Mark C.
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Posts posted by Mark C.
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I usually have about 35 forms in my line-If I add one its because of a buying trend or a ton of people asking me for them-not less than 25 requests ever .If I decide that its worth trying I work thru the design process and introduce it into my line and then take a form out that is slow moving-For example
In the past few decades I gave up planters,oil lamps-soup Tureens-pin cushions-all because they slowed way down. Casseroles are on the verge of being cut soon
I have replaced them with forms like sponge holders-soap dishes-lotion bottles and salt cellars.
A large part of my forms list was published in last years February issue in CM if you want to see the list.
Sometimes I have a form that went away and comes back like a french butter bell -made them in the 80's stopped and started again in late 90's.
I do not have a plan like 1 a year or any plan like that. It usually started as a request from customers and if I get enough asks then I consider it. I also need to like the idea and its needs to be a solid functional form that is not to fragile. I dislike broken pottery and the ill feelings that go with that so I make sure its solid durable form that will bring joy not sorrow to customers-This is often over looked by potters.
As to working a new form it takes me a month or two to get it into the line as a solid addition and this also depends on the season. I usually do not introduce new form in my christmas rush for example .
I also have few items that are sessional -they are candle holders and to some degree salt cellars now.
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If it really stuck after you try all the tapping you may need to move up a step.
That being hot water on the pot (not the lid) so pot expands and lid does not-try this in sink with really hot water running while holding kid-plan for the pot to pot off so get some water or padding under it.
If this does not work I can tell you about plan C which can work if the 1st 2 do not.
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Whamo Mamo Matt
Kingman feldspar- 49
china clay-21
Dolomite-19
whiting-4
Tin-8
One of my many glaze projects in school was doing a line blend on this glaze to see where it could be made cheaper and maintain color and surface
My new improved glaze was Wham Mamo II-
same formula but
tin is 4 and zircopax is 4 to tall that 8
This is my favorite glad from the 70s
I fired it on a buff to dark stoneware body in solid reduction to soft cone 10s
This glaze is super tough and lasts a lifetime in use.
I also did all my own bathroom shower wrap around and tiled window and sink and sink top and backsplash in 1982 -still looking sharp today.
we eat off all sizes of plates made with this glaze as well.
I sold a set of dinnerware to my mentor long ago and added to it for his son who inherited it later in life.I made several sets back then and that are all going strong now. I got my mothers set back after my sister was done with it. I gave part of that to my mentors son as I cannot get this effect anymore while firing my porcelain loads.
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What ??? Kingman Spar was no longer available.?? Rae i this is not quite true for me.
Good thing I loved my Whamo Mamo Matt on stoneware so much back in the day-(kingman was the only sparr that worked well for that glaze) when i caught wind of Kingmans dimise I found the guy who still owned the mine and drove to Kingman AZ in early 80s and bought 30 #100 bags-it cost $300 . I still am using kingman in 99% of all my galzes and am down to only 5 bags #100 left.
The funny part of this story is sometine around 2000 I thought I had to much and tried to sell some. A fellow from middle California sent away a sample to be analyzed and it was just off the orginal published thresholds and tuned down buying any. Best thing that happend to me with feldspar really. I started using it in place of custard in all glazes not just a few. Then Custar when sideways but my kingman well shes still here for me.
Within a few years I switched to all porcelain studio and gave up the Mamo Wamo on stoneware.I had a mountain of kingman at that time.
I have lots of albany as well and kona F4 orginal bags-its a material horader problem for me.When I need a material I want to walk a few feet and use it.
I need to start using them again.
I got an e-mail recently of someone who ran accross the old add asking if I had any for sale. Well I said its about 20 years to late. My kingman and me will run out about the same time
The only thing is now I cannot lift a 100# bag very easy and need help with them. I used to toss them -getting old is not for the weak of heart.
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Pulled a lot of $$ from that town as its a tourist meca in summer and that shop has sold my wares for 46 years now and also pulled a lot of fish from the sea out front-also a fair amount from underwater there as well. The only marine railway operating on the west coast to luanch your boat as well. Very unique spot on this Earth.
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How much are the ones from china retailing for in same size??
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2 hours ago, Hulk said:
We have two plain ol' Toto units - water savers, easy clean.
Side side note, Gran'ma an' Gran'pa lived cater corner across from Trinity elementary ...looks like 463 Trinity St on google map, was a clothing store last time we were there, ~2005
You talking about in Trinidad I assume?No clothing stores there now.I sell and have sold pottery in that town at the Eatery since 1973 myself
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Just make your own-its easy -you have your dog step into a clay slab-(you place the paw) fire that then press clay into that and its now a stamp after you fire that. It will shrink a tad every time so keep this in mind. You need to turn the negative paw to a positive paw .No need to pay $ for and easy paw prind -heck I have made my cat ones for years and dogs are easier to work with.
