Mark C.

Made my last pottery drop offs today to food markets-I have 5 outlets that carry food 3 of them are large natural food markets even had my wife sell a bunch of pots to a studio customer who had a date set up long ago to pick up a butterdish but went big with two glaze kilns open .This will be the last customer I service out of the studio for a long time.
Our county is on lock down at midnight for non essential business like pottery.
I have only been out a few times since Sunday and will hang tight now. The sales will slow to crawl and thats fine. Life is slowing down and I'm looking forward to the slower pace. maybe I can learn to relax.Spring is here now with warm temps and the daffodils are in bloom-the lawn needs mowing soon as well.

We pay for the post and read it daily-been pretty happy with it. Always solid reporting
Working at home is what I do so staying at home is no big deal-We have chest freezer of frozen fish and cased of canned tuna (by product of my fishing  hobby) so food is of a less of an issue-Also have a power back up if that goes out.
I'm in the age risk factor(over 65) but am in very good health-except my planter fasciitis on heel
I'm in a shelter at home mode-my wife who is younger is going out just  little like food shopping in early am when store is empty.
Since we are in a simi rural are staying isolated is easy. Becuase of lack of testing (feds dropped the ball badly) we have no known cases so far in this county(had one but was cleared) but thats means nothing as testing is so low here now.
I am like GEP in terms of trying to avoid people -The mail comes out on the street daily and so does UPS but I have no contact with them.Its best to be isolated now and I will do just that.
I have a few  potterty drop offs in the next month and My wife says she can do that but I may let it go depending on whats going on in our already isolated county -we always say its behind the Redwood curtain and we mean it.Pottery sales will slow way down and I;m fine with that.
 

Looks like the chamber is all lined with fiber.Then the shelves cover the fiber?
 I would suggest a taller chimmney to induce more draft.
Do you have a damper in chimney to control draft flow? I did not see one in photos?

Sometimes OEM parts are the way to go -that said If I can make it better/stronger/work longer with other better parts I'm all in with that.
So really its a mix.
 

Sometimes OEM parts are the way to go -that said If I can make it better/stronger/work longer with other better parts I'm all in with that.
So really its a mix.
 

I used to make clay when I was young and dumb-it takes a lot out of you as clay is cheap really. The only reason to make clay yourself is for special clay bodes not made commercially .
I learned about 30 years ago that making clay is not worth it. I have always made my own everything -heck I stated out with home made balance beam made from wood to weigh materials-bought my 1st sieve at a restaurant supply. Those where the old days 1971. I make all my own glazes-I do have a ton of my own glaze made for me every 5 years by Laguna ( rutile blue) with my formula and materials list.
I have lots of space so storing is not an issue.I'm still using Kingman feldspar from a 3000# buy in 1980-down to 400#s left. I'm a glaze material horder . Always have been. Its paid off in spades. My glazes look the same over the decades.I like to know whats in my products I sell so I know that 100% always and that important to me.

I tend to fix everthing myself. A few exceptions-I sent my two oxyprobes away for platinum wire repair.
I wired our whole house and plumbed it and did the forced air system-solar water system-so when things need repair I learn about how they tick and fix them. I also did the roof install twice on the house-last time I put up 50 year singles and am done withg that as well as 25 year paint so thats also done for my lifetime now. I did hire the last of my foundaytion work (65feet) after my wrist surgery so I have to baby my wrist and working with concret is no babing your wrist. That 20k was the best wrist health I could buy. I do not like to work on cars but I can ( I have rebuilt a motor in my youth) but usually farm that out so I can make pots instead. I am replaceing a radiation in my 1989 restored Toyota small 4x4 pickup truck this week. Of course the truck has a brand new motor and transmisssion /clucth so the radiator (OEM) is the last topping .Its my personal local get around rig not connected to either of my businesses  so no write off there. Tax /account day was yesterday for me so I do farm that out as well.
I am installing a  5/8 baltic birch subfloor in our office this week over the fir subfloor to stiffen it as well but hired a pro flooring person to install and finish the wide plank maple. I could do it but I would rather make pots. This was our last carpeted space which now the whole house is hardwood and tile floors.Its also the last remodel on the interior we will do-YA.I'm having a cherry writing/comuter desk made for this new space as well from a talented wood worker -Yes I could do that but would rather make pots.
Having skills as a potter has severed me well.Electrical and plumbing and mechanical and woodworking -hey jack of all trades -its dying art these days with so many just skipping thru life on their phones.

