Pres

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

The only parts I have been able to buy here are stainless steel screws.  That's it.  Small town, I have to order most everything.  
 

Clay/pottery/ceramic specific stores within reasonable driving distance, we don't have, however, when passing near one on our travels, I've fenagled time for a stop and shop...
Hence, for pottery specific parts, e.g. Dawson sitter tube assembly, new thermocouple, etc. it's internet and/or telephone, unless repair can be put off until the next trip.
As for generic parts, e.g. threaded fastener, if it's a small number of pieces, I also prefer matching up hands on from the locals' drawers/bins and paying the premium. If the part count is more than a few, and I can wait, then I'll look to match up at the locals' bins, buying one or two, then placing an order, when the saving$ are significant*.
*examples:
We bought hidden/European style hinges for our cabinet refinishing project from D Lawless, where per piece difference was a few bucks - multiply by the required count, two or three hinges per door - total savings buys tires and tubes for over a year of bike riding (I ride "a lot")...
For our steel door restoration project, we bought new low series stainless button head hex screws at a bit over six cents each (vs forty five cents each) from Albany County Fasteners (their minimum was twenty five pieces, if I'm recalling correct - we needed a few hundred).
For local botanical garden bench restoration project, bought carriage bolts from Albany County, saving just under 75% (but for hot dip galvanized, not electroplate).
...

During the holidays, I have been looking for some repair parts for things around the house, and usually find them at our local hardware store 1 block over and 3 blocks down. Just a walk. However, lately I have had a harder time finding just the right part, even when looking at the big box  hardware twenty mile down the road. Makes me wonder. . . .when buying parts for the studio, kilns, wheels, extruders and others, do you try to buy local or do you just jump to the internet? I prefer to have a store, really with almost everything, I am one of those touchy, feely types that are more convinced the item is right by seeing it in person, and often being able to feel it. I haven't bought some things because of a sharp edge, a weak connection or other flaws. Lately though the internet has been the place to go.
QotW: When making repairs for the studio, do you try to buy local or do you just jump to the internet?
 
best,
Pres

Good question!
Everywhere.
FaceBook marketplace; Craigslist; https://www.govdeals.com/; nearby pottery places, including universities and Junior Colleges, suppliers, studios, etc.
Good and fair stuff goes fast - keep looking.

Years ago I watched on interview with Ruth Duckworth  that inspired me to work with clay until the end of my life if I could.  She was in her studio sitting comfortably and smiling at the interviewer as he asked her questions.  In the middle of the questions she excused herself and said her kiln needed a little reduction.   She picks up a few small sticks of wood and throws them in the kiln when she opens the door.   She sits back down, tells the interviewer that the kiln is taken care of  and smiles.  She was so comfortable and happy in her studio.  I wanted to have that in my old age.    Denice

I’m having issues with my wrists and elbows. I will choose to retire before I cause any permanent injury. I think I can be happy doing other things that aren’t as physically demanding. Same thing goes with materials like clay. If these supply issues start to look permanent, I think I’d rather pivot to something else. There’s only so much hassle I’m willing to deal with. I want to spend my older years relaxing!

This is a really great discussion topic!! I am thinking a lot lately about the sustainability of my most important tools- my hands/wrists!
a friend recently shared this series of exercises with me and I’m trying to get myself in the habit of doing these before and after throwing sessions. I’m  at the beginning of my Pottery journey and I’m hoping this will help me be able to throw  for longer and with less troubles down the road ….at least it can’t hurt to try.
sharing here for anyone who may be interested

Hey Pres what can I say, great minds.....

As for a shortage of some material, I require a clay body that vitrifies, electricity for the kiln, and the ability to make some glazes. There are a lot of possibilities with the clay and glazes, so it would have to be a pretty serious shortage of multiple materials for either of those to be a problem.
Another potential issue, and I don't think it's going to happen any time soon, is the pollution from kilns. I think that at some point, probably a decade or more away still, there will be emissions limits placed on kilns, as least in commercial settings like my studio. Meeting those emission standards could be cost prohibitive for many small studios.
I think about these things a lot, as my career is 100% dependent on all things in the studio ceramics world staying fairly constant, and I've been in the ceramics world long enough to see how materials shortages can mess things up. I've always avoided specialty glazes that use and worked with fairly simple materials so that I'm less likely to have to make big changes to my work due to shortages.

A shortage of hands would do me in. I had both thumbs operated on some years ago and the surgeries gave back full use of my hands. The rest of the arthritis is nowhere near enough to make me give up. Electricity to fire the kiln would be another thing. Although I prefer throwing over handbuilding, I could get by without a wheel, but not very easily. My extruder and a flat surface for working with slabs could get me by...

