Pres

Firing by the seat of your pants is tough. Even with a cone pack at cone 6 if something happened to the pack I could estimate the heat color/temperature. However the further the kiln got above 5 to 6 the colors are so bright beyond yellow white that you can't really gauge by color. Tough without cones! Good luck with the firing, I would expect a few slumps if nothing else. best, Pres

Before drilling, I would cover the hole the shaft comes up through with a something to gather the drill shavings as you would not want that material to work its way into the bearings. Others have mentioned the support ribs on the underside of the wheel head, be certain to position your two hole well away from these and yet centered on the wheel head. . . nothing worse at times than an off centered bat. I made some of my own bats years ago and got one with the pin holes off center. . . what a mess! best, Pres

@oldlady asked a question of me lately for the QotW: what item that you use in your studio came to you free, almost free or as a gift? I found this interesting, and after a lot of thought about my own situation, I would have to say that I don't have much given to me that I use in my shop pottery wise. However, I do have some pieces of aircraft grade plexiglass that I use to make extruder dies for my power caulk gun conversion extruder. The material works very well, reminds me of my Dad when I use it. He is still alive at 96 and retired from his second occupation as an aircraft inspector for Schweitzer Aircraft. I also worked there for a few summers as a parts fabricator. The factory built the AgCat crop duster, gliders, and parts for helicopters during the Viet Nam war and later Bell helicopters. So often gifts will remind us of the giver QotW: what item that you use in your studio came to you free, almost free or as a gift? best, Pres

Both of the above solutions would work. In @Magnolia Mud Research's suggestion would work well if you thought of the area below the pool side patio as structural and left a grid of thicker clay with carved in stripes or squares leaving girders to support the patio area. @Bill Kielbidea could be done with a slump mold, or by using a piece of Styrofoam board to carve out the center as a form to shape your slab on. When leather hard flip the piece and add extruded coils to support the patio area. My best thoughts, Pres

I agree with all of the above, but after working with student pots for years, I noticed that poorly created joins have a tendency to separate where there is trapped air. Often these joins would not have separated if not having trapped air. best, Pres

Ohh Babs, like playing with bananas on a large platter, or peach skin mixed into glazes, or flower stems and flowers inside of bowls. Only in reduction, but it was fun. best, Pres

@Syncrasis, try to make your bottom undercut a little more, leaving a deeper ledge down there to catch the drip. best, Pres

@Babs, In the day, I had enough energy, today it would be a chore. I often had students help with moving/reclaiming and storing the clay. We would start the year with a fireman's line passing boxes from person to person til we had it all stacked in the room. I was the first to pass, as I lifted off of the pallet and passed it to the first student. Doorway was too narrow for pallet, and we had no carts, besides this was faster and took up a little class time with exercise. Doubt if I could move a ton with them that way now days. best, Pres

Hi folks, no new posts in the pool, so up to me! There have been instances of late where folks have discussed dissatisfaction with suppliers products, whether glazes or clay bodies, or other things. Much of this is out of hands of the manufacturers of clay materials as they are dependent on the mines. However, when a major change is made in a material, one would think that a manufacturer of clay for instance would have to take the time to reformulate the clay body. Sometimes the manufacturers have other problems with machinery breakdowns and such. I was thinking about this and wondered. . . QotW: How well do you represent yourself and how much do you tolerate when dealing with your suppliers? My personal approach over the years has been more preemptive, as I try to make it a point when ordering on the phone to ask names of those dealing with me and have a conversation during the order process. I also try to get into the store as often as I can to introduce myself, and talk to folks. Make it personal. I also make it a point to discuss much of what I am doing, and ask if there is a clay body that I should try or tools, glazes materials or anything else that I should know about. Over the years, I have not had to complain much about anything. I do remember years ago I had a shelf crack on the first firing, and sent them pictures and asked for a replacement that I had by the end of the week. . . this was before covid. So once again: QotW: How well do you represent yourself and how much do you tolerate when dealing with your suppliers? best, Pres

When working with short clay at the HS, which happened a few times, I would resort to older clay. I used to keep barrels of slop or pugged clay over the Summer. When the new clay came in one of the first things on my list was to throw with it. Long before the students would be using it, actually before they started school. If the clay was short, I would divide out the first 1000# and start pugging. . . half and half, half from the barrels, and half from the new boxes. The clay would be ready to use by the time I had finished my intros, and they had completed a series of wedging and pinch pot exercises. The rest of the clay would be fine by the second semester of school. best, Pres

We toured all over the island, and saw much of what was left from the attack. . .bullet holes still in administration building, Pearl Harbor naturally, the army base in the valley that the Japanese missed, and the cross that marked the first aircraft over the island. I would be at Punchbowl every Memorial Day putting leis on graves of the fallen as I was a Boy Scout at the time. We left after my 6th grade. best, Pres

