LeeU

I'm taking some liberty with the "free" part.  The gift that I use is not "in" my studio, it "is" my studio. The gift was me making it to retirement and having enough coin to install the studio & everything in it, in the larger bedroom of my trailor, & the kiln, which is on the formally open back porch, which I was able to enclose with restaurant patio-grade vinyl, essential for New Hampshire winters. Beyond that, my studio has a fair amount of useful things attained by "curb shopping". One find that I love is a green wire shelving unit, close to 5'x3' w/5 shelves,  that I scored from a convenience store (OK, that one was actual dumpster diving). It holds an amazing quantity of tools etc., many of which I also scrounged from here & there. 
 

I'm taking some liberty with the "free" part.  The gift that I use is not "in" my studio, it "is" my studio. The gift was me making it to retirement and having enough coin to install the studio & everything in it, in the larger bedroom of my trailor, & the kiln, which is on the formally open back porch, which I was able to enclose with restaurant patio-grade vinyl, essential for New Hampshire winters. Beyond that, my studio has a fair amount of useful things attained by "curb shopping". One find that I love is a green wire shelving unit, close to 5'x3' w/5 shelves,  that I scored from a convenience store (OK, that one was actual dumpster diving). It holds an amazing quantity of tools etc., many of which I also scrounged from here & there. 
 

Hi folks, no new posts in the pool, so up to me!
There have been instances of late where folks have discussed dissatisfaction with suppliers products, whether glazes or clay bodies, or other things. Much of this is out of hands of the manufacturers of clay materials as they are dependent on the mines. However, when a major change is made in a material, one would think that a manufacturer of clay for instance would have to take the time to reformulate the clay body. Sometimes the manufacturers have other problems with machinery breakdowns and such. I was thinking about this and wondered. . . 
QotW: How well do you represent yourself and  how much do you tolerate when dealing with your suppliers?
My personal approach over the years has been more preemptive, as I try to make it a point when ordering on the phone to ask names of those dealing with me and have a conversation during the order process. I also try to get into the store as often as I can to introduce myself, and talk to folks. Make it personal.  I also make it a point to discuss much of what I am doing, and ask if there is a clay body that I should try or tools, glazes materials or anything else that I should know about. Over the years, I have not had to complain much about anything. I do remember years ago I had a shelf crack on the first firing, and sent them pictures and asked for a replacement that I had by the end of the week. . . this was before covid.
So once again:
QotW: How well do you represent yourself and  how much do you tolerate when dealing with your suppliers?
 
best,
Pres

@oldlady asked a question of me lately for the QotW: what item that you use in your studio came to you free, almost free or as a gift? 
I found this interesting, and after a lot of thought about my own situation, I would have to say that I don't have much given to me that I use in my shop pottery wise. However, I do have some pieces of aircraft grade plexiglass that I use to make extruder dies for my power caulk gun conversion extruder. The material works very well, reminds me of my Dad when I use it. He is still alive at 96 and retired from his second occupation as an aircraft inspector for Schweitzer Aircraft. I also worked there for a few summers as a parts fabricator. The factory built the AgCat crop duster, gliders, and parts for helicopters during the Viet Nam war and later Bell helicopters. So often gifts will remind us of the giver
QotW: what item that you use in your studio came to you free, almost free or as a gift? 
best,
Pres

Thanks for the links Lee!
Your posts reminded me of my Milk Carton Kids phase. I still listen to them occasionally (vs. every day).
Here's a YouTube mix:
(126) The Milk Carton Kids - Michigan - YouTube
 

And just for fun, you really should check this out, which, astounding to me,  is the SAME vocalist Ha Hyun Woo https://youtu.be/xgkDAEdSVeg  Also a great series (Stranger 2).  I made this bowl a bit ago, listening to Korean rap & hip hop, & glazed it w/Coyote's Aries.  This last piece fills my kiln, literally my first firing in a year--finally broke through the morass.  For some odd reason the K-films & music has been significantly instrumental in lifting my spirits. Update-just for fun, here is the finished bowl. It too is lifting my spirit! 

