Mark C.

We do a fair amount of press mold handles on baking dishes (they are shell shaped ) and they get 90 degree bend-so press mold is a yes if that helps
They are from the same porcelain mix as the slab dishes are made from 3/4 porcealin and 1/4 wso
some are 100% porcelain  as well (the smaller dishes)
On handles I handled 60 mugs yesterday in about 1 hour 45 minutes (taking my time includes extruding) these where 1# mugs -
today it  will be 50 more mugs 30 are 1.5# mugs the other 20 are 1# mugs-the larger handles take more time.
all mugs have a thumb spot so that takes a bit more time.

My glaze book from collage will keep me busy for whole life and then some- most from my glaze and clay body class-then 4 years of school in glaze room
I have added a few from friends-traded for some
as well as a few from magazines-its always the same test to see what it does/looks like in my kiln atmosphere .

We my list is maybe a bit more personal
That is people I knew or not who influenced me during the past 50 years either in collage or beyond-now beyond is since 1976
Some are still alive but most are not.
Some partied with back in the day  when I did that some not 
All influenced me to varying degrees
Some I have pieces in my Collection some not most where trades
 
Warren Mackenzie
John Glick
Robert Arneson-lived next to my sister in Davis long ago
Don Sprague
Richard Shaw
Robert Sperry
Howard Kottler
On a more personal level of influence
Michael Lucero-went to school with him
Resse Bullen –My mentor
Tom Coleman-log time friend from a workshop long ago
Patti Warashina- friend from the 70s-she could party with the best of them
Otto and Vivika Heino-great folks still sad they are gone
Eric Norstad-had clay named after him –we use a pot daily of his
Clayton Bailey-a real influencer for me personally

We my list is maybe a bit more personal
That is people I knew or not who influenced me during the past 50 years either in collage or beyond-now beyond is since 1976
Some are still alive but most are not.
Some partied with back in the day  when I did that some not 
All influenced me to varying degrees
Some I have pieces in my Collection some not most where trades
 
Warren Mackenzie
John Glick
Robert Arneson-lived next to my sister in Davis long ago
Don Sprague
Richard Shaw
Robert Sperry
Howard Kottler
On a more personal level of influence
Michael Lucero-went to school with him
Resse Bullen –My mentor
Tom Coleman-log time friend from a workshop long ago
Patti Warashina- friend from the 70s-she could party with the best of them
Otto and Vivika Heino-great folks still sad they are gone
Eric Norstad-had clay named after him –we use a pot daily of his
Clayton Bailey-a real influencer for me personally

Most of my life in clay I have been  a start from scratch camp as far as glazes go. I have also been a re-formulator to some extent as well to others recipes .
I guess if I recall back in high school I used what they had for a less than a  year (low fire) then same deal in 1st quarter at a JC  (high fire) but it was during the next quarter I make my own scale (balance beam) and started making my own from that point on within a year I had a glaze calc class at Humboldt State (just changed their name last week To: Cal Poly Humboldt-big news for or small community here) its only the 3rd Cal Poly in state now
Never looked back-of course most of that is lost in my brain these days-I have more ideas than time these days
I got lazy a few decades ago and have Laguna clay make my rutile base  by the ton in 50# bags-I make about 14 other working glazes year around.That glaze is one of my most popular glazes with customers -not with me but I'm ok with that.
I have an order in right now with them for more glaze.
I just got the quote -it used to be $45 a 50# bag now its $72 a bag-just like everything these days its costs more.
 
 

Most of my life in clay I have been  a start from scratch camp as far as glazes go. I have also been a re-formulator to some extent as well to others recipes .
I guess if I recall back in high school I used what they had for a less than a  year (low fire) then same deal in 1st quarter at a JC  (high fire) but it was during the next quarter I make my own scale (balance beam) and started making my own from that point on within a year I had a glaze calc class at Humboldt State (just changed their name last week To: Cal Poly Humboldt-big news for or small community here) its only the 3rd Cal Poly in state now
Never looked back-of course most of that is lost in my brain these days-I have more ideas than time these days
I got lazy a few decades ago and have Laguna clay make my rutile base  by the ton in 50# bags-I make about 14 other working glazes year around.That glaze is one of my most popular glazes with customers -not with me but I'm ok with that.
I have an order in right now with them for more glaze.
I just got the quote -it used to be $45 a 50# bag now its $72 a bag-just like everything these days its costs more.
 
