Pres

GREAT idea Pres - I gotta do that with my boyfriend
Now if only I could figure a way to get my hands on some clay - I'm sure worried about everything though. Some one couple of hours away that works in the same company got COVID 19. There are some real fears about hygiene as long as we make sure to take proper safety precautions and practice social distancing hopefully this'll be gone in jiffy.

Bit of a late breakfast. Mixed a tablespoon of hummus into some canned tomatoes, salt and pepper, a shot of hot sauce and some fresh herbs.  Simmer for about 10 minutes and then poach an egg in it. Serve with toast to dip in the yolk. Cheese toast shown, but any will do. 
These bowls are my go-to. I made them a couple of years ago and tried to make more for the public, but they weren’t as popular as I thought they’d be. 

Also did some cooking for lunch, instead of the constant snacking today. Today has been a good energy day, so I am making hay while the sun shines. 
This is Tom Kha, or coconut lemongrass soup. There is no link to the recipe I use, because I got it off a cooking show years ago, but the link here is similar. I make a green curry paste with a whole bunch of cilantro, the ginger, garlic, onion, hot pepper and lime, but the jarred stuff works just fine. I used enoki mushrooms, because they were super cheap and they’re like extra noodles. I put some fish in, but you can use thinly sliced chicken, or big shrimp (heh) when they’re in season. 
https://www.daringgourmet.com/tom-kha-gai/

With everyone stuck in their homes, people are spending a lot of time in the kitchen. We thought it would be fun to share what we've been cooking, and the pots that are part of the process. Please share the culinary delights you've been creating during lockdown, and the recipe!
I'll go first: I've been making sourdough bread for quite a while, but have only just become confident and competent with it in the last couple of years, thanks to Instagram and Youtube, and the wealth of information that has been shared. I make a loaf almost every week on Sunday or Monday (my days off), that I mostly use for sandwiches and panini, and on Sunday mornings I make French toast with the week old leftovers.
The loaf pictured below I just made yesterday, and it's one of the best I've ever done. I used 550 grams of flour (30% whole wheat and 70% organic white flour), 10g sea salt, 72% hydration, and 100g of 50/50 starter. I only use whole wheat in my starter. I cook my bread in a cast iron Dutch oven, preheated for 45 minutes at 450F before putting the bread in. The first 20 minutes of the bake are with the lid on, then I drop the temp to 430F until it's done, about 25 minutes more.
Most of the sourdough breads you see on Instagram are high hydration (80% or more) and have a really open crumb, which makes for great photos. But it's terrible for sandwiches because the mayo or butter or Italian dressing or whatever you like to put on your sandwich tends to go right through and get all over your hands. At lower hydration I get a tighter crumb that's still light and soft, but closed enough to make a decent sandwich.
The bowl I use to mix my bread dough is a cone 10 reduction porcelain bowl I made about 12 years ago. It has a  water etched swirl pattern and a true celadon glaze- reduced iron, not a green stain. It's slightly flawed, like many of my pots that I've kept for my own use, with a small hole in the wall from an impurity that burned out of the clay. It's a good sized bowl, big enough to be used as a popcorn bowl, and probably bigger than I need for making bread, but it's nice to have the extra space when mixing.
 
 
 

Simple hand building project if anyone is looking for something different to try for a change of pace. My soft slab (olive) boat, it's an easy project, would be good for kids to make too. Turn it into a viking ship or ? I don't have any glazed right now but a couple bisqued ones in the last image.
Supplies needed:
Soft clay
Rolling pin 
1 1/4 - 2 1/2” diameter dowel wrapped in newspaper (or long thin rolling pin, diameter isn’t critical)
Pony roller or piece of plastic
Cornstarch (optional)
Supports if you use soft clay
1 - Template is 19” overall length, 4 1/4” wide. Each side measures 15 1/2”. Soft slab, cut out the pattern. Don’t worry about getting the ends exactly as I have them, you can just use one gentle curve from the point to the opposite side. If you want texture on the outside of the boat do it now.
2 - On the long edges use a pony roller and soften the edge. If you don’t have a pony roller just use a piece of thin plastic, hold it taunt and run your finger along the edge. (2a)
2a- Flip the piece over, if you want texture on the inside do it now. Soften the long edges on this side too.
3 - Cover up the ends and lightly dust the clay with cornstarch. Since my clay is very wet I don’t like to use a pounce, I just load a brush with cornstarch and tap the brush over, but not touching, the clay.
4 - Lift the slab and lay it cornstarch side down over the dowel wrapped in newsprint. 
5 - Press the clay around the dowel then flatten the bottom with a small rolling pin or pony roller. The dowel I use is a bit narrow so I lift one end up while doing this so I don’t crush the long edges of the slab.
6 - Moisten the ends with just a few drops of water if you are using soft clay. If you use firmer clay then use a tiny bit of slip. Bring the long edges together at the ends of the slab and pinch the lower edges together. I keep a slight overlap so I can fold the overlap over and work it in with a rib so the boat doesn’t leak. 
7 - Roll the top pointed ends into spirals, covering the join.  One ends rolls to the left, the other to the right. Transfer the boat to a drying board.
8 - Straighten out the rim, flute the edges if you like. I use bendable hair rollers to support the sides while drying. Clay coils would work too. I’ve found with my clay I need to dry these slowly or they lift up in the centre. You could also put a small weight in the centre to help prevent it lifting. 
Would love to see some other projects here!
(Sorry but I can't get the numbers to show up on the images, read left to right 1-8)


