Mark C.

Another free source of plastic I use is -----
I use market Banana boxes to store ,move, sell amd deliver orders of pottery in. I usually have 60-80 of them at any given time. Those usually come withg plastic sheets in them. Those are just a tad heavier than the dry cleaner bags. We use them to cover freshy handled pots like mugs that need to even out as well as dry a little.  They are perfect for doing both. They are free when I get the boxes from the produce sections.I can go thru 6-8 boxes a month dropping off ware in them via. dolly . Right now I'm working on a 20 banana box order so that 20 going away in a few more weeks.I have never bought a bag for covering pots as folks always bring them to me.Same way with packing materials-all free.

shirat bags for 50 years for me as well-I also have some larger sheets if similar plastic . I live in a area that banned sinle use bags  as well so even if I wanted them they are not here (better for the planet). The lighted plastic works the best=shirt bags

Another free source of plastic I use is -----
I use market Banana boxes to store ,move, sell amd deliver orders of pottery in. I usually have 60-80 of them at any given time. Those usually come withg plastic sheets in them. Those are just a tad heavier than the dry cleaner bags. We use them to cover freshy handled pots like mugs that need to even out as well as dry a little.  They are perfect for doing both. They are free when I get the boxes from the produce sections.I can go thru 6-8 boxes a month dropping off ware in them via. dolly . Right now I'm working on a 20 banana box order so that 20 going away in a few more weeks.I have never bought a bag for covering pots as folks always bring them to me.Same way with packing materials-all free.

Another free source of plastic I use is -----
I use market Banana boxes to store ,move, sell amd deliver orders of pottery in. I usually have 60-80 of them at any given time. Those usually come withg plastic sheets in them. Those are just a tad heavier than the dry cleaner bags. We use them to cover freshy handled pots like mugs that need to even out as well as dry a little.  They are perfect for doing both. They are free when I get the boxes from the produce sections.I can go thru 6-8 boxes a month dropping off ware in them via. dolly . Right now I'm working on a 20 banana box order so that 20 going away in a few more weeks.I have never bought a bag for covering pots as folks always bring them to me.Same way with packing materials-all free.

Usually natural gas is cheaper so if you have natural gas stick with it. If you are not able to use natural gas and must use propane its just an small orfice change on each buner and a propane regular  at  tank-no big deal
so the only reason to convert is what gas type do you have thats convenient?

Usually natural gas is cheaper so if you have natural gas stick with it. If you are not able to use natural gas and must use propane its just an small orfice change on each buner and a propane regular  at  tank-no big deal
so the only reason to convert is what gas type do you have thats convenient?

At one time about 1,100 mile each way to a show twice a year for 24 years straight. It was one of my best shows. Gave it up 6 years ago. I did AZ,NV,UT,Wa,CO, shows for many years. A few where two days trips to get to show and two days back and one was always 3 days to Denver. I did that for 5 straight years to Denver.  Last August I did my last Anacortes art show after about 30 years of them (retired from show which was my best)-that was 800 miles each way. I began a few years ago spliting into a two day drive up and and two back .Gave it all up last year no more traveling shows for me. I still have a twice a year wholesale order (20 boxes) I drive 4.5 hours each way to drop off. Its less than 1/2 the distance to the gallery it goes to. (its the gallery owners brothers house) They get it the rest of the way. Its one Forester full of pottery stuffed to the gills. At one time I drove over 20,000 a year on my old van doing art shops in the western states.In the last decade it was under 10,000 . Now its under 2k dropping off local orders. I do not miss it except for the large amounts of cash returning home with. That was always a nice feeling after slaying the Dragon at a big show.I was smart and saved much of it for later in life.Love my Roth 

At one time about 1,100 mile each way to a show twice a year for 24 years straight. It was one of my best shows. Gave it up 6 years ago. I did AZ,NV,UT,Wa,CO, shows for many years. A few where two days trips to get to show and two days back and one was always 3 days to Denver. I did that for 5 straight years to Denver.  Last August I did my last Anacortes art show after about 30 years of them (retired from show which was my best)-that was 800 miles each way. I began a few years ago spliting into a two day drive up and and two back .Gave it all up last year no more traveling shows for me. I still have a twice a year wholesale order (20 boxes) I drive 4.5 hours each way to drop off. Its less than 1/2 the distance to the gallery it goes to. (its the gallery owners brothers house) They get it the rest of the way. Its one Forester full of pottery stuffed to the gills. At one time I drove over 20,000 a year on my old van doing art shops in the western states.In the last decade it was under 10,000 . Now its under 2k dropping off local orders. I do not miss it except for the large amounts of cash returning home with. That was always a nice feeling after slaying the Dragon at a big show.I was smart and saved much of it for later in life.Love my Roth 

