Mark C.

Well after 43 years I packed up my last xmas pottery booth .
I flew a sign past 12 days telling customers I would not have this booth next year at xmas. Get my work in September at my only show I will be doing .
They where  not as happy about as I am to say the least but-they still have options
Its in same small town (15K population) only its 3rd weekend in Sept. I have build upo a huge following in those consecutive 43 years
I'm already supplying 8 local outlets as well , dropping off pottery about every 2-4 days at xmas as well.Since I was in my later 20s I have always had this booth in the same shopping center -in front of a large drug store (its changed these names all thru my years-value giant,payless, longs drugs, rite aid ,CVS)  In front of Safeway for 5 more years and then the past 12-15 years in front of locally owned pet store. The money has been great as has the customers but as I approach 70 its in my plan to slow it down and this xmas I put the booth away permanently (this booth is made just for this location) -not the sales racks but the lockable booth. I have a younger potter friend I'm, hoping to give the whole deal to if his health gets better. I offered it free of charge and would set him up in it if he is able next year or the following. I have permission from 4 property owners around town for signage in their years and I and pass it all on if and its a big if he can do it. I operate booth from 12-5 weekdays 11-5 Friday-sat sun. Those hours I learned from decades of messing with the best profitable hours. I also have sales help and have paid them well so they always wanted to come back-all the things you learn over time.
Next xmas eve I will not be packing up that booth or driving 30 times into town last few weeks before xmas. Yes less sales but thats the idea-that town sells my work in 3 locations year around anyway-not this huge selection but alot of choices. Its a new transition for me-iI think I made my last canister sets for example and now dinnerware will only be made to order small stuff like that. I'm cutting back on forms (no longer 35 ) My wrist will like this change as well as its not happy right now. I'm leaving that flying dog in the window behind now
Merry Christmas all
 

Vases are a slow sellers for me except at holiday times  like this week and Valentine's Day and Mothers day
You need to know not only what sells  best but When it sells best to take advantage of the market.
Keep making spoon rests -I can do 48 in about 40-45 minutes  (one pug cut into 48 pieces) No trimmers
they are recession proof
after 25 years I just raised my price on them last year
Gas is up 60-70+ percent last bill (todays bill came and it was $1,313)  for  big kiln and 4 small kiln glaze fires.

will that wire really hold the weight without sagging?    if the wire is strong enough i would try hanging them from a wire supported by posts at either end.   it would be simpler to leave the bottom unglazed.  

In my outlets-meaning gallery gift shops and organic markets its always 100% perfect. In my shows its 99.9 perfect .S cracks are toast. Any flaws are extremely minimal and saved for later.
I have kept the seconds for my xmas booth these days and let a customer who buys a piece (a first) have a second for free (they are in a box nearby and they go very fast) 
At one time I would take this same box to our local show and have them priced down. They went very fast then as well Now its the  free box for buying customers at xmas. Its also a xmas good feeeling deal

I used to know many folks with those Astro minivans doing shows. Seems at some point I learned to super size the inventory of pottery and never run out of stock-that was the beginning  of greater profits and larger vehicles to hold so lots of stock. That idea really worked well for me for over 25 years.You laerned what the show limits where and what to take in larger volumes

One ton extended cargo van chevy 6 liter gas. Holds 2 tons if needed.I keep my booth in it as well (they all fit flat in side wall two shelve story box on wall of van inside as well as two canopies in Yakama space case up top and pro panels up top in custom box. Van hold up to 70 banana boxes of pots for a run of shows.
I only use it for work 9full time potter) it stays full and I just add to it. 
Many use here use mini vans as they use the car for other things. I have had a dedicated vehicle for pottery for many decades -Used to be a 3/4 ton pickup with a shell  on back with roof rack ,then its  been a few vans. Bought them new and ran the heck out of them . Now that I'm down to one show a year this van (2010) with 94k on it will be my last van.