I as a professional I need infrastructure -I'm good at supplying  it as well (meaning I have those skill sets). My studio is insulated and has cold water into a lage flat sink-that sink drains into a two tired settling tubs  outside then runs to a timber Bamboo patch. I shovel the clay out of the tubs after it settles  and dry it and throw it away in the trash can.I heat the studio with natural gas heater and alos can heat water on that stove with all metal pan.
In winter the heat also dries the wares as well as warms our bodies.The drying pots is really important midwinter.
I also have speakers and a sound system and pipe tunes into studio from house  with a volume control in studio and one outside in kiln laoding area (must have tunes to work)-also a central  vacuum system for clay dust control. I also have a few telephones on the wall-one in the main studio and one next to my wheel in throwing room.
With all the time i spend in the studio it has to work well. The floor is wood so leg fatigue is cut downas well.

There has been lots of questions on belts and foot pedal adjustment on Brent/Amaco equipment lately. I have answered most of them.
This page I posted below answers most of them.
I'm hoping this will help those in the future with questions-a moderator could pin it in at the top.
https://www.amaco.com/equipment_how_tos

No I try not to. I will on a hot day when loading the car kiln which is outside drink a cold drink-no alcohol
I occasionally will finish my noon expresso walking into studio before working again
 

I as a professional I need infrastructure -I'm good at supplying  it as well (meaning I have those skill sets). My studio is insulated and has cold water into a lage flat sink-that sink drains into a two tired settling tubs  outside then runs to a timber Bamboo patch. I shovel the clay out of the tubs after it settles  and dry it and throw it away in the trash can.I heat the studio with natural gas heater and alos can heat water on that stove with all metal pan.
In winter the heat also dries the wares as well as warms our bodies.The drying pots is really important midwinter.
I also have speakers and a sound system and pipe tunes into studio from house  with a volume control in studio and one outside in kiln laoding area (must have tunes to work)-also a central  vacuum system for clay dust control. I also have a few telephones on the wall-one in the main studio and one next to my wheel in throwing room.
With all the time i spend in the studio it has to work well. The floor is wood so leg fatigue is cut downas well.

Maybe a piece of tin roofing as a heat shield next to house to defuse the heat

I as a professional I need infrastructure -I'm good at supplying  it as well (meaning I have those skill sets). My studio is insulated and has cold water into a lage flat sink-that sink drains into a two tired settling tubs  outside then runs to a timber Bamboo patch. I shovel the clay out of the tubs after it settles  and dry it and throw it away in the trash can.I heat the studio with natural gas heater and alos can heat water on that stove with all metal pan.
In winter the heat also dries the wares as well as warms our bodies.The drying pots is really important midwinter.
I also have speakers and a sound system and pipe tunes into studio from house  with a volume control in studio and one outside in kiln laoding area (must have tunes to work)-also a central  vacuum system for clay dust control. I also have a few telephones on the wall-one in the main studio and one next to my wheel in throwing room.
With all the time i spend in the studio it has to work well. The floor is wood so leg fatigue is cut downas well.

I as a professional I need infrastructure -I'm good at supplying  it as well (meaning I have those skill sets). My studio is insulated and has cold water into a lage flat sink-that sink drains into a two tired settling tubs  outside then runs to a timber Bamboo patch. I shovel the clay out of the tubs after it settles  and dry it and throw it away in the trash can.I heat the studio with natural gas heater and alos can heat water on that stove with all metal pan.
In winter the heat also dries the wares as well as warms our bodies.The drying pots is really important midwinter.
I also have speakers and a sound system and pipe tunes into studio from house  with a volume control in studio and one outside in kiln laoding area (must have tunes to work)-also a central  vacuum system for clay dust control. I also have a few telephones on the wall-one in the main studio and one next to my wheel in throwing room.
With all the time i spend in the studio it has to work well. The floor is wood so leg fatigue is cut downas well.