At one time about 1,100 mile each way to a show twice a year for 24 years straight. It was one of my best shows. Gave it up 6 years ago. I did AZ,NV,UT,Wa,CO, shows for many years. A few where two days trips to get to show and two days back and one was always 3 days to Denver. I did that for 5 straight years to Denver.  Last August I did my last Anacortes art show after about 30 years of them (retired from show which was my best)-that was 800 miles each way. I began a few years ago spliting into a two day drive up and and two back .Gave it all up last year no more traveling shows for me. I still have a twice a year wholesale order (20 boxes) I drive 4.5 hours each way to drop off. Its less than 1/2 the distance to the gallery it goes to. (its the gallery owners brothers house) They get it the rest of the way. Its one Forester full of pottery stuffed to the gills. At one time I drove over 20,000 a year on my old van doing art shops in the western states.In the last decade it was under 10,000 . Now its under 2k dropping off local orders. I do not miss it except for the large amounts of cash returning home with. That was always a nice feeling after slaying the Dragon at a big show.I was smart and saved much of it for later in life.Love my Roth 

At one time about 1,100 mile each way to a show twice a year for 24 years straight. It was one of my best shows. Gave it up 6 years ago. I did AZ,NV,UT,Wa,CO, shows for many years. A few where two days trips to get to show and two days back and one was always 3 days to Denver. I did that for 5 straight years to Denver.  Last August I did my last Anacortes art show after about 30 years of them (retired from show which was my best)-that was 800 miles each way. I began a few years ago spliting into a two day drive up and and two back .Gave it all up last year no more traveling shows for me. I still have a twice a year wholesale order (20 boxes) I drive 4.5 hours each way to drop off. Its less than 1/2 the distance to the gallery it goes to. (its the gallery owners brothers house) They get it the rest of the way. Its one Forester full of pottery stuffed to the gills. At one time I drove over 20,000 a year on my old van doing art shops in the western states.In the last decade it was under 10,000 . Now its under 2k dropping off local orders. I do not miss it except for the large amounts of cash returning home with. That was always a nice feeling after slaying the Dragon at a big show.I was smart and saved much of it for later in life.Love my Roth 

Turn on the heater (natural Gas) let the shop warm up and go to work. For me my winter break ends on Valentines day-back to a large wholesale order.This is my biggest transtion year on my slow down plan. Sold a single burner Gas kiln today (west coast I have been storing for 35 years (never used) part of my downsize plan as well. Filled a Suburau outback with it and shelves.
Got the studio wet mopped/wet dusted all shelves and vaced it up with whole studio vac. system. Brought in 1,000 #s of clay to heat it up before Tuesdays work schedule.
sunny and 61 today as the rain stopped. Colder nights now but only
in the 30s.Perfect climate for clay work

Turn on the heater (natural Gas) let the shop warm up and go to work. For me my winter break ends on Valentines day-back to a large wholesale order.This is my biggest transtion year on my slow down plan. Sold a single burner Gas kiln today (west coast I have been storing for 35 years (never used) part of my downsize plan as well. Filled a Suburau outback with it and shelves.
Got the studio wet mopped/wet dusted all shelves and vaced it up with whole studio vac. system. Brought in 1,000 #s of clay to heat it up before Tuesdays work schedule.
sunny and 61 today as the rain stopped. Colder nights now but only
in the 30s.Perfect climate for clay work

I would not use that silica at all
50% Alumina
50% Kaolin
this is a basic salt kiln wash
The 50% alumina is at a good start I also like some milled zircon
The kaolin makes it stick
So maybe 50 alumina Hydrate and 20 Milled zircon and 30 EPK
silica is not to be used in this wash at all-soda and salt go after it (stick to it like the silica in the clay pots)
water it down to thick cream-spray the soft bricks just befor applying as they will suck all the water out of wash if not a little damp 1st. One thin coat is far better than a thick coat which tends to spall off later. Keep  that coat thin .
 

Make your own wash-the commercial stuff is crap-that stuff should grind off easy-use a 4 inch hand grinder

I was planning on a MFA in as well Pres. It was suggested I take a year off and focus on clay at home in studio. The rest was history no regrets there .My only gripe is what its done to my wrist and hands 50 years of production has really taken its toll on my wrists-3 bones cut out on right wrist and one thumb bone on left hand. removed. My hands are not happy these days
Of course arthritis has also added to them not being happy.
My brother was a Art Prof at UC Santa Barbara for 25 years so I got lots of exposure to that way of life (all my family where teachers) I cut my own path and am happy with it. It was more work by far  than teaching and took much longer to get traction. I only have myself to answer to and I have done it all my way as Frank Sinatra would say. I have amassed a great retirement  when needed as well as I started that thought in the mid 80s as I knew that no pension was coming down my road.
When I want more $ I just worked more and hit the road selling more. 
No regrets -I think next time  around I may want a small Island in the tropics with a pier to tie up my boat and do more diving. Of course with climate change that may be in 5 years here in Humboldt County

