[Cone 5 firing is a bust!]

Black clay=trouble with most glazes as well as potential body issues

If it was easy everybody would be doing it

[How exaxly to make perfect slip or engobe ?]

(everyone is using Texas talc/AMTalc for glazes )-not anymore

This product is gone like many that come and go in ceramics, whether glazy has it in recipes is a moot point

There are other talcs out there-I use sierra light  in many applications  but not all.

In. ceramics it best to stock up on materials that you know you like and need

I have enough texas talc to last my career as well as other materials that now are long gone.

I have been thru at least 4 talcs that are no longer available  in the past 50 years

and that's just talc not to mention all the rest of the long gone materials.

 

[QotW: Have you have opted for digital scales, or anything digital of late because of the convenience or because you grew up with digital?]

Digital is the only way to go much faster and measures larger amounts-My triple beam has sit used for a decade now-unless i mix extra tiny amounts which is super rare .

[Kiln plug - replace or install new outlet?]

You can change out the outlet but also need to most likely change the breaker  to 30 amps to protect the wires on the kiln (you need 25% over amps for safety)

since its 21 amps it needs a 30 amp breaker (leave the kiln plug alone) change the breaker and outlet to match the 30 amps. Or hire an electrician to do the work

[Make your own trimming tools]

I rarely use steel trimming tools at all . My go to is carbide made special bison tool. -very close to a kemper R2 6 inch ribbon tool. Its a double ender oval on one side square on the other. Its in my. hand or in a plastic tube on the wall when not in hand as the break easy. Only broke one in last 25 years. . I have 3 so about every 5-8 years I send it in for new ends. Its made by bison tools-not for everybody for sure but a must for prodution work like mine. I use to buy 6 inch ribben tools by the gross. sure I made ones from metal banding etc. one carbide outlasts 2oo steel  tools with porcealin trimming .I'm a believer in not wasting as well.

Home made tools are great I will add-I like a beach found  stick to cut a foot with.

 

[My last out of state Art show]

Well my local markets are keeping me busy (to busy really) and out of state shows or any show out of my county makes no sense anymore. Also I'm getting up in years and am getting tired of the driving as well.

In two weeks will be my last Anacortes art show. I have been doing this one since early 90s so its been a long haul. Its my best show by far but money is not everything.I love doing the show as its easy for me setup wise  and take down-double booth at main intersection in the middle of street and show. No hassles . Great customers really my favorites and to top it off I get to dive puget sound taking under water photos after the show for days.. I do need help to do this show as it averages for 3 days about 750 customers. My diver friend is also ready to give it up.

I'll miss the show but I will get back my  early summer  for more non ceramic working-like fishing and diving .

I have been in high production for some time now so as to do the show very well.

Looking forward to it but at the same time its the last time. Going to stop and visit a studio from another potter on this board in Portland on my 11 hour hour first drive day to Olympia Wa. Day two is only a 1/2 day drive and ferry ride.

I have done art shows for well  over 4 deacades now and they are coming to an end.

[Flower frogs]

Mine where always loose -that was years ago-you can use frog putty to hold them. I made ikebana  pots.decades ago. I may still have a box of frogs. 

[QotW: When reading the posts on forums do you have a tendency to like detailed information in long form or quick fix with supporting information?]

long form

details -the more the better especially for a fix

[Coyote high fire underglazes]

Coyotes are a wary bunch. You never know what they are up to.  They Hunt in packs  to be careful.

[Cone 10 base glaze recipe]

This white I have used for about 45-50 years now. -its a great liner that loves heat does not run-it can go outside as well-you could add colorants -test first 

I put it inside about 30% of my drinking wares

Honey white -cone 10 or hotter

Extremely dependable -no flaws 

Kentucky Ball clay-450

Grestly Borate -722

Dolomite-920

Talc882

silica 325 mesh -1198

Custar feldspar-2570

 

[Possible to reverse engineer my favorite clay?]

Clay is cheap and making your own is big work. Yes it can be done but its not worth it in most cases. 

[Shimpo Whisper T]

fuze check as well

[QoTW: Do you have any long standing orders that you fill every year for several years?]

We all start out as eggs

[Car Kiln Design]

I do not like the flat tops (the top of kiln is flat) the arch is the way to go for sure. The car design is a solid one on that -I should have spelled that out clearer.

Use thick angle  iron for the uprights and a for arch support . The car  design has worked well for 45 years for me. The side burners and back walls as well.. You just need to tweek the design a bit to improve it. And it does need some improvements as Neil pointed out

[Car Kiln Design]

I have built two of them. My current one (35 cubic stacking) 3 12x24 shelves on car-about 5 feet high

I have seen a bunch as well. The best and most are made from a basic plan called the Minnisota flat top-which the plans are in an old studio potter and a few kiln books.If I recall Nils Lou designed them

I have a sprung arch not flat top. People alter this plan a bunch but all seem to keep the floor and car design which is tapered plug shop car. I like 4 burners two on a side with bag walls so I have made two that way. I do not like power burners so I use natural draft burners as well.

