Min

Hello ! I'm an illustrator and a self taught ceramist. Thanks for your knowledge ... and your patience

sold

Hi can someone tell me if pit-fired pottery fades over time? If so how long does the color last.

I am getting good colors from rusty steel, copper wire and seaweed (which I presume contains salt) so mostly from the metals fuming I think rather than organic items.

I would like to sell my work but customer would not be happy if  it faded after purchase!

Thank you for considering my question.

Pulling Clay - Best Methods

Hi all,

I am new to the clay game and the one area that is giving me serious grief is the pulling of my clay. My teacher mentioned that the first steps I am able to do well (e.g. centre, cone, etc.), and showed the class a two finger technique, however, I am often boring a hole through the clay with this technique. I have read up on using your knuckle and then many who use their sponge. I just want to get this right! It's been over a month and I feel stuck. Thanks in advance.

I fire my pots with the lid on, but sometimes the lid adheres to the gallery. How can I avoid that?

So, I am a new high school art teacher who is in charge of the school's ceramics classes. When I was going through my classroom supplies, I learned that we have cone 6 clay, but all of our glaze is cone 06-04... SOS. What is the best way to use the supplies I have, when ordering new supplies at this time is not an option? I figured I could only fire the clay to cone 04, but then the work won't be as strong. Could I fire the clay to cone 6 as a "bisque" then follow it with a cone 04 glaze fire? Thank you in advance for any help offered!!!

~EllieKay

So, I am a new high school art teacher who is in charge of the school's ceramics classes. When I was going through my classroom supplies, I learned that we have cone 6 clay, but all of our glaze is cone 06-04... SOS. What is the best way to use the supplies I have, when ordering new supplies at this time is not an option? I figured I could only fire the clay to cone 04, but then the work won't be as strong. Could I fire the clay to cone 6 as a "bisque" then follow it with a cone 04 glaze fire? Thank you in advance for any help offered!!!

~EllieKay

Kiln arrived yesterday, and is now in the shop. I am in the process of reassembling, and have an electrician coming to do whatever needs done with the wiring into service. I am also getting ready to set the vent into the chimney at back corner.

Firing some test tiles to get kiln back in action. Somewhere along the last 2 years I lost my schedule so I am trying to figure it out all over again! 

Hi. I am reading your post here and have the same situation. I just acquired a Cress B23H with no instruction manual. I see on the Cress website they have 2 similar models’ manuals (B23HT240 and B23HT 208) but they are not the same as the B23H which has  upper and lower knobs.  I wondered if you ever figured out how to run yours? 

I bisque fired at 06 instead of 04. Should I refire at 04 or will they be ok to paint?

I am making a batch of porcelain slip to be used for decorating platter/bowls not with a bottle but rather using the side of my hand for "slooping".  I did not dry out the 25lb bag of clay before I cut apart chunks and soaked in water overnight.  I understand the deflocculating and then adding more dry clay.  My question is did I need to use dried clay before soaking overnight??

Can anyone help me!  The areas on the pottery that are left unpainted, are coming out with a smoke look. It been happening slowly to pieces and in the last firing almost all pieces turned out this way in some small areas I also noticed craters. I wonder if it has to do with contamination of the glaze? Under firing? I am using Duncan Envision and Pure Brilliant. Any ideas? Also I have an electric kiln and the fan is not working for a while now! I usually run the kiln at night, because the pieces were coming out just fine I didn’t thought much about the fun. lately this issue is getting worse every time we fire. 
any ideas?

Why would some of my bowls break, during glaze firing, on one side of the foot?  I use wax resist on the foot and base. This  has happened way to often recently. 

I have two Ransome B4 burners which have not been used for years as I work mostly in wood fueled kilns. I was interested in selling them but they are rather rusty, surface rust, and I was wondering if anyone would be interested in a couple inexpensive burners which need a little TLC. I'd hate them to go into the scrap metal heap because they still work, the valves and they can be cleaned easily enough. Please reply or contact me if you are interested. I have another propane burner set of two smaller burners with valves, gauges and sensors i will in all likelihood be selling later next year if I decide I won't need them. Thanks

Holy cannoli----my Termal-lites, which I have waited for 6 months to come from Germany, are now at Bailey's!  

Holy cannoli----my Termal-lites, which I have waited for 6 months to come from Germany, are now at Bailey's!  

monitor for gas kiln

Just starting out, got a kiln skutt 1018 and a clay boss wheel.. learning all I can from books and videos! I’ve always wanted to make things with my hands, any advice for a newbie would be appreciated! 

site seems to have a weird issue going on

Been really heavy smoke in our area-but the tuna fishing offshore has been excellent

Been really heavy smoke in our area-but the tuna fishing offshore has been excellent

Just had an interview with a local online news source posted based on my KVIE-TV Juror's Award...Where would be the best place to post the PDF?

site seems to have a weird issue going on

No.1 Pottery Plaster vs Plaster of Paris for wedging boards