 

Most of my life in clay I have been  a start from scratch camp as far as glazes go. I have also been a re-formulator to some extent as well to others recipes .
I guess if I recall back in high school I used what they had for a less than a  year (low fire) then same deal in 1st quarter at a JC  (high fire) but it was during the next quarter I make my own scale (balance beam) and started making my own from that point on within a year I had a glaze calc class at Humboldt State (just changed their name last week To: Cal Poly Humboldt-big news for or small community here) its only the 3rd Cal Poly in state now
Never looked back-of course most of that is lost in my brain these days-I have more ideas than time these days
I got lazy a few decades ago and have Laguna clay make my rutile base  by the ton in 50# bags-I make about 14 other working glazes year around.That glaze is one of my most popular glazes with customers -not with me but I'm ok with that.
I have an order in right now with them for more glaze.
I just got the quote -it used to be $45 a 50# bag now its $72 a bag-just like everything these days its costs more.
 
 

Yes especially if they have a reputation behind them and thats over the decades
Not all companies make all things best
For example Brent makes great wheels that last a long time(they started with wheels only and where one of the 1st to make quaility wheels with all speeds) -they are not alone as there are others now doing the same now making great wheels
Brent slab rollers work but the cable system and boards for thickness are not as easy to use and require adusting alot compared to say a Bailey slab roller
Bailey makes great long lasting slab rollers that are easy to make any slab thickness (If I recall slab rollers where one of his 1st items)
Take North Star for example they knocked off many products and made slab rollers with plastic gears in the start which failed, now they are using metal gears-this example is a company changing for the better over time-if you had an early model you suffered
Soldner made great foot pedals and  pretty good wheels and was one of the 1st in with a clay mixer that worked ok  (back then schools used dough mixers)
Walker mixers came on the scene at around the same time. Soldners mixers worked great but are brutal on you body as you have to bend over to load it and scrape it out.
I have run a few tons thru one back in my prime and it killed me then
Peter Pugger was the 1st all around mixer and pug machine all in one (they where the 1st)  and makes a Soldner mixer look  like a stone Age tool
Petter Puggers added vacuums to the machines and they are a dream to use now 
So yes Brands make a differeance but no one brand does it all the best
So you want to spend $200 on a wheel and those toy ones on Amazon from China look good  and they are cheap ,well you will find out the hard way that Brand names make a difference 
 

Yes especially if they have a reputation behind them and thats over the decades
Not all companies make all things best
For example Brent makes great wheels that last a long time(they started with wheels only and where one of the 1st to make quaility wheels with all speeds) -they are not alone as there are others now doing the same now making great wheels
Brent slab rollers work but the cable system and boards for thickness are not as easy to use and require adusting alot compared to say a Bailey slab roller
Bailey makes great long lasting slab rollers that are easy to make any slab thickness (If I recall slab rollers where one of his 1st items)
Take North Star for example they knocked off many products and made slab rollers with plastic gears in the start which failed, now they are using metal gears-this example is a company changing for the better over time-if you had an early model you suffered
Soldner made great foot pedals and  pretty good wheels and was one of the 1st in with a clay mixer that worked ok  (back then schools used dough mixers)
Walker mixers came on the scene at around the same time. Soldners mixers worked great but are brutal on you body as you have to bend over to load it and scrape it out.
I have run a few tons thru one back in my prime and it killed me then
Peter Pugger was the 1st all around mixer and pug machine all in one (they where the 1st)  and makes a Soldner mixer look  like a stone Age tool
Petter Puggers added vacuums to the machines and they are a dream to use now 
So yes Brands make a differeance but no one brand does it all the best
So you want to spend $200 on a wheel and those toy ones on Amazon from China look good  and they are cheap ,well you will find out the hard way that Brand names make a difference 
 

Most all my handbuilt is slabs in plaster forms with add on press molded shell handles or onto oval plastic platter forms ,
or fish  forms which are my drawings on paper transfered  to slab then cut out of slabs and draped over mushed up newsprint (not printed really)
for salt kiln dogs its thrown forms altered and built onto with handbuilt arms or legs
all this is less than 10% of my output which is all wheel thrown work

