Pres

This is really wonderful to read! I think the MP should do ok for me as I don’t throw really large pieces. Maybe 2-3 kg of clay would be the VERY max I’d ever use. I cannot stop the wheel with my own hands when it’s running slow, so I think the power should be good for me and my throwing style. We’re going to open up the undercarriage today and take a look inside. I’ll pay special attention to the belt and lubrication of various areas. There is a grinding sound when I turn the wheel head with my hands (motor turned off) so I suspect the bearings are shot, too. Easy enough to replace here in Taiwan, given the large number of mom and pop machinery fixer-upper stores and specialized hardware stores. (There are even entire stores completely dedicated to just own part, say different kinds of nuts and bolts, in almost every neighborhood, haha!)

Hi Kate...Welcome to the forum. Noisy is a relative term. Noisy with relation to what? Is it a noticeable whirring noise or does it howl like a loose fan belt on a car...or somewhere in between? There's a good possibility that it could be a loose fan belt in which case you can tighten it by moving the motor away from the centerline of the unit. If it's more of a grinding type noise, then it could be a bearing. It's been a while since I've had the undercarriage housing off and I don't remember the configuration, so I can't say how hard or easy bearing replacement would be. IMO anything that runs with a belt is going to generate a certain amount of noise...it's just a matter of what you consider noisy and whether or not you can live with it...BTW, Kate, did the wheel come with any kind of splash pan? If not, I can give you an idea of how I made mine. Just look earlier in this thread to get an idea of what I've done.

Back to clay in am-Its a full court press make as much in next 12 days and get it fired.
shop is 100% empty of all pottery. Lest see what can be done to fill it up.

Mark:
One of the drawbacks of any trade: downsizing when the time comes. Took off before Thanksgiving, and not going back until Jan1-12. Never took that much time off in 45 years. I like it!

Looks like 2021 may bring a new kiln my way. My J236 L&L has come to a point where the main wiring has become brittle, and the leads into the switches are scorched along with some other problems. Parts are not as readily available, but could be parsed from other parts. After some consulting with Neil, and some searching the L & L sight I decided on a e28M-3, with the quad elements, a furniture kit, and the vent system. I figure this will be my last kiln, and my wife says it is past time for a replacement.  Right now wait time is long, but hopefully it will come sometime in the Spring. I think I will shunt together the old one for one more firing as I have some pieces setting in there now that did not meet temp. I have some wiring from another kiln that I scrapped that may be able to handle the loads. Will have to check the wiring.
 
 
best,
Pres
 
best,
Pres

2021 will bring in a fury of potting in 1st two weeks to get stock to cover my hand surgery recovery time in my outlets.
I plan on time away from clay for several months after the 19th.
winter is slow sales and thats what I need now. I will not do my usual may spring fair. Maybe an August show buts it still upo in the air. I'm not going to do a 4th of July show that I have done since 1973 staright thru iuntil covid cancelled it-I'm now done with the one day show forever myself.
I will put in another mini split in kitchen (14 foot ceilings) late spring.for the ac part mostly in summer.Its the only project this coming year after way to many last year.
As to potting I plan on stocking better for xmas since this crazy season that just passed . I was prepared I thought but never had a rush Like I just went thru.Just paid my gas bill $1450,00
I need to get back slowy into clay after the recovery.
I plan on diving /underwater phots in Bali in the fall if covid gets kicked down by then-it will be at least 3 weeks abroad this time.I missed this years trip . I'm also going to do a few less shows and try hard to work less -as I do not yet know how thats done well.
 

I'll continue experimenting with forms and glazes and building stock for when I have the opportunity to open a booth at the local Farmers' Market... Watching more artists' kiln openings videos for suggestions on future glaze combos and getting into crystal glazes by the end of the year...

French presses aren't in it for me, as recent studies show they are not as healthy as they should be. I love making teapots and have made several different styles and sizes over the years. . . all within the limits of "functional". 
 
best,
Pres

Looks like 2021 may bring a new kiln my way. My J236 L&L has come to a point where the main wiring has become brittle, and the leads into the switches are scorched along with some other problems. Parts are not as readily available, but could be parsed from other parts. After some consulting with Neil, and some searching the L & L sight I decided on a e28M-3, with the quad elements, a furniture kit, and the vent system. I figure this will be my last kiln, and my wife says it is past time for a replacement.  Right now wait time is long, but hopefully it will come sometime in the Spring. I think I will shunt together the old one for one more firing as I have some pieces setting in there now that did not meet temp. I have some wiring from another kiln that I scrapped that may be able to handle the loads. Will have to check the wiring.
 
 
best,
Pres
 
best,
Pres

If I ever get my hands working again  I would like to start throwing,  my ultimate goal would be making teapots.   I have always found them to be challenging  and I like pushing clay to its limit.  Denice

My next move is cremation . Age in place for us.

Looks like 2021 may bring a new kiln my way. My J236 L&L has come to a point where the main wiring has become brittle, and the leads into the switches are scorched along with some other problems. Parts are not as readily available, but could be parsed from other parts. After some consulting with Neil, and some searching the L & L sight I decided on a e28M-3, with the quad elements, a furniture kit, and the vent system. I figure this will be my last kiln, and my wife says it is past time for a replacement.  Right now wait time is long, but hopefully it will come sometime in the Spring. I think I will shunt together the old one for one more firing as I have some pieces setting in there now that did not meet temp. I have some wiring from another kiln that I scrapped that may be able to handle the loads. Will have to check the wiring.
 
 
best,
Pres
 
best,
Pres

Looks like 2021 may bring a new kiln my way. My J236 L&L has come to a point where the main wiring has become brittle, and the leads into the switches are scorched along with some other problems. Parts are not as readily available, but could be parsed from other parts. After some consulting with Neil, and some searching the L & L sight I decided on a e28M-3, with the quad elements, a furniture kit, and the vent system. I figure this will be my last kiln, and my wife says it is past time for a replacement.  Right now wait time is long, but hopefully it will come sometime in the Spring. I think I will shunt together the old one for one more firing as I have some pieces setting in there now that did not meet temp. I have some wiring from another kiln that I scrapped that may be able to handle the loads. Will have to check the wiring.
 
 
best,
Pres
 
best,
Pres

Have had a lot of time in 2020 to analyze my forms and discover new avenues as far as decoration is concerned.  I'm going to roll with it, and since 2021 doesn't sound too different, I'm going to keep discovering things into the new year.  When shows open up and things settle in, I will be better prepared in the new year.