I used to know many folks with those Astro minivans doing shows. Seems at some point I learned to super size the inventory of pottery and never run out of stock-that was the beginning  of greater profits and larger vehicles to hold so lots of stock. That idea really worked well for me for over 25 years.You laerned what the show limits where and what to take in larger volumes

One ton extended cargo van chevy 6 liter gas. Holds 2 tons if needed.I keep my booth in it as well (they all fit flat in side wall two shelve story box on wall of van inside as well as two canopies in Yakama space case up top and pro panels up top in custom box. Van hold up to 70 banana boxes of pots for a run of shows.
I only use it for work 9full time potter) it stays full and I just add to it. 
Many use here use mini vans as they use the car for other things. I have had a dedicated vehicle for pottery for many decades -Used to be a 3/4 ton pickup with a shell  on back with roof rack ,then its  been a few vans. Bought them new and ran the heck out of them . Now that I'm down to one show a year this van (2010) with 94k on it will be my last van.

I like to use  other potters mugs-in fact we have a ton of them stacked two high in the cupboard and at least another spare cupboard full.
Most I have bought from the potters themselves -say 99% Most where at art shows I did-doing 10-12 shows a year for decades and decades you tend to meet other potters
I have a Don Sprague whom I have never met-but that may be the exception-it was at the Seattle folklife festival  which I did for 5 straight years selling pots in early 2000's and  the Seattle center next tio show has a ceramics gallery where i picked that one up..Once in the late 70s in that same gallery I saw a Tom Coleman pot that I loved but could not afford at that time
On other forms from potters most I have met
We had Tom Coleman come do a workshop decades ago (at laest 30 yaers) and i got a few pieces from him then at a reasonable cost
same with Robbin Hopper-He did it a bit different and you bought work he made at workshop that and bisueed it as it was not glazed and you finish it.
I salt fired one of his platters-I still have an unfired large bowl that I need to fire 
Same with Otto and Vivika Heino as I have some of his work (they where great people with the best stories)
Those workshops we put on back then as a guild (long gone now) put the Heinos and the Robin Hopper up in our homes as you would a friend
I did a pot exchange with Warren Mackenzie  and never met him as well-in fact my cat broke his pot and we did it again
I also had one of my customers give me a Warren piece he won at a auction. He did not like it as it was a earthy glaze (my favorite) He lived in Minnesota and thats where the auction was. They used to live here (redwood coast) and drove here every other year to vistit relatives and fill their van with my pottery. They would come at kiln openings in the summer.
After 50 years in this you meet a lot of potters -some want to trade with you and some you want to trade and some you just buy. Trades are my favorite

I like to use  other potters mugs-in fact we have a ton of them stacked two high in the cupboard and at least another spare cupboard full.
Most I have bought from the potters themselves -say 99% Most where at art shows I did-doing 10-12 shows a year for decades and decades you tend to meet other potters
I have a Don Sprague whom I have never met-but that may be the exception-it was at the Seattle folklife festival  which I did for 5 straight years selling pots in early 2000's and  the Seattle center next tio show has a ceramics gallery where i picked that one up..Once in the late 70s in that same gallery I saw a Tom Coleman pot that I loved but could not afford at that time
On other forms from potters most I have met
We had Tom Coleman come do a workshop decades ago (at laest 30 yaers) and i got a few pieces from him then at a reasonable cost
same with Robbin Hopper-He did it a bit different and you bought work he made at workshop that and bisueed it as it was not glazed and you finish it.
I salt fired one of his platters-I still have an unfired large bowl that I need to fire 
Same with Otto and Vivika Heino as I have some of his work (they where great people with the best stories)
Those workshops we put on back then as a guild (long gone now) put the Heinos and the Robin Hopper up in our homes as you would a friend
I did a pot exchange with Warren Mackenzie  and never met him as well-in fact my cat broke his pot and we did it again
I also had one of my customers give me a Warren piece he won at a auction. He did not like it as it was a earthy glaze (my favorite) He lived in Minnesota and thats where the auction was. They used to live here (redwood coast) and drove here every other year to vistit relatives and fill their van with my pottery. They would come at kiln openings in the summer.
After 50 years in this you meet a lot of potters -some want to trade with you and some you want to trade and some you just buy. Trades are my favorite