Lumber is from a local yard store 4 miles away (the mill yard)-hardware  store is 6 miles away. No lowes or Home Depots in this county.
I order most stainless fasteners from Mcmaster Carr on the net as its not China junk like our Ace store carries
We have a ceramic supply store which is open about 3 hours -5 days a week but I rarely need anything for I have more than a enough backstock of clay and materials
I do share truck shipping with our local ceramic store from Laguna Caly as its 12-14 hours from here and we get a better rate the more we can fill on a 40 foot flatbed truck. Trucking is getting harder into this podunk area as the years go by.I have my stuff fork lifted off at my friends Lumber yard 4 miles away (its specialty lumber store-one of the few on the west coast-Almquist Lumber that specializes in hardwoods and exotic woods)
We do have a Harbor freight store about 5 miles away but rarely use it. I tend to only buy that stuff for underwater work-they tools are the right quaility for salt water use as they rust up or get lost ands it no big deal-great for salvage/shipwreck work under the sea
I buy plenty over the web especially if it saves my time just not much ceramic stuff. I do get my honey sticks and salt cellar spoons from Amazon now as they are cheaper than ceramic supply places

For me its not a shortage issue -its more a wrist hands issue . I need them to last my whole life without to much pain. Clay work has taken its toll and I need to do less  clay so that I can continue without giving up the ghost.
With three bones missing in right wrist (a prc) and one bone gone in left thumb clay has had some serious effects on my after 50 years. I really do not want a wrist fusion which is what is next-so I need to gauge clay /pain with giving up the ghost
My long term plan which is getting more short term every day less clay work-less outlets less sales -

For me its not a shortage issue -its more a wrist hands issue . I need them to last my whole life without to much pain. Clay work has taken its toll and I need to do less  clay so that I can continue without giving up the ghost.
With three bones missing in right wrist (a prc) and one bone gone in left thumb clay has had some serious effects on my after 50 years. I really do not want a wrist fusion which is what is next-so I need to gauge clay /pain with giving up the ghost
My long term plan which is getting more short term every day less clay work-less outlets less sales -

For me its not a shortage issue -its more a wrist hands issue . I need them to last my whole life without to much pain. Clay work has taken its toll and I need to do less  clay so that I can continue without giving up the ghost.
With three bones missing in right wrist (a prc) and one bone gone in left thumb clay has had some serious effects on my after 50 years. I really do not want a wrist fusion which is what is next-so I need to gauge clay /pain with giving up the ghost
My long term plan which is getting more short term every day less clay work-less outlets less sales -

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

For me its not my favorite  glaze but my customers favorites and thats cobalt Oxide-its used  in 420 grams per batch in my simple black glaze which is used mostly as an underglaze with rutile base glaze over it. Its been published in CM a few times in my articles like the one in last October issue (2021) on Tumble stacking
I am more of an iron glaze liker but could not make a living with that color palette
I use alot of the higher purity iron these days .

Just glazed two kiln loads  (35 cubic car kiln and 12 cubic updraft kiln) and loaded them for a 5 am start.Been glazing for a day and a half. Just like last week and the 6 before.
Been at this for 6-7 weeks straight now in a row. Just received my largest  natural gas bill I have ever had in a 30 day period in 49 years. That means I'm working  way to much
I brush (skunk and deer hair brushes) and dip the glazes and use a ear syringe as well. Dipping is faster and with this many wares its all that makes sense.
I am using aboiut 15 different glazes now-firing to a soft cone 11 gas reduction.
Only  28 days left until clay vacation  starts-that means stay out of studio and do paperwork and trim fruit trees

Just glazed two kiln loads  (35 cubic car kiln and 12 cubic updraft kiln) and loaded them for a 5 am start.Been glazing for a day and a half. Just like last week and the 6 before.
Been at this for 6-7 weeks straight now in a row. Just received my largest  natural gas bill I have ever had in a 30 day period in 49 years. That means I'm working  way to much
I brush (skunk and deer hair brushes) and dip the glazes and use a ear syringe as well. Dipping is faster and with this many wares its all that makes sense.
I am using aboiut 15 different glazes now-firing to a soft cone 11 gas reduction.
Only  28 days left until clay vacation  starts-that means stay out of studio and do paperwork and trim fruit trees

Just glazed two kiln loads  (35 cubic car kiln and 12 cubic updraft kiln) and loaded them for a 5 am start.Been glazing for a day and a half. Just like last week and the 6 before.
Been at this for 6-7 weeks straight now in a row. Just received my largest  natural gas bill I have ever had in a 30 day period in 49 years. That means I'm working  way to much
I brush (skunk and deer hair brushes) and dip the glazes and use a ear syringe as well. Dipping is faster and with this many wares its all that makes sense.
I am using aboiut 15 different glazes now-firing to a soft cone 11 gas reduction.
Only  28 days left until clay vacation  starts-that means stay out of studio and do paperwork and trim fruit trees