I was planning on a MFA in as well Pres. It was suggested I take a year off and focus on clay at home in studio. The rest was history no regrets there .My only gripe is what its done to my wrist and hands 50 years of production has really taken its toll on my wrists-3 bones cut out on right wrist and one thumb bone on left hand. removed. My hands are not happy these days
Of course arthritis has also added to them not being happy.
My brother was a Art Prof at UC Santa Barbara for 25 years so I got lots of exposure to that way of life (all my family where teachers) I cut my own path and am happy with it. It was more work by far  than teaching and took much longer to get traction. I only have myself to answer to and I have done it all my way as Frank Sinatra would say. I have amassed a great retirement  when needed as well as I started that thought in the mid 80s as I knew that no pension was coming down my road.
When I want more $ I just worked more and hit the road selling more. 
No regrets -I think next time  around I may want a small Island in the tropics with a pier to tie up my boat and do more diving. Of course with climate change that may be in 5 years here in Humboldt County

Make your own wash-the commercial stuff is crap-that stuff should grind off easy-use a 4 inch hand grinder

Make your own wash-the commercial stuff is crap-that stuff should grind off easy-use a 4 inch hand grinder

Make your own wash-the commercial stuff is crap-that stuff should grind off easy-use a 4 inch hand grinder

I would not use that silica at all
50% Alumina
50% Kaolin
this is a basic salt kiln wash
The 50% alumina is at a good start I also like some milled zircon
The kaolin makes it stick
So maybe 50 alumina Hydrate and 20 Milled zircon and 30 EPK
silica is not to be used in this wash at all-soda and salt go after it (stick to it like the silica in the clay pots)
water it down to thick cream-spray the soft bricks just befor applying as they will suck all the water out of wash if not a little damp 1st. One thin coat is far better than a thick coat which tends to spall off later. Keep  that coat thin .
 

I was planning on a MFA in as well Pres. It was suggested I take a year off and focus on clay at home in studio. The rest was history no regrets there .My only gripe is what its done to my wrist and hands 50 years of production has really taken its toll on my wrists-3 bones cut out on right wrist and one thumb bone on left hand. removed. My hands are not happy these days
Of course arthritis has also added to them not being happy.
My brother was a Art Prof at UC Santa Barbara for 25 years so I got lots of exposure to that way of life (all my family where teachers) I cut my own path and am happy with it. It was more work by far  than teaching and took much longer to get traction. I only have myself to answer to and I have done it all my way as Frank Sinatra would say. I have amassed a great retirement  when needed as well as I started that thought in the mid 80s as I knew that no pension was coming down my road.
When I want more $ I just worked more and hit the road selling more. 
No regrets -I think next time  around I may want a small Island in the tropics with a pier to tie up my boat and do more diving. Of course with climate change that may be in 5 years here in Humboldt County

Every Year I push hard at Xmas season all  of November and the 24 days of Dec keeping the galleries and stores stocked and selling at my own booth full of wares as well. I stop sending any mail order out before thanksgiving. Then I pack it up and take at least 6 weeks off from Xmas day to mid to early Feb. Tax prep and tree pruning, clean studio etc.
The start of the new new sales year for me is Dec 26th really that’s when it can either stay sleepy or pick up with mail orders via email
Every year its different. I like the sleepy years-a Hundred-dollar minimum slowed orders a lot 2021 which was the idea.
They seem to always show a theme-from sleepy to busy and now this year-space cadets
So, this year I have had 4 emails asking about pottery in past week and only one follow thru
It’s what I call the new space cadets. I broke a fish plate can I get another as asap. Yes, I have some but you will have to come out to studio, ok no problem, so I send him a photo of 7 choices of what he wants-and 3 days later no response. Packed them up and moved on today. The next two where a bit like the 1st one. It’s the new  world order of I want it but not really .
Wholesale is a bit more work but no space cadets. I'm starting to like the separation from the cadets
Today’s order is looking solid ,4 huge mugs to Ma. I do not want to count these chickens before they hatch
Wens update  Mugs got paid  for and shipped today of to MD
I hope this ends the space cadet run

I always just add wateer to thin it.. Once you fine the right specific gravity (I write that # on side of bucket)

I always just add wateer to thin it.. Once you fine the right specific gravity (I write that # on side of bucket)

I always just add wateer to thin it.. Once you fine the right specific gravity (I write that # on side of bucket)