I like to use  other potters mugs-in fact we have a ton of them stacked two high in the cupboard and at least another spare cupboard full.
Most I have bought from the potters themselves -say 99% Most where at art shows I did-doing 10-12 shows a year for decades and decades you tend to meet other potters
I have a Don Sprague whom I have never met-but that may be the exception-it was at the Seattle folklife festival  which I did for 5 straight years selling pots in early 2000's and  the Seattle center next tio show has a ceramics gallery where i picked that one up..Once in the late 70s in that same gallery I saw a Tom Coleman pot that I loved but could not afford at that time
On other forms from potters most I have met
We had Tom Coleman come do a workshop decades ago (at laest 30 yaers) and i got a few pieces from him then at a reasonable cost
same with Robbin Hopper-He did it a bit different and you bought work he made at workshop that and bisueed it as it was not glazed and you finish it.
I salt fired one of his platters-I still have an unfired large bowl that I need to fire 
Same with Otto and Vivika Heino as I have some of his work (they where great people with the best stories)
Those workshops we put on back then as a guild (long gone now) put the Heinos and the Robin Hopper up in our homes as you would a friend
I did a pot exchange with Warren Mackenzie  and never met him as well-in fact my cat broke his pot and we did it again
I also had one of my customers give me a Warren piece he won at a auction. He did not like it as it was a earthy glaze (my favorite) He lived in Minnesota and thats where the auction was. They used to live here (redwood coast) and drove here every other year to vistit relatives and fill their van with my pottery. They would come at kiln openings in the summer.
After 50 years in this you meet a lot of potters -some want to trade with you and some you want to trade and some you just buy. Trades are my favorite

I like to use  other potters mugs-in fact we have a ton of them stacked two high in the cupboard and at least another spare cupboard full.
Most I have bought from the potters themselves -say 99% Most where at art shows I did-doing 10-12 shows a year for decades and decades you tend to meet other potters
I have a Don Sprague whom I have never met-but that may be the exception-it was at the Seattle folklife festival  which I did for 5 straight years selling pots in early 2000's and  the Seattle center next tio show has a ceramics gallery where i picked that one up..Once in the late 70s in that same gallery I saw a Tom Coleman pot that I loved but could not afford at that time
On other forms from potters most I have met
We had Tom Coleman come do a workshop decades ago (at laest 30 yaers) and i got a few pieces from him then at a reasonable cost
same with Robbin Hopper-He did it a bit different and you bought work he made at workshop that and bisueed it as it was not glazed and you finish it.
I salt fired one of his platters-I still have an unfired large bowl that I need to fire 
Same with Otto and Vivika Heino as I have some of his work (they where great people with the best stories)
Those workshops we put on back then as a guild (long gone now) put the Heinos and the Robin Hopper up in our homes as you would a friend
I did a pot exchange with Warren Mackenzie  and never met him as well-in fact my cat broke his pot and we did it again
I also had one of my customers give me a Warren piece he won at a auction. He did not like it as it was a earthy glaze (my favorite) He lived in Minnesota and thats where the auction was. They used to live here (redwood coast) and drove here every other year to vistit relatives and fill their van with my pottery. They would come at kiln openings in the summer.
After 50 years in this you meet a lot of potters -some want to trade with you and some you want to trade and some you just buy. Trades are my favorite

Anchorage winter is a no for me. Its been in the upper 20s in the early am and I just fired two gas kilns (last fires of 2022). I'm firing natural gas and the lines do not freeze up (2 inch pipes). My old body expecially the hands do not work well in the upper 2
Propane will freeeze up in cold temps at the tank valves. Lets see if some midwesterners chine in on this.
since most here are electric kiln folks we may not get thios answered staright away.
You could be making snow globes ?

