Pres

Sweep and .......
You ever hear the Bill Burr when he uses that voice and says, "oh, it's pesto"...
That's the voice I hear taking about wood ash, "it's caustic, it's caustic".
I don't even like that word!
Sorce
 

Loading pots to close so they cannot (breath). In my reduction fires I pack them as tight as one can-always have. Yes in my salt kiln pots need to breath so salt gets on them but in reduction its a myth for me.
I can occasionally throw handle and fire pots same day. Its all about timing and knowing the limits of your materials and work.
Washing pots that where bisques -This I do with less than .001% of my studio production. Again only if they have months of dust on them which for me never happens. Pots are like mild around here they get processed and out the door. no need for washing .
I did wash a mug the other day as I am one handed for spell I dropped on in the glaze bucket and it need washing off and drying them reglazed and fired-that the .001% this year
I do not consider these habits but workflow

Hi @cstovin! I work for Giffin Grip. We're sorry you're having these issues. It sounds like something that can be remedied though. A couple of thoughts I have right off the bat (pun intended!):
1) The Wheel Whisper has posed a problem since it entered the market. The original GG was not designed for wheels that stopped so quickly. When you stop the Wheel Whisper, it stops immediately. This can slightly backtrack/loosen the GG hands, which tighten on centrifugal force. We're working on a fix for this, but for now we recommend that potters simply let off the pedal slightly slower. This will be a better habit for throwing, too, as the Wheel Whisper can actually throw pots out of round when they're west because of this.
2) The rods/hands could be assembled incorrectly. The new rubber hands have an extra "step" to secure them on the rod: when you put them together, were you able to feel a second "pop" when seating the rubber hands? Double check all of them, because if even one of them isn't seated all the way down, it'll throw off the centering. Frustrating, but a simple fix!
3) The bottom brackets could be loose or damaged. If this is the case, we will absolutely replace them! Check that the black bottom brackets are snug but not too tight — if you've had to bang your GG down on the wheel head to get it to secure, they're too tight. This could cause the plastic to stretch out over time, loosening the hold and throwing the GG off center.
If none of these are helpful, we will still figure this out! Please email info@giffingrip.com and put CUSTOMER SERVICE in the subject line. We want happy customers and will work with you to make sure the GG is up to par! :)
Aly

Just last week I ran into my college ceramics professor at our local supplier's facility...almost didn't recognize her with the damn masks, but her fading fire engine red hair gave her away. Instead of teaching ceramics these days, she is teaching art classes online. She did tell me that she is deeply involved in bringing the NCECA to the Sacramento, CA area in 2022. I have kept her apprised of my progress since I took my last class (Raku) with her in '17. I find it somewhat amusing to think that, as a student in college, I was 20 years her senior...

I have tried to get groups together in the past, but most people in this area are not interested.  However, I have sought out others in other places, some near, some far.  Just had a socially distant coffee in the park this morning with a friend in a neighboring town who is involved in setting up a ceramic studio in her burg.    It was great to talk about the planning.  That has been one of my goals since discovering clay for myself, to build community.  This Forum has been great for that, but yes, I do reach out to other people for just what you mentioned Pres, support, comradery, and problem solving.  

Been part of a local ceramics guild long ago as it folded up after a 10 year run. I have stayed in touch with my collage clay  professors until they passed (one is still around locally)
I donated low fire glazes and a ton of magaizes to local schools and art center as well as materials over the dacades. Some of this was from my deceased  potter friend who's studio I cleaned out for his widow over the past years.
I fired some local elementary schools work for them years ago as well -I gave them the clay and glazed the work myself.
 
 

Never had an instructor: then again I never intended to go down the rabbit hole this far either. I noticed early on in another forum where I lurked mostly: there would be ten different answers to one question. I understood that application and style could vary from potter to potter: but never made sense on the chemistry end of the equation. So I made the decision early on to seek out information by those with PhD behind their names. Oddly enough, found variance there as well- who knew? If I had a mentor; that would be Ron Roy: who I had the pleasure to spend three days with at NCECA in KC (2016). We email back and forth to this day. I have been asked several times to do classes in St. Louis- to date I have always declined. My wife, siblings, and two friends even know that I am involved with clay. Has always been my private sanctuary: and never discuss it locally.
Tom

Oddly enough: I would like to spend a day unseen in a corner, watching a newbie throw their first form, open their first kiln firing, or sell their first cup. The joy and excitement is contagious. Would have loved to spend a day with W.G. Lawrence (Phd@ Alfred) and pick his brain. Same for Orton Jr, Koppatchu, Horton, and a few others who laid the foundation on which modern pottery is built. 

two whose postcards hang in my studio for inspiration are melissa greene, of maine's deer isle and carol gellner levin at the alexandria, va torpedo factory art center.
the fabulous horses of susan greenleaf, who was at the torpedo factory and teaches through their school.
another workshop with both of the colemans, tom and elaine from nevada.  never enough, 100 times would not be enough.
glenn woods, chicago and palm harbor, fl,  shapes, not the gorgeous crystalline glazes.  i'm agog every visit.
kim kirchman, teaches at st. petersburg  college, clearwater,  maybe i can learn to paint!   though i think it is hopeless.
lots of members here whose photos of their work make me drool.  POST MORE PHOTOS, PLEASE!
BTW if anyone wants to visit bill van gilder, come here and i will take you to his gorgeous studio just across the river.    well, if we go over the bridges in a car, it is about 10 miles or so.
lots more, love workshops, love pottery. love learning something new!