I as a professional I need infrastructure -I'm good at supplying  it as well (meaning I have those skill sets). My studio is insulated and has cold water into a lage flat sink-that sink drains into a two tired settling tubs  outside then runs to a timber Bamboo patch. I shovel the clay out of the tubs after it settles  and dry it and throw it away in the trash can.I heat the studio with natural gas heater and alos can heat water on that stove with all metal pan.
In winter the heat also dries the wares as well as warms our bodies.The drying pots is really important midwinter.
I also have speakers and a sound system and pipe tunes into studio from house  with a volume control in studio and one outside in kiln laoding area (must have tunes to work)-also a central  vacuum system for clay dust control. I also have a few telephones on the wall-one in the main studio and one next to my wheel in throwing room.
With all the time i spend in the studio it has to work well. The floor is wood so leg fatigue is cut downas well.

Bench is covered with kiln sections and parts and elements.
I emptied all the control boxes of swtches and wires and  anything inside and wire wheeled them down to bare and am repainting them a new high heat primer and then a high heat copper color-New band jackets (tghe right ones hopefully?) came today as well. Going whole hog on the rebuild.
Of course I'm putting is new heat shields around kiln area outside . I spent a few days moving the whole area around kiln into a new more space saving shelves and storage area .Gives me a larger area for kiln and work flow.Just bought a few sheets of 1/2 inch 3x5 cement board for new heat shields as well.I derusted the kiln stand and high heat painted it as well.

Bench is covered with kiln sections and parts and elements.
I emptied all the control boxes of swtches and wires and  anything inside and wire wheeled them down to bare and am repainting them a new high heat primer and then a high heat copper color-New band jackets (tghe right ones hopefully?) came today as well. Going whole hog on the rebuild.
Of course I'm putting is new heat shields around kiln area outside . I spent a few days moving the whole area around kiln into a new more space saving shelves and storage area .Gives me a larger area for kiln and work flow.Just bought a few sheets of 1/2 inch 3x5 cement board for new heat shields as well.I derusted the kiln stand and high heat painted it as well.

Bench is covered with kiln sections and parts and elements.
I emptied all the control boxes of swtches and wires and  anything inside and wire wheeled them down to bare and am repainting them a new high heat primer and then a high heat copper color-New band jackets (tghe right ones hopefully?) came today as well. Going whole hog on the rebuild.
Of course I'm putting is new heat shields around kiln area outside . I spent a few days moving the whole area around kiln into a new more space saving shelves and storage area .Gives me a larger area for kiln and work flow.Just bought a few sheets of 1/2 inch 3x5 cement board for new heat shields as well.I derusted the kiln stand and high heat painted it as well.

I'm sure I sold a thousand plus items in last 3 weeks at all my outlets and most where xmas gifts so Mayby I can say yes I did get some ceramics out under the tree this season. My guess Is I brought a lot of happyness to many on this the 25th day of Dec. Its always a good feeling  around this time .I feel I'm in a happy business.

I'm sure I sold a thousand plus items in last 3 weeks at all my outlets and most where xmas gifts so Mayby I can say yes I did get some ceramics out under the tree this season. My guess Is I brought a lot of happyness to many on this the 25th day of Dec. Its always a good feeling  around this time .I feel I'm in a happy business.

I'm sure I sold a thousand plus items in last 3 weeks at all my outlets and most where xmas gifts so Mayby I can say yes I did get some ceramics out under the tree this season. My guess Is I brought a lot of happyness to many on this the 25th day of Dec. Its always a good feeling  around this time .I feel I'm in a happy business.

I'm sure I sold a thousand plus items in last 3 weeks at all my outlets and most where xmas gifts so Mayby I can say yes I did get some ceramics out under the tree this season. My guess Is I brought a lot of happyness to many on this the 25th day of Dec. Its always a good feeling  around this time .I feel I'm in a happy business.

Nope not this year. After 47 years they do not need anymore clay items. I did give some ceramic fish to nephew for hous warming gift for his new house last October if that counts?

Nope not this year. After 47 years they do not need anymore clay items. I did give some ceramic fish to nephew for hous warming gift for his new house last October if that counts?

Its a blend of form and function that appeals to the user . Say in a mug the handle feels right and the form feels right as well as the color is good for that user.Everyone has a different value for this but you know when it all lines up for you. The bowl looks like it should weight as much as it does and the way it feels and works makes it just right.The foot looks and feels right and the balance is great between these aspects .