As this is a printing problem where the oil is going to degrade your printing plate maybe you should consider using underglazes that are water based, and then spraying a transparent glaze over you printed work. If you are using pieces you have done with a base glaze, firing a second glaze coat over top should not be to much of a problem, but will require testing as the firing will always effect the process. There is not easy answer to your question, but the mono-printing process should work and give you interesting results. Your determination to find a not so easy answer should be worth the effort. best, Pres

Fabulous history there Mark, I only got so close to surf boards, living at Hikam field in the late 50's early 60's. Closest I got to surfing was body surfing at Bellows beach, HA. Often thought I would have liked to surf. Pandora we play through the Alexa, and the new one is pretty good in the sound department. Wife has it on all the time for her "noise". best, Pres

I had thought that Cone 6 was chosen as it was just over the Earthenware barrier, and for the kilns to heat efficiently that it was the best solution. However, I have seen much in the way of firing and glaze running all the way from earthenware temps to cone 10 electric with lots of recipes working at cone 8. I think the science is there for all sorts of temps, but energy costs do play a part in the puzzle. IMHO, I'll stay with *6. best, Pres

Maybe it was done like this

Look very closely at angles and where a line meets another. best, Pres

Interesting puzzle! The decoration looks like it was applied coils or extrusions. Looking closely you can see gaps between areas in joins looking much like enamel cloisonné. Is it ceramic? I really don't, know, but it has a rubbed off surface on some of the strips that looks like plaster or ceramic. best, Pres

I told you about this at the workshop. I had 4-6 inches of ice in the entire shop this Winter. My garage/shop is brick with a concrete floor. I usually do not work in the Winter because it is so hard to heat unless heating 24 hrs at a low level. Even that eats up electric. At any rate the underground rive that sits directly below my shop got backed up some way and came up through a drain in my floor, Wheel, clay, glazes, and anything on the floor including electrical extensions cords and tool boxes were all frozen into the mess. I had to replace extensions, replace the potentiometer in the wheel foot pedal, and basically wait until everything thawed out in the Spring. Then the two trips happened, the workshop, and some honeydo projectsthat involved stripping out molding and old flooring and replacing it, dragging all my tools out from the shop to do it. Finally done with much of it. best, Pres

@Mark C.good choice in Rock, but I do like some country, mostly ballads. . . Ghost Riders, Battle for New Orleans, some of that heel kicking stuff. However, rock is my biggest call, loved the golden oldies stuff, and the rock instrumental guitar as in the Ventures, all the way out to Hendrix and back. best, Pres

No, no throwing, I have been redoing a Den floor, and have started a heavy clean up in the shop after the ice mess this week. Things are a real mess right now. I was glad to hear that your shingles is over. I have had the first shot, but will be getting the new one. best, Pres

@Denice I understand being in the zone! For years it was detrimental to my health as I would go to the shop at 6, and think I was going in at 10. . . . when it was really 2am. Even setting an alarm didn't work as I would turn it off and have to finish what I started, and then find something new! @HulkSounds like a round of news snaps and social issues and I enjoy much of those also along with the Natl. Geographic, and history channels. Much ado about the next vacation trip or weekend getaway. best, Pres

Last few days, little finger on RT hand has been aching in the end knuckle, can't tell if broke or if Arthur is visiting. Today it has developed a red spot on the outside of the knuckle. Time will tell. Can still use it carefully, but really painful to touch. best, Pres

Interesting Selection @Chilly I read a lot of the same! Mostly on a tablet, Ever read L.E. Modesitt? Social Science fiction/fantasy. @Mark C.any particular genres, are there some with more play times, 60's, 70.s, Surf Rock, Country??? @oldladygenres? Mystery, scifi, fantasy, thriller? My tastes in music and books runs all over the place, one minute it is Hard Rock and the nest it may be Classical Guitar, books may run from Sci-Fi to Thrillers and anywhere in between with a lot of the Classics thrown in. best, Pres

Hi folks, no new questions in the pool so once again I'll post one. Periodically we seem to ask the same question about how you keep your company. Some folks have a pet they talk to, others listen to music, and some watch a little TV or have some other background noise. I have been watching old movies mostly, as I don't have to watch them as I know them, but if interested in a particular scene I do watch for a few minutes. What is your preference? QotW: What is your latest background "noise" in the studio?

@Rockhopper, In cold Winter months I let the slurry freeze outside in the shop, Then place it in a pillow case hanging near the heat. Freezing brings much of the water to the surface, and when thawing the water drips out quickly. Then take the pillow case away from the heat to finish thawing. I don't have but, so I cut/slam and cone wedge. best, Pres