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1 hour ago, Hulk said:
Just startin' out here, not likely to run out of glaze questions, ever; ah don' even have the rainbow dialed yet - no yellow, orange or true violet.
Mark, you gonna love your toto.
Hulk We have a few Totos already -one is the top of the line thats does everything except open the seat lid. Heated and washout -no music
Traveled enough in Asia to appreciate them-we have regular toto in spare bath
The 1/2 bath one will hang off wall with free space under it as water tank is in the wall. Very little space in that small room without a door(no room for door) just a small glass block visual block wall about 4 feet tall. That floor will be maple as well.
On a side note I still fish out of Trinadad every summer myself
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I'm not sure thats a ever for me. That said I seem to get about 12-15 glazes going at any one time.-over time I experiment anbd bring is a new one to the fold and usuallt take one out.
Thats happend a few years ago with an iron saturated glaze I now make with synthectic iron and am phasing out the old iron glaze. The new one is much brighter and almost red in certain situations.
I have a few glazes that I have used my whole career and my costomers still crave them.
Test for me works in cycles of how bored I get with my glazes and how much spare time I have to adress the testing period.
I know for example I have big (last remodel of house) on our bedroom this late spring/summer and thats will take up all testing time so its now or fall for me for new colors.
as to the remodel its a full gut interior-raising the floor 11 inches to match rest of house as one level. Raising the ceiling at least 1 foot-That means collar ties and adding 2x6 to ceiling,making walls 2x6 over 2x4 as is currently by adding furring strips to studs.
Adding a very small 1/2 bath with wall monted Toto Toilet and a small corner sink. maple hardwood floor-moving closet into two closets. Moveing entry door 6 inchs over to fit closets .New windows(3 -3x6s) perment color outside wood interior. Maple trim throughout. New wiring (last room to get this).
Puting in a small mini split AC /heat pump unit for this room .(its about 16x 15 if I recall.)taking out the exterior door and filling in the 5/8 x 10 old growth redwood siding with cider siding(already have it)
Adding new insulation and 5/8 sheet rock as well.
I'm doing all the mechanical/electrical and helping with some wood work and doing the trim
This room was a add on in 1962 about 10 years before I boughtb the property and its all made from old growth redwood-and is currenty covered with mahogany paneling-the real stuff. Its that only room left thats not 5/8 sheet rock.
And as you may have guessed I'm not going to be making many pots during May 20th and the later part of June-But they are getting made NOW.
Sorry I got a wee bit sidetracked on the glaze question
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My studio is small and the electric slab roller is 30 inchs wide at rollers and another 1 foot for the mechanics. its about 7 feet long as well. I cut into the sill to get it flatter to fit my small space.I use the table all time in glazing and forming stuff. It was an adjustment but in the long run I'm vdery happyt to have it. The table is formica so its a joy to clean up.My answer is yes I can afford it space wise even thought its use is not very often.I wonder why I did not get this sooner in my career ???My rolling pins and shims hardly ever get used anymore-now thats something that is never used taking up space now.
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Yes they have wimpy cord and restrains-of course it very quiet when it cannot run-wisper quiet I bet.
I used a few of thoise doing some demos a few years ago-great for talking over.
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On 2/11/2019 at 5:01 PM, Bill Kielb said:
Funny I sat down tonight at a wheel and first it didn’t start, then it ran backwards, then it finally performed normally after I jiggled the footpedal wires. Guess I will do a quick video on cutting these back and repairing them nicely. New strain reliefs, new crimp on connectors all for little money but in good lasting order when they are done. It has come up on this site recently several times now. Time to make a video and link it here somewhere.
Whats the brand?
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My thought is the sponge leans against the side at an angle so air hits just about everywhere. It may be extra work for not.
I have seen them with shark teeth on sides -as well as the bottom cut out on bottom-both things are unnecessary . Our sponges to not drip are get loose.
I had a Japanese potter send me oine from Japan with the bottom cut out an a panda bear on the side. Now that was time consuming.
I put put holes in about 1/2 my extruded soap dishes-holes take extra time to clean up.-just a thought. As you know these sell better with one demo sponge in them on of them.
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Whats the purpose of the side holes in the sponge holders?-it has to be decorative ?
QothW: how often do you introduce new forms, and does that change throughout your career
in Int'l Ceramic Artists Network (ICAN) Operations and Benefits
Posted
Tom how tough is that crystalline surface in terms of scratching asa floor or wall surface?I have some small cyst cystaline pots but never tested them fro scratching.
Mark