Hi folks, I have been thinking about a few strands here on the forum that concern shortages. Most of the shortages are due to the Covid situation which has made some major changes in the supply chain. Thinking about this made me wonder. . . what would it take for a potter, either a full timer or a hobbyist, to give up on pottery? 
In my own situation, I usually make pots when I feel like it, which is not in the cold, but otherwise whenever I can get the time in the studio. I love to throw, and at times handbuild. Working with the clay is therapeutic and satisfying, just as opening a kiln for me is like Christmas still. I imagine that if things stayed cold all year round, I would probably find a better way to heat the shop, and keep on keeping on. If for some reason I became disabled, I believe I would still deal with things to some degree working with the clay as so many others on the forum have. Shortage of electric, I would probably change clays and go to pit firing, and bring the kick wheel out of the basement to work that way, or buy a treadle wheel.  I know that I am getting older, and that I take longer to throw a bat of mugs, but they are better mugs and more creative than the ones before, so time is not an issue. The only thing I can think of stopping me from making pots is the shortage of clay. . . Heaven forbid! I could probably turn Pioneer Potter, and dig/process the clay on my own, but then by the time I was done, too much time and energy has been exhausted leaving me the same!
QotW: What sort of shortage would make you "give up the ghost" ?  
 
best,
Pres

Health problems are major, so call it a shortage of health/movement. 
I really sympathize with those of you having joint problems. I have dealt with the aftermath of my rt thumb surgery over the years. First my bowling thumb would swell up so much that it would not fit in the thumb hole, needing a larger thumb hole, and then a new system came out with replaceable thumb holes-BIG help!  Then the joint died, and I have limited movement for gripping so handles had to be pulled with left hand, poorly or pulled a little better with the right. Best solution is the caulk gun extruder still working well. I have noticed that my pulling fingers have begun to curve to fit naturally together for better bracing. I use a hand exerciser everyday for grip, and a wrist gyro ball to strengthen the wrist.  All in all the Golden Years turn out to be highly tarnished.
 
best,
Pres
 
 

Likely I'd turn away if there were no power available to turn the electric wheel.
There is clay nearby - many of the California Mission roof tiles were made here - it'd be a whole project; however, I'd give it a try.
If glaze choices became more limited, I'd likely roll with that.
If firing became difficult, I'd like to think I'd still throw, trim, and finish, but recycle a lot more.
I'm enjoying the whole process; however, throwing is what got me into it, and I'm not seeing running a kick or treadle wheel.

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 -

Hi folks, I have been thinking about a few strands here on the forum that concern shortages. Most of the shortages are due to the Covid situation which has made some major changes in the supply chain. Thinking about this made me wonder. . . what would it take for a potter, either a full timer or a hobbyist, to give up on pottery? 
In my own situation, I usually make pots when I feel like it, which is not in the cold, but otherwise whenever I can get the time in the studio. I love to throw, and at times handbuild. Working with the clay is therapeutic and satisfying, just as opening a kiln for me is like Christmas still. I imagine that if things stayed cold all year round, I would probably find a better way to heat the shop, and keep on keeping on. If for some reason I became disabled, I believe I would still deal with things to some degree working with the clay as so many others on the forum have. Shortage of electric, I would probably change clays and go to pit firing, and bring the kick wheel out of the basement to work that way, or buy a treadle wheel.  I know that I am getting older, and that I take longer to throw a bat of mugs, but they are better mugs and more creative than the ones before, so time is not an issue. The only thing I can think of stopping me from making pots is the shortage of clay. . . Heaven forbid! I could probably turn Pioneer Potter, and dig/process the clay on my own, but then by the time I was done, too much time and energy has been exhausted leaving me the same!
QotW: What sort of shortage would make you "give up the ghost" ?  
 
best,
Pres

Pipe insulation around the edge of my splash pan is where I keep my needle tools, saves a lot of pain and blood loss

Getting more varied answers than I had figured, as my question was about coloring oxides, but what the heck, I'm tolerant, and and answer is an answer! I'm way past test grading days!
 
best,
Pres

No new questions in the pool, folks! 
QotW: All things considered, What coloring oxide would you not be able to work without?
My favorite oxide over the years has been the most simple. . . iron oxide. I like so many other oxides and their uses, but nearly everything I do has some bit of iron in it. It softens so many other oxides, and works well in washes over and under glazes, and I find it versatile in so many ways that I can not imagine being without it.
best,
Pres

Still stand by my previous above, and it is good to have one to educate others about chemistry. Did I ever mention here that I used to be a Chemistry major in the early college years, working as a lab assistant for all of the compounds needed for experiments the prof assigned. Left me with a healthy respect for chemicals, and an extreme dislike for equations!
 
best,
Pres

Red iron oxide. It's in about half of my studio glazes. Sometimes it's the main colorant, in others it's used to tone down the brightness of other colorants. No other oxide can make as many colors RIO, it just depends on glaze formula, temperature, and firing method.

Safe travels, @oldlady!
 
best,
Pres

https://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-cobalt-oxide-and-cobalt-carbonate/
Read carefully @oldlady!  Test papers will be sent round later - lol. 

This question is kind of like asking who's your favourite child. Somedays one can be a "problem" child but on other days they can shine. For a glaze colourant /visual  texturizer I can't do without I'ld have to choose rutile, but then again not all rutile behaves as well as others so it too can be a problem child. As far as consistency goes cobalt has always done what it's supposed to do. 

Still stand by my previous above, and it is good to have one to educate others about chemistry. Did I ever mention here that I used to be a Chemistry major in the early college years, working as a lab assistant for all of the compounds needed for experiments the prof assigned. Left me with a healthy respect for chemicals, and an extreme dislike for equations!
 
best,
Pres