 

Oldlady, suggested and Project image tutorial for the QotW. I convinced her that sort of thing really belonged in the "Studio Operations and Making Work" section. She agreed. I am setting this up for anyone that would like to show others a brief tutorial of how to do some technique or project. If you have already done this here, repost it in this area, couldn't hurt. I believe everyone may be looking for something to occupy their time, and this may help.
 
best,
Pres 

I readily concede that old kilns last a long time if they are kept in top condition.
Of course the flip side of that is that if you invest in a new kiln now and keep it in top condition it may well last you for the rest of your life so unlike something like a new car there is value in that.  Shortly after I started this thread I came to the decision that it was worth it to me to just buy a new one. That was a few years ago and I got a new Skutt 1027 for just under $2500 with vent and tax and I picked it up and drove it 2 thousand miles to Texas. The used ones I found that had electronic controllers (non starter for me) were a grand or so the savings would have been around $1500 and I put the first miles on it. Since a lot of used kilns will need a new set of elements sooner than later and maybe some minor repairs the extra cost was probably really under a grand when alls said and done.  At least that is how I justified it
In addition to starting with a new kiln I also was able to pick out the right kiln for me. Shopping the used market I was pretty much trapped in whatever was available and since I was adamant about having an electronic controller that meant little choice (the cost of external controllers or the retrofits available at the time really made buying new a no brainier).
All of that said if I was broke I would get the best $200 manual kiln I could find and move on.  

I really enjoy goldmark galleries features on artists, here's a link to their 14 short films on potters: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFvUht41DkhImM4CVUwsE7r4WVJqN6V8q
Here's some of my favorite channels as well
Hsinchuen lin: https://www.youtube.com/user/hsinchuen
Simon leach (yes THAT leach): https://www.youtube.com/user/sleachpots
Ingleton pottery: https://www.youtube.com/user/youdanxxx
Matthew Kelly pottery: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC19npAMIfG47wgdrFX--4zw
 
And of course the obligatory shameless self promotion of my channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRyK3g9rImtTJfaI5iGAP4w
I'm in no way the same league as the ones above me, they are all seasoned professional teachers and you'll learn a lot watching them.

Thought I'ld start a thread for people to post links to some of their favourite or recommended online free videos. So many of us stuck at home now I thought it would be a good resource to help pass the time.
I'll start it off with an exhibition of wood fired pots from Britain's Svend Bayer. Just came out today, it will be his last exhibition. It includes a section of Svend Bayer working, firing and talking about his work. Beautiful pots.
 

Oldlady, suggested and Project image tutorial for the QotW. I convinced her that sort of thing really belonged in the "Studio Operations and Making Work" section. She agreed. I am setting this up for anyone that would like to show others a brief tutorial of how to do some technique or project. If you have already done this here, repost it in this area, couldn't hurt. I believe everyone may be looking for something to occupy their time, and this may help.
 
best,
Pres 

Oldlady, suggested and Project image tutorial for the QotW. I convinced her that sort of thing really belonged in the "Studio Operations and Making Work" section. She agreed. I am setting this up for anyone that would like to show others a brief tutorial of how to do some technique or project. If you have already done this here, repost it in this area, couldn't hurt. I believe everyone may be looking for something to occupy their time, and this may help.
 
best,
Pres 

Since I am a hobby business, with the economic  weight on the hobby side of things, this will not affect that. I am a bit of an isolationist anyway and very fussy about picking & choosing  where I go & who I see, so not much change will be happening on the face-to-face social front either-just less than "not much socializing" in the first place. I don't worry about my health--whatever comes down the pike, I have lived way longer than I ever "should" have and have no fear of death-that got eradicated via various survival scenarios. I have concerns about my daughter & her hubby-they are in WA state, and my sister is in VA. Mostly I am concerned about my "X", who is homeless & living in his van  in LA, and has serious heath conditions.  He resists programs/systems and is not speaking to me or our daughter at the moment. It's an exercise in "letting go".  My dad was a Scout troop leader and let me tag along. He taught me how to survive in the woods & I keep a small "prepper" stash in my vehicle for all kinds of weather, and about a months worth of "everything" including free-standing heat sources, in my house.--so I'm good. Stocked up on coffee and stuck a cheesecake int he freezer, so I'm more than good, actually! I wear nitrile gloves if I am out & about and all the fools handling everything and each other give me the stink eye and move away. It's hilarious.