 

And just for fun, you really should check this out, which, astounding to me,  is the SAME vocalist Ha Hyun Woo https://youtu.be/xgkDAEdSVeg  Also a great series (Stranger 2).  I made this bowl a bit ago, listening to Korean rap & hip hop, & glazed it w/Coyote's Aries.  This last piece fills my kiln, literally my first firing in a year--finally broke through the morass.  For some odd reason the K-films & music has been significantly instrumental in lifting my spirits. Update-just for fun, here is the finished bowl. It too is lifting my spirit! 

 

And just for fun, you really should check this out, which, astounding to me,  is the SAME vocalist Ha Hyun Woo https://youtu.be/xgkDAEdSVeg  Also a great series (Stranger 2).  I made this bowl a bit ago, listening to Korean rap & hip hop, & glazed it w/Coyote's Aries.  This last piece fills my kiln, literally my first firing in a year--finally broke through the morass.  For some odd reason the K-films & music has been significantly instrumental in lifting my spirits. Update-just for fun, here is the finished bowl. It too is lifting my spirit! 

 

I have a number of playlists I made just for various studio vibes. My current addiction is music from the soundtracks of Korea according to Netflix. I loved the series Itaewon Class - here's my favorite track: https://youtu.be/U1Fxt5wCqAg    If you have a short attention span  after a bit of the beginning, pick it up again around 2:30 .   The song is known as Stone Block and is also known as Diamond (there is no literal translation from the Korean).STONE BLOCK.pdf
 
 
 
 

And just for fun, you really should check this out, which, astounding to me,  is the SAME vocalist Ha Hyun Woo https://youtu.be/xgkDAEdSVeg  Also a great series (Stranger 2).  I made this bowl a bit ago, listening to Korean rap & hip hop, & glazed it w/Coyote's Aries.  This last piece fills my kiln, literally my first firing in a year--finally broke through the morass.  For some odd reason the K-films & music has been significantly instrumental in lifting my spirits. Update-just for fun, here is the finished bowl. It too is lifting my spirit! 

 

I have no tricks, tips,  tools, or time frames that are  not already mentioned. The only thing I will add is just a reinforcement, a repeat, of what 
I clean as I go along, almost fanatically-as long as it doesn't disrupt the technical production process and/or my creative flow. I subscribe to the "a place for everything and everything in its place" mantra of my dad, even when that "place" is a jumble of "everything" in a bin or a basket--at least I know where it is and it is contained. Cleaning up when done and then revisiting it yet again the next time I enter the studio,before I get to to work, is well worth the double-check. 

A lot depends on the glaze chemistry plus the firing. Only way you are going to know for sure is to have a sample tested. BSC labs does glaze testing, you would need to send in something like a cup that they can use to test the glaze. If you pay for return shipping they probably could return it to you. It's approx $30- per oxide being tested. (sometimes more, depends on what oxide they are testing for) I don't know if they can test a plate surface, would have to ask them. They ask for a cup / cylinder shaped pot.
https://bsclab.com/pottery-testing
A simple home test to rule the glaze out as being durable would be to half fill a cup with household white vinegar then leave it sit for 2 days. Rinse and dry the cup and see if there is a change in either gloss or colour. If there is the glaze is leaching something, could be barium or could be some of the colourants. This test checks for glazes susceptible to acid attack. To check a glazes durability to alkalinity leave a piece in the dishwasher for a couple months then compare the surface to a plate that hasn't been through the dishwasher.

I’ll give you my take. The vinegar test is very helpful and many glazes ought to pass it. Does it indicate durability, not necessarily so. It’s a nice test that can be done at home and any commercial ware ought to easily pass it IMO. Will it predict some of the complaint issues mentioned earlier which could go to glaze durability, glaze fit? Most likely not. Will it always predict leaching? Really not necessarily so, that is more of a lab thing. It’s definitely a good test to pass though. When a glaze does not pass it, for sure it is usually judged not a good glaze for food consumption.

A brown Sharpie looks just like brown underglaze.