I have a friend with a 27 cubic Geil and thats about as small as you would want to make one as they are made for easy of loading and smaller is better to have front loader

 

[Doc says to stop throwing!]

I also agree with soft clay.

I also have a hot dip waxer for my hands if needed.

[Doc says to stop throwing!]

The cortisone may do it but if not its a simple staright froward surgery and I have seen many great outcomes .In terms of arthritis use warm water and keep using your hands to keep them strong. I think your doctor is taking the stay in bed thoght way to far. If you stay in bed life will not hurt you they say until the heart attack .

If you want a real opion go see a hand doctor not a GP

I have had two major hand surgies and have arthrites and large knuckles -no one has said stop throwing-maybe a bit less but move it or loose it is the theme in life. At least mine

[Hairline crack in finished piece. Superglue back in the kiln?]

It is not repairable .sell them another-mugs get beat up and customers crack them. Life-you can sell tham another at discount if you feel its your crack?

[QoTW: Do you have any long standing orders that you fill every year for several years?]

I get a gallery order twice a year for a huge amount $ worth of wholesale wares. Its a dependabke thing -I think now I;m his largest supplier of wares.This order is always outstanding 

I just dropped his fall order off as I have no time this fall to make them so I did it early. I'm on a 24 day dive. trip in Indonesia in Oct-Nov so made the pots and dropped them off so I can get wet.

 

Started  with him about 12- years ago with a twice a year order of 110 sponge holders and has expanded to this huge order twice a year. I fill my wife subaru with about 20-23 boxes (mostly banana. boxes). I drop it off somewhere in between this this gallery is about 11 hours away. lately its been at theowners broths house about 4.5 hrs away. I just made that drop last Friday

That order is from mugs to smalls to larger bowls and in-between -I only offer limited forms to him. I usally every year offer a new form-this year its a small fish tray

I had have never been to the gallery and I just met him last fall at a remote drop after my last NV show on way home-20 boxs from my van to his subaru.He is also my favorite business person always pays right up front.I was referred to him by another potter who did not want to make sponge holders-I still sell him 220  sponge holders a year.

I have the same sort of thing every xmas and spring with a few local outlets a well-it is always the same.Now that I think about it its with 4 local outlets. I also supply mugs every two weeks to to Bagel /bakeries-year around.

I mix this up with some art shows as well. I am doing my LAST out of state (biggest/best show) in a few weeks

Then its two local shows from now on.

Slowly my wholesale business has taken off as I got older. Just a bit easier for me

[Clay Recycling Advice Sought]

Dog hair burns out so to not sweat that. Waste. of time I think to try to remove it. Same with grass from the lawn or any small orgainic materials. They go by by when bisqued. The only reason to remove them is if they get in the way of making whatever you are making (forming).

[hand-building and throwing with arthritis, suggestions]

23 hours ago, Teacher Lady said:

I found these posts while I was doing some research about how doing pottery might affect my finger joints. I went to see a hand orthopedist because of the pain and stiffness in the fingers on my right hand.  The x-rays showed that I have mild arthritis In those fingers. I've heard conflicting opinions about benefits vs. harmful effects of doing pottery.  Some say that it will exacerbate the pain in my finger joints, whereas others are of the opinion that doing pottery will help strengthen and exercise the muscles in my hand thereby helping with the pain. Any helpful comments that could clarify the vastly opposing opinions would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Elizabeth

I have had arthritis in my hands beyond memory at this point. Using your hands is whay I consider a key element to life and hands. My guess is you are not a professional with clay so you will not be using.8- 10 tons a year which. puts a hurt on the hands . I would  not worry about clay and your hands. Mild Artritis is in all us old timers who use our hands in life. 

I am 100% a believer that clay can help  strengthen and exercise the muscles . As you age no matter what your artritis will continue

Clay has kept my hands strong . They do not like cold but thats also an aging issue.Heck I do not like cold-never have liked heat either-I like it just right.

[What is the difference between CoreLite and other Hollow Core kiln shelves?]

Its also the weight of the load along with temp

The ones that failed where in a 5 foot high stack in gas kiln near the floor-so they had the whole weight of all the load on them. 

[What is the difference between CoreLite and other Hollow Core kiln shelves?]

My guess is they are all made by same manufacture. I have near  experience with theses as they are not in my firing range. I have seen them fail at cone 10 only because the stilts where not over a solid core section and the shelve looked crushed (looked squashed). I suggest at cone  if that is tour temp? make sure the stilts (all three) of them are supported with a core inside section

My old ceramic instructor always said pay your money and take your chances-let us know how they are

[How long is too long for Greenware]

As long as its been  dry and not handled much forever

The stuff from the Roman Empire might still be good.

The larger question is why make ceramics on a geological time frame?

[Sawdust firing in a gas kiln]

Most plastic cans are black in color but not all.