lined up. It actually worked for dipping.

Clever, @Jeff Longtin thank you for the picture! Do those "tongs" work on larger/longer platters also??

I agree with @neilestrick Your kiln has 3inch brick, it will hold the heat well. Great idea to get cones in there. Good information. I would try firing to cone 5 next time. I say this because I have switched from cone 6 with a hold to cone 6 without a hold to cone 5 with a hold this last year. My glazes are happier, and I am not getting some of the bloating I was getting on my dark brown clays before at cone 6. I also realize that while my kiln might have been firing hotter than previously, I also was not properly making my cone packs. I bought some of the pre made plaques and put kiln wash on them so they can be reused. I feel like my cone results are more consistent. Anyway, I see you have self supporting cones, and you have a great start! Do you have a vent fan on your kiln? Roberta

@Hulk I think I need a visual. cutting the sharp corner....next time could you take a pic? I think I need a pic of @Jeff Longtin peanut butter lids as well. Roberta

@Callie Beller Diesel my sales at my big show were about the same as last year. However, I made a conscious decision to make more small items. That worked for me. Lot of ornaments and small dishes and small cups were sold. A few larger pieces but not very many. Our community is being faced with the closing of some large enterprises and groceries have doubled in cost. My heart goes out to younger families with kids. There is still the push to buy local and for many, the desire to purchase handcrafted. Just a lower price point. As one of the organizers of the local market, I will be able to see sales numbers in about a month as the sales taxes roll in. I will be able to do more comparison then. r.

Best advice ever, @GEP Especially the part about saying no to things that aren't really productive. I have had people ask about part time work with me, but I think it would make me nuts. I am pretty much in my own head when I am making. I have even thought about what part of my work could I even have someone else do? Not much. A friend stayed with us for a few days. She volunteered to do some sanding. That was terrific, but I found myself going back over everything and checking for rough spots. What the Heck? I don't consider myself a perfectionist by any means, but I guess I have a standard for my work going out into the world (QOTW) that I have to double check everything. So yeah, I am happier working by myself. Roberta

I actually talked to the Amaco and Duncan people and they sort of shrugged and said, well, yeah, that does happen. I was just "gifted" some speedball pink. I will try that!

@neilestrick have you taken the speedball pink above cone 6? I have had maroon and pink burn out at cone 6. Amaco Red seems to tolerate higher temps, but I haven't tried it at 10.

Amazing Mark! She was a true devotee!