For me coaching was from the start as a kid. My older brothers where track stars-one was 11 years older the other 5 years older. The oldest went on to be Stanfords best high hurdler (on a scholarship) and went on to be an olympic athlete . The other was also on the record books so by the time I was in Junior high the coaches all knew what I was capable of. I grew up with a pole valult and high jump pit in backyard. I was the Junior highs best jumper. Turns out my older brother pulled his achilles tendon the meet befor the plane left for Toyko Olympics in 64 and dashed him from the team. He then quit his doctors training path and became an art professor later for 25 years in the california UC stystem at UCSB Santa Barbara in print making.  He died of melanoma cancer in 92. My other brother also excelled at art but took his life at 23.That  brother made it almost thru High school before his art interests overran the coaches interests . For me in Junior high seeing both brothers records still on the board the coaches (all track and fild and some gymnastics) had big plans and worked me to death. In late 9th grade I had enough as I wanted to just high jump and they wanted me to run track as well. I have medals from those days still in the long runs 400 and 800 meters and and relays but the high jump records are what I really liked (the western roll at that time). At some point in an endless running around the track one day  in May in 9th grade I had had enough . I told the coach I was done running for him and he should do the 20 laps that day. I turned my interests to art like all my brothers before me. The rest is history except I really cut my own path thru school and beyond. 
For me coaches are all in my past. What I learned form coaches is I was not meant to be in the herd with the rest I excelled on my own paths-What they learned is I was a independent thinker and most coaches where NOT

For me coaching was from the start as a kid. My older brothers where track stars-one was 11 years older the other 5 years older. The oldest went on to be Stanfords best high hurdler (on a scholarship) and went on to be an olympic athlete . The other was also on the record books so by the time I was in Junior high the coaches all knew what I was capable of. I grew up with a pole valult and high jump pit in backyard. I was the Junior highs best jumper. Turns out my older brother pulled his achilles tendon the meet befor the plane left for Toyko Olympics in 64 and dashed him from the team. He then quit his doctors training path and became an art professor later for 25 years in the california UC stystem at UCSB Santa Barbara in print making.  He died of melanoma cancer in 92. My other brother also excelled at art but took his life at 23.That  brother made it almost thru High school before his art interests overran the coaches interests . For me in Junior high seeing both brothers records still on the board the coaches (all track and fild and some gymnastics) had big plans and worked me to death. In late 9th grade I had enough as I wanted to just high jump and they wanted me to run track as well. I have medals from those days still in the long runs 400 and 800 meters and and relays but the high jump records are what I really liked (the western roll at that time). At some point in an endless running around the track one day  in May in 9th grade I had had enough . I told the coach I was done running for him and he should do the 20 laps that day. I turned my interests to art like all my brothers before me. The rest is history except I really cut my own path thru school and beyond. 
For me coaches are all in my past. What I learned form coaches is I was not meant to be in the herd with the rest I excelled on my own paths-What they learned is I was a independent thinker and most coaches where NOT

For me coaching was from the start as a kid. My older brothers where track stars-one was 11 years older the other 5 years older. The oldest went on to be Stanfords best high hurdler (on a scholarship) and went on to be an olympic athlete . The other was also on the record books so by the time I was in Junior high the coaches all knew what I was capable of. I grew up with a pole valult and high jump pit in backyard. I was the Junior highs best jumper. Turns out my older brother pulled his achilles tendon the meet befor the plane left for Toyko Olympics in 64 and dashed him from the team. He then quit his doctors training path and became an art professor later for 25 years in the california UC stystem at UCSB Santa Barbara in print making.  He died of melanoma cancer in 92. My other brother also excelled at art but took his life at 23.That  brother made it almost thru High school before his art interests overran the coaches interests . For me in Junior high seeing both brothers records still on the board the coaches (all track and fild and some gymnastics) had big plans and worked me to death. In late 9th grade I had enough as I wanted to just high jump and they wanted me to run track as well. I have medals from those days still in the long runs 400 and 800 meters and and relays but the high jump records are what I really liked (the western roll at that time). At some point in an endless running around the track one day  in May in 9th grade I had had enough . I told the coach I was done running for him and he should do the 20 laps that day. I turned my interests to art like all my brothers before me. The rest is history except I really cut my own path thru school and beyond. 
For me coaches are all in my past. What I learned form coaches is I was not meant to be in the herd with the rest I excelled on my own paths-What they learned is I was a independent thinker and most coaches where NOT