Yes Liam like you, I will be sequestered in the shop for a few weeks! 

My first concern is my health and safety, and the health and safety of my parents (ages 78 and 85) who live in a retirement community, and I can’t visit them right now. (I am technically still allowed to visit, but I’d rather be cautious.) Then there are my siblings, who live is zones where the outbreak is much worse than here, 
Staying home is not that different than my normal lifestyle, since my workplace is in the basement. I got a load of clay maybe two weeks ago, so I plan to keep making pots. 
The Washington Post is behind a soft paywall, you can read up to 5 (I think) articles for free per month. Here’s a great little demonstration of why social distancing is important right now. Stay in one place! Avoid other people!
https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/world/corona-simulator/

Yes Liam like you, I will be sequestered in the shop for a few weeks! 

My biggest concern is the health of my family. None of us is in a high risk category, but that's no guarantee. I also really worry about how one person in our house getting sick could theoretically snowball into someone dealing with 8 weeks of isolation if it takes 2 weeks for each person to show symptoms. It would not be fun for me, but my business expenses are pretty low and I don't have any employees to worry about. I could get through being closed for 2 months if I had to. For my wife's veterinary clinic it would be a different story. She's got two full time employees, and much higher costs to cover. Plus her clinic is only 8 months old, so she's still building clientele. Losing 8 weeks of business would be expensive and slow down growth. So at this point we're being as as safe as we can. We're stocked up on food, and the kids are home, my studio is empty, my wife is taking extra precautions to minimize contact at the clinic, and we've got our fingers crossed. So far there are only a couple of cases in our county, but there's also a sever lack of testing being done nationwide, so I'm sure the numbers are a lot worse than what's being reported.

Yesterday I took a look at an L&L built in 1973. It needs elements and a wiring upgrade (still has the old waxed cloth wires), but it'll be good to go after that. The customer also had another L&L from 1964 that was still functional. Age means nothing, condition means everything.

Somehow I missed this QotW when it was posted, and today, "Christmas" caught my eye.  I don't make clay gifts for friends/relatives anymore-I used to. Now I just invite them to choose something from my stock if they want. What I do for the December holiday season/occasions is I make bulk quantities of smalls, like tea light holders and small catchalls and give them to a few organizations that I like, for them to give to their staff and customers.  Now I've been asked to make a hundred tea light holders (paid) for a company for next year's holidays-no strings attached re size/body/glaze/design--I get to just do my thing! 

It's not that impressive. I just have a few online sources I get most things from. There's really only about half a dozen things that the vast majority of my kiln repairs need.

We give pottery to friends in Arizona when we winter there as well as donate for prizes to the Canada high school rodeo finals and some other horse related events.
 

Just to let you folks know, I have received and email from NCECA confirming cancellation of the conference this year in Richmond, VA. Those who have registered will get an email on 4 options dealing with their registration fee.
 
 
best,
Pres

Hi folks, another question from Pres, as there seems to be nothing new in the question pool. 
When you repair( equipment, like a wheel, kiln or other equipment) do you use the manufacturers parts or do you use out of house parts(from another parts supplier)?  I have gone both routes when repairing equipment over the years. In the long run, ordering things like elements from a second hand house ended up to be more of a hassle than the savings was worth, and at the same time it seemed I was burning elements faster. As far as belts, one of the wheels I had would use a V-belt from an auto parts store. I also found rubber drive pucks for my motorized kick wheel at an industrial parts store. In the long run though, I have found that the support with the manufacturer and quality of parts was best bang for the buck in house. What have you experiences been?
So once again question of the week:  When you repair do you use the manufacturer parts or out of house part?

I like to tinker so I always try to reverse engineer anything I use.  Doesn't always turn out well, but I feel like I understand what I'm doing a lot better once I've tinkered with it.  In my head, everything can be fixed and companies do not invent things.  That means anything can be fixed if it's not some kind of structural deficit.
When I tell people that, so many people say yeah you can fix anything yourself but it's not worth the time.  Well I guess that depends on your definition of worth?  If knowledge is worthless then I agree!  In that case ignorance is bliss.  But if you find value in knowledge then any experience repairing or maintaining your equipment is priceless.
So this is sort of in the same vein as last week... If I can see a path, I will take it!

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.
 

It depends on the piece of equipment and the part. Many manufacturers of pottery equipment; wheels kilns, slab rollers, etc,  use stock parts that are also used in the manufacture of other items, industrial equipment and more.  I agree when it comes to elements. My experience with third party elements over the years has been inconsistent and years ago I decided to only use elements manufactured by the kiln maker. However, fuses, drive belts, bearings, motors, status lights, switches,  insulated wire, switches, electrical connectors, and other parts are often available from other sources.. The key to success is to be sure that the replacement part is either an identical part or a direct replacement. If you aren't confident in your own knowledge, or experience, or that of the source of the replacement part, your only option is  the manufacturer of the equipment that you're repairing.