I have no tricks, tips,  tools, or time frames that are  not already mentioned. The only thing I will add is just a reinforcement, a repeat, of what 
I clean as I go along, almost fanatically-as long as it doesn't disrupt the technical production process and/or my creative flow. I subscribe to the "a place for everything and everything in its place" mantra of my dad, even when that "place" is a jumble of "everything" in a bin or a basket--at least I know where it is and it is contained. Cleaning up when done and then revisiting it yet again the next time I enter the studio,before I get to to work, is well worth the double-check. 

I have no tricks, tips,  tools, or time frames that are  not already mentioned. The only thing I will add is just a reinforcement, a repeat, of what 
I clean as I go along, almost fanatically-as long as it doesn't disrupt the technical production process and/or my creative flow. I subscribe to the "a place for everything and everything in its place" mantra of my dad, even when that "place" is a jumble of "everything" in a bin or a basket--at least I know where it is and it is contained. Cleaning up when done and then revisiting it yet again the next time I enter the studio,before I get to to work, is well worth the double-check. 

I have no tricks, tips,  tools, or time frames that are  not already mentioned. The only thing I will add is just a reinforcement, a repeat, of what 
I clean as I go along, almost fanatically-as long as it doesn't disrupt the technical production process and/or my creative flow. I subscribe to the "a place for everything and everything in its place" mantra of my dad, even when that "place" is a jumble of "everything" in a bin or a basket--at least I know where it is and it is contained. Cleaning up when done and then revisiting it yet again the next time I enter the studio,before I get to to work, is well worth the double-check. 

I have no tricks, tips,  tools, or time frames that are  not already mentioned. The only thing I will add is just a reinforcement, a repeat, of what 
I clean as I go along, almost fanatically-as long as it doesn't disrupt the technical production process and/or my creative flow. I subscribe to the "a place for everything and everything in its place" mantra of my dad, even when that "place" is a jumble of "everything" in a bin or a basket--at least I know where it is and it is contained. Cleaning up when done and then revisiting it yet again the next time I enter the studio,before I get to to work, is well worth the double-check. 

Funny you mention, right here locally in Illinois. Used to go there as a kid all the time. Last trip (40 Years forward)  was a few years ago to pickup cheap dental tools for ……. Carving clay and some cork stoppers someone in the studio needed for their clay project.

For small containers (pts/qts) I use a large or small manual spinner  that I got from American Science and Surplus (thanks to Pres for turning us on to that source for great gadgets!) It works like a hand blender, which I also use sometimes (carefully positioning it re controlling where the glaze goes/cleaning it off the tool back into the bucket). I also use a metal paint  stirrer on my drill, when called for.

For small containers (pts/qts) I use a large or small manual spinner  that I got from American Science and Surplus (thanks to Pres for turning us on to that source for great gadgets!) It works like a hand blender, which I also use sometimes (carefully positioning it re controlling where the glaze goes/cleaning it off the tool back into the bucket). I also use a metal paint  stirrer on my drill, when called for.

For small containers (pts/qts) I use a large or small manual spinner  that I got from American Science and Surplus (thanks to Pres for turning us on to that source for great gadgets!) It works like a hand blender, which I also use sometimes (carefully positioning it re controlling where the glaze goes/cleaning it off the tool back into the bucket). I also use a metal paint  stirrer on my drill, when called for.

Denise, I use throwing sticks often for chalice bowls and the stems. 
As to the opening tool @Bam2015, you will find the video here:
https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?fr=mcafee&ei=UTF-8&p=clay+opening+tools&type=E214US714G0#id=2&vid=7aadabeead3955026ce8618b0ce04609&action=click
 
best, 
Pres

I like black or real dark clays with just a clear glaze, same with gray vishon.
 

Now you've got me thinking I could use some coasters for myself! I have a nice groggy clay in mind.  I like the idea of glazing the bottom/side and having a nice recessed texture on top (perfect for good wood stamps).  I would design the glazed "bottom" so that I could glue on some very small furniture-protective rounds, and they would fit in with the design.  Thx for the motivation-boost.