Marcia Selsor

@Hulk, I too would like to see a Van Gilder workshop. I would recommend if you haven't seen, Martha Glover. . . amazing demo, and excellent distortion of thrown pieces for organic original forms.
 
best,
Pres

John Baymore. I miss him and his wisdom.

Jerry Marshall, the guy turning out lids offa mound in the You Tube vid.
Bill Van Gilder, because his book, articles, vids and that ancient (1986) cbs interview were (still are) helpful and inspiring - it'd be worth the trip just to thank him;
Hsin-Chuen Lin, also because - his vids so helpful and inspiring and I'd like to just say thank you;
Bunzy Sherman, err, I'm happy to wait a very long time for that ...when I get to meet alla people I miss or never met;
ditto Warren, Ruth, Ziesel, and others.
Someone who is an expert thrower who (somehow, amazing, right?) also clearly recalls the learning process and has the incredible knack of teaching and communicating, oh, and toss in a biting and insightful sense of humor please. ...and I hope the presenter is both small and a woman, just to turn gender bias on its ear, and the big strong thing at the same time. 
 

Hi folks, I have not seen any new topics in the QotW pool, but did receive an anonymous PM asking. . . . . 
If a workshop were offered at a reasonable distance from you (after we are loose, of course), who would you want as the presenter?
Maybe one question to ask would be do you go to workshops or demonstrations? Years ago I went to a John Glick workshop/demo at ART in Chicago. Terrible trip, wonderful demo! I was sick at the time with the flu, and broken a lens in my glasses. I rode the train to Chicago, got into the hotel late at night, and collapsed on the bed before dinner. Next morning, went to the conference feeling better. Sat through the day staying away from folks, totally enthralled doing sketches and writing down ideas, John Glick was fabulous. Next morning went to the art museum, then back on the train to home. I used ideas in my classroom the next few years, making forms of wood in the wood shop, and tried a lot of thrown variations of double plates and bowls along with extrusion ideas.
So I will ask, do you go to workshops/demonstrations, and QotW: If a workshop were offered at a reasonable distance from you (after we are loose, of course), who would you want as the presenter?
 
best,
Pres

Pottery workshops!!! I can't put enough exclamation points after my response. I am so excited to be registering for workshops. 
I don't have oodles of disposable income for workshops, but with no vacations, no workshops and minimal work travel during 2020, I can afford a couple of workshops in 2021 that I can drive to. 
Betty

I have a new kiln being delivered next week!

I am investing in time, I get up for work at 3:30AM on a few days of the week, and instead of sleeping in on my days off I am going to just get up on those days too and work in the studio before the kids get up. I have all the equipment I need, I just need more time. Some ideas for my work popped into my head and I would like to explore them!

I bought another Peter pugger to help with clay body mixing (two bodies mixed together ).
I also just had a APL suspensionplasty with biotenodesis screw in left thumb. in laymans terms they cut out my trapezium bone out of thumb and use part of a thumb tendon to suspend the thumb over that hole. My surgeon did 3 techniques on my thumb to strengthen it.this was lastTuesday-i'm off of painkillers now and have a brace for two weeks then a cast for 4 weeks then rehab for 4-5 months . my thumb will have to be taught to work again as its immobile now. the other fingers are sticking out and i have use of them. The restriction of use is no lifing more than a cup of coffee.
i choose this coivid time to be down from clay to rehab as we cannot travel and are hiding ot on the property for a long stint.I did make lots of greenware and in few weeks will help my assistant glaze and fire a small kiln load to keep my outlets supplied duri ng this break. one armed now
my wife needs the same surgery as soon as i'm healed.

HI folks, little late for a new question, but call this next weeks. I have been thinking about much of the chatter on the forum, and it seems like people are doing things this year to improve their ceramics journey. Much of this may be direct, but some indirect. We have members getting surgery to improve their health or relieve pain. I am buying my first major investment in many years. .  a new kiln. Others are starting up buying a new or used wheel. Others have taken the time off from the pandemic to clean and organize studios. This brings to mind a question for all of you:
QotW: What investment will you be doing this year to advance/enhance your ceramics journey?
 
best,
Pres

Ron, I realized that, just pointing out that for some the need to do things differently is important. I haven't had a full cookie since 2009. 
 
I had not thought about ring holders. . . ceramic would work to. Wonder how many Apple Bakers have been re serviced as ring holders. Maybe someone didn't know what it was?
 
best,
Pres

Baking apples. . . Tablespoon of water, teaspoon of butter, spices-I use cinnamon and ginger, sweetener(sugar, brown sugar, maple syrup, honey), as a diabetic I use none, others(nuts, granola, etc) Liquor(?) 
 
Apple baked 7 1/2 minutes in microwave oven. 40 minutes will work in a regular oven. Great Winter desert.

Hamer's "The Potter's Dictionary of Materials and Techniques"
A favorite of mine.

I spent the weekend glazing the rest of my bisqueware I had saved up, finishing bottoms and taking pictures.  Going to be listing it all on my online store and having a fun sale sometime in the coming weeks.  I have some stuff I know will be popular just from how many people on instagram, facebook and reddit have reached out to try to snipe things early.  
I participated in my local clay art associations pot swap this year and will be sending out this plate to the person whose name I drew!
 

Is this a case of all vacations are trips, but not all trips are vacations?

10,000 Years of Pottery by Emmanuel Cooper that I got from a friend as a Christmas gift...just getting into it...