Anchorage winter is a no for me. Its been in the upper 20s in the early am and I just fired two gas kilns (last fires of 2022). I'm firing natural gas and the lines do not freeze up (2 inch pipes). My old body expecially the hands do not work well in the upper 2
Propane will freeeze up in cold temps at the tank valves. Lets see if some midwesterners chine in on this.
since most here are electric kiln folks we may not get thios answered staright away.
You could be making snow globes ?

I think a call to Skutt is your only option to answer your question
ask about all the points others above brought up.

Yes on the insurance issue with  at least a homemade kiln-my potshop and kilns are not covered by my home owners insurance (this was done  in the 70s or early 80s) but the shop (detached) is covered for fire (12k) through my business liability insurance. Now 12 k will not build a new shop and replace my 5 Brent wheels and two Peter  puggers  and an electric kiln and huge roofed area and all the materials- grinders and two gas kilns ,buts it something.
In terms of wood fired  kilns our county in rural areas does not restrict them (but we are in a very rural part ) in extreme NorthernCalifornia
wood buring is still a go as not much population is here and we have the cleanest air in the state usually (unless it a wildfire nearby)Which is about every other year now.

Yes on the insurance issue with  at least a homemade kiln-my potshop and kilns are not covered by my home owners insurance (this was done  in the 70s or early 80s) but the shop (detached) is covered for fire (12k) through my business liability insurance. Now 12 k will not build a new shop and replace my 5 Brent wheels and two Peter  puggers  and an electric kiln and huge roofed area and all the materials- grinders and two gas kilns ,buts it something.
In terms of wood fired  kilns our county in rural areas does not restrict them (but we are in a very rural part ) in extreme NorthernCalifornia
wood buring is still a go as not much population is here and we have the cleanest air in the state usually (unless it a wildfire nearby)Which is about every other year now.

I am a gas  reduction fire cone 10 guy with an electric kiln that is only occasionally used to bisque only in.
I started 50 years ago and made my own gas kilns-I have three right now-a downdraft car kiln -gas-35 cubic feet a small updraft -12 cubic feet-gas a  24 cubic foot gas salt kiln and a skutt 10 cubic foot electric.I started when you could run your own gas lines and build a kiln and the building  inspector would sign off after looking it over.
In most places in the US those days are long gone-now you need a factory made kiln with all the safety  stuff and the spec plate  that says so.
These days you can find a high quality used gas kiln for 4k$ to 7k-say a Geil or a Baily if you look hard.
I recently found one for a friend a Geil for 6 k -18 cubic feet and saw a few largher for about the same $
As us old timers retire kilns are poping up on the market all the time these days
If looking for new look into Cooper kilns in Colorado as they cost less new
https://www.cooperworkskilns.com
 
For a gas kiln you need space  on your property and gas either Natural (best) or propane
Kilns (all need to be protected from the weather (shed ,shack, roof ,etc)
The kilns mentioned all have safety equipment on them and a inspector will sigh you off on the install, You will need a plumber to run the gas line
All these kilns will need to be trucked to you.

I wrote a bunch on wax a few yaers ago. if do a search on wax. I have the good stuff still (hopefully for my duration) and just tested Forbes  wax  (our local shop sells it) for a friend and it was the second best-highwater clay online sells it. I am super picky on good wax. With good wax and a  damp cut spoonge to apply it you can get that line you like without taping for sure

I wrote a bunch on wax a few yaers ago. if do a search on wax. I have the good stuff still (hopefully for my duration) and just tested Forbes  wax  (our local shop sells it) for a friend and it was the second best-highwater clay online sells it. I am super picky on good wax. With good wax and a  damp cut spoonge to apply it you can get that line you like without taping for sure