For me coaching was from the start as a kid. My older brothers where track stars-one was 11 years older the other 5 years older. The oldest went on to be Stanfords best high hurdler (on a scholarship) and went on to be an olympic athlete . The other was also on the record books so by the time I was in Junior high the coaches all knew what I was capable of. I grew up with a pole valult and high jump pit in backyard. I was the Junior highs best jumper. Turns out my older brother pulled his achilles tendon the meet befor the plane left for Toyko Olympics in 64 and dashed him from the team. He then quit his doctors training path and became an art professor later for 25 years in the california UC stystem at UCSB Santa Barbara in print making.  He died of melanoma cancer in 92. My other brother also excelled at art but took his life at 23.That  brother made it almost thru High school before his art interests overran the coaches interests . For me in Junior high seeing both brothers records still on the board the coaches (all track and fild and some gymnastics) had big plans and worked me to death. In late 9th grade I had enough as I wanted to just high jump and they wanted me to run track as well. I have medals from those days still in the long runs 400 and 800 meters and and relays but the high jump records are what I really liked (the western roll at that time). At some point in an endless running around the track one day  in May in 9th grade I had had enough . I told the coach I was done running for him and he should do the 20 laps that day. I turned my interests to art like all my brothers before me. The rest is history except I really cut my own path thru school and beyond. 
For me coaches are all in my past. What I learned form coaches is I was not meant to be in the herd with the rest I excelled on my own paths-What they learned is I was a independent thinker and most coaches where NOT

For me coaching was from the start as a kid. My older brothers where track stars-one was 11 years older the other 5 years older. The oldest went on to be Stanfords best high hurdler (on a scholarship) and went on to be an olympic athlete . The other was also on the record books so by the time I was in Junior high the coaches all knew what I was capable of. I grew up with a pole valult and high jump pit in backyard. I was the Junior highs best jumper. Turns out my older brother pulled his achilles tendon the meet befor the plane left for Toyko Olympics in 64 and dashed him from the team. He then quit his doctors training path and became an art professor later for 25 years in the california UC stystem at UCSB Santa Barbara in print making.  He died of melanoma cancer in 92. My other brother also excelled at art but took his life at 23.That  brother made it almost thru High school before his art interests overran the coaches interests . For me in Junior high seeing both brothers records still on the board the coaches (all track and fild and some gymnastics) had big plans and worked me to death. In late 9th grade I had enough as I wanted to just high jump and they wanted me to run track as well. I have medals from those days still in the long runs 400 and 800 meters and and relays but the high jump records are what I really liked (the western roll at that time). At some point in an endless running around the track one day  in May in 9th grade I had had enough . I told the coach I was done running for him and he should do the 20 laps that day. I turned my interests to art like all my brothers before me. The rest is history except I really cut my own path thru school and beyond. 
For me coaches are all in my past. What I learned form coaches is I was not meant to be in the herd with the rest I excelled on my own paths-What they learned is I was a independent thinker and most coaches where NOT

For me coaching was from the start as a kid. My older brothers where track stars-one was 11 years older the other 5 years older. The oldest went on to be Stanfords best high hurdler (on a scholarship) and went on to be an olympic athlete . The other was also on the record books so by the time I was in Junior high the coaches all knew what I was capable of. I grew up with a pole valult and high jump pit in backyard. I was the Junior highs best jumper. Turns out my older brother pulled his achilles tendon the meet befor the plane left for Toyko Olympics in 64 and dashed him from the team. He then quit his doctors training path and became an art professor later for 25 years in the california UC stystem at UCSB Santa Barbara in print making.  He died of melanoma cancer in 92. My other brother also excelled at art but took his life at 23.That  brother made it almost thru High school before his art interests overran the coaches interests . For me in Junior high seeing both brothers records still on the board the coaches (all track and fild and some gymnastics) had big plans and worked me to death. In late 9th grade I had enough as I wanted to just high jump and they wanted me to run track as well. I have medals from those days still in the long runs 400 and 800 meters and and relays but the high jump records are what I really liked (the western roll at that time). At some point in an endless running around the track one day  in May in 9th grade I had had enough . I told the coach I was done running for him and he should do the 20 laps that day. I turned my interests to art like all my brothers before me. The rest is history except I really cut my own path thru school and beyond. 
For me coaches are all in my past. What I learned form coaches is I was not meant to be in the herd with the rest I excelled on my own paths-What they learned is I was a independent thinker and most coaches where NOT