I have had a fair amount of Requests for older info on Brent wheels-all from the 70s mainly thru PM's and E-mails. I'll cover all the questions I have answered in the past years here.
This is my original Brochure from 1969-1970-I bought a model C then from Robert Brent himself. At that time the model C and CXC where the only two models he made. The CXC was a direct drive transmission and could spin a 3/4 ton truck . The model C had two separate belts. Both had flat heavy duty decks with flat formica on top. The foot pedals where like in photos not like todays models. 
You can replace the potentiometer  by following that link at top of Equipment page on Brandon's post.
The splash Pans  where galvanized sheet metal and just slid in under the wheel head with no attachment .You can make one from say a plastic bowl like container. I like to find them at Asian Markets as they have the best selections
The CXC has a 1/2 steel thick deck and weight 160#s -yes 1/2 plate steel. The Model C was 1/4 inch thick deck and weighed 120#s. I still have my model C and its heavy.
The transmission takes 90 weight oil in that CXC. 
The control boxes where metal electrical boxes and were to small for all the contents and can be replaced with deeper boxes if you are working on one.
Any rust can be neutralized using Ospho bought online or any Ace Hardware store and let set for 24 hours then spray with flat black paint after 1st wire brushing away the loose material.
If your motor is blue (its original) the brushes are not user changeable -just take it to an electric motor shop and have them change out any neaded bearings or brushes at the same time.
If you have a bearing out on the wheeled (its all one unit) you can unbolt it from deck and replace with new Brent wheelhead but the shaft size on the model C was 5/8 and the new shaft/wheelheads are 3/4 so you will need new 3/4 inch shaft belt pulley as well
In Brent wheelheads the bearing and shaft/wheelhead are one piece so you need the whole deal.. The good news is they can last a lifetime unless you are a production potter.
All newer Brent motors have user friendly replacement brushes (non Blue motors).
Hope this helps those who buy these older Brent wheels
The wiring brochure is from the old days-the last document is the spring tension on wheels from the  late 70s onward written by an old acquaintance from Amaco/ Brent  Paul Scowden

I wouuld pass on this kiln as Neil stated the reasons and I agree with them all. I sold one in good condition for 350$ two years ago to a person who is only bisquing in it. Thats what that kiln is good for really with the old  style control boxes with plugs

I wrote a bunch on wax a few yaers ago. if do a search on wax. I have the good stuff still (hopefully for my duration) and just tested Forbes  wax  (our local shop sells it) for a friend and it was the second best-highwater clay online sells it. I am super picky on good wax. With good wax and a  damp cut spoonge to apply it you can get that line you like without taping for sure

I wrote a bunch on wax a few yaers ago. if do a search on wax. I have the good stuff still (hopefully for my duration) and just tested Forbes  wax  (our local shop sells it) for a friend and it was the second best-highwater clay online sells it. I am super picky on good wax. With good wax and a  damp cut spoonge to apply it you can get that line you like without taping for sure

I wore out one wrist and a thumb bone in left hand. Missing three bones now in right wrist (PRC) and left thumb bone taken last year in left hand. The Wrist is also from some injury long ago (unknown) and throwing for so long did not help.
This is 50 years of heavy production  throwing so others need not worry.'Yes arthritis in all fingers and hands-but alas its also an age deal.
The plus sides-its kept my back and body in good shape. Its made me strong (age slows this down a bit)  . I had a one time incredible hand grip.
I move clay 12 times from pick up to sale. Pallet moving into truck then hand offload to clay shed) You do 8-12 tons a year for many many decades you either get strong or quit.I got strong
The biggest positive I can say is lifestyle. its given me freedom and focus and more learning than one could ever ask for. I had a lifetime of fixed dates I had to work the rest of the time was mine to work or play when I wanted.
Its also had some great side effects as I needed to master plumbing (to build kilns-I have done 12 at least)
I needed electrical skills so I worked with my best friend an electrical contractor back when I had an off season-learned those skills. I need more space so I worked witha carpenter friend and we built some more pot shop space and a few outbuildings.
Early in my carrier I did not have two dimes to rub together . Later after figuring out my markets (shows and outlets) It gave me financial freedom. 
Yes its taken a toll on the body but the mind and spirit have has tremendous uplifts
You learn to be humble as clay/glaze/fire always will lay you out sooner or later-whether its a ruined load of pots from bad clay or pitted glaze or some other large mistaka. You lewarn to move thru it and move on. I just throw the laod away and throw another and try to understand the whys.
I love being a potter and the same fire I had at 18 with clay is still there in this old mans body.