Looking through the forum today, and find that @Hulk posed a question in the QotW pool, it was very appropriate and upbeat for the future. . . 
"What do you think 2021 may bring to your potting life?
I'd like to: explore a few more forms, particularly the teapot (have initial trial and first design adjustment under me belt a'ready), sets of lidded forms, and "smalls"; fill the kiln more efficiently; throw a lot more pots, hence more time at the wheel, and more efficient use of time; get out and see/feel others' pots, and interact in person with other potters - missing this, big time; improve culling (am getting better at it); participate in another show or two - first ever closes today (great experience). And more..."
Hulks question and explanation stands on its own, and needs no further comment from me.
QotW: What do you think 2021 may bring to your potting life?
 
best,
Pres

Soon, a new year, that after one we'll likely remember for a very long time, err, perhaps forever, hence, perhaps a New Year related question? Some, perhaps, are looking to ramp down after decades of process refinement, market research and targeting, thousands of pots, adjusting for wear, and so on; others may be looking to ramp up in the same (and other) areas.
What do you think 2021 may bring to your potting life?
I'd like to: explore a few more forms, particularly the teapot (have initial trial and first design adjustment under me belt a'ready), sets of lidded forms, and "smalls"; fill the kiln more efficiently; throw a lot more pots, hence more time at the wheel, and more efficient use of time; get out and see/feel others' pots, and interact in person with other potters - missing this, big time; improve culling (am getting better at it); participate in another show or two - first ever closes today (great experience). And more...

I have seen this sort of problem in the past with student pots when I was teaching HS. I don't know as it is a perfect solution, but here is my take.  If any air is trapped in between the two layers of clay that are joined, it may expand enough to cause some expansion cracking thus weakening the joins and causing the pieces to fall off. We used to put pin holes on the inside of the pot where the so that the bottom surface could let air escape into the pot as it expanded. This was often a problem with a lot of the "fairy houses" we used to make, as the students would want to add layers of clay over the base pot for facades. After a few times of trying to figure why some would survive and others would not we started to try the pin hole technique. Had very few problems after that. You may also try magic  water instead of slip, as this was also an improvement in overall construction processes.  You have to remember that HS classes I taught were 50 minutes long (subtract 15 minutes for set up and clean up)  and therefore projects had to be planned out, slabs cut to size, assembled, decorated and finished over the course of several weeks, much the same as your situation.
 
best,
Pres

@JohnnyKgood call, on the dryness of the slabs, sometimes leather hard slabs seem to be damp enough, but really aren't. I usually prefer to assemble when slabs are cheese hard than leather hard. 
@LeeAnets The formula use has been around for years. . . 1 gallon of water, 3 tablespoons of liquid sodium silicate, 1 1/2 teaspoons of soda ash
best,
Pres
 

So as i have been studying this...I am wondering whether this was the culprit. And I am thinking about your pinhole idea, Pres. Here's why...after joining and paddling the pieces together (maybe not having enough pressure as well) I cleaned up the edges and smoothed the creases over with a tool and sponge. That might have sealed their fate, because in drying, there would have been no way for air to escape at all. Now, If I had joined them perfectly there may have been no need for any air to escape, but...
What does everyone think?

I have seen this sort of problem in the past with student pots when I was teaching HS. I don't know as it is a perfect solution, but here is my take.  If any air is trapped in between the two layers of clay that are joined, it may expand enough to cause some expansion cracking thus weakening the joins and causing the pieces to fall off. We used to put pin holes on the inside of the pot where the so that the bottom surface could let air escape into the pot as it expanded. This was often a problem with a lot of the "fairy houses" we used to make, as the students would want to add layers of clay over the base pot for facades. After a few times of trying to figure why some would survive and others would not we started to try the pin hole technique. Had very few problems after that. You may also try magic  water instead of slip, as this was also an improvement in overall construction processes.  You have to remember that HS classes I taught were 50 minutes long (subtract 15 minutes for set up and clean up)  and therefore projects had to be planned out, slabs cut to size, assembled, decorated and finished over the course of several weeks, much the same as your situation.
 
best,
Pres

I have seen this sort of problem in the past with student pots when I was teaching HS. I don't know as it is a perfect solution, but here is my take.  If any air is trapped in between the two layers of clay that are joined, it may expand enough to cause some expansion cracking thus weakening the joins and causing the pieces to fall off. We used to put pin holes on the inside of the pot where the so that the bottom surface could let air escape into the pot as it expanded. This was often a problem with a lot of the "fairy houses" we used to make, as the students would want to add layers of clay over the base pot for facades. After a few times of trying to figure why some would survive and others would not we started to try the pin hole technique. Had very few problems after that. You may also try magic  water instead of slip, as this was also an improvement in overall construction processes.  You have to remember that HS classes I taught were 50 minutes long (subtract 15 minutes for set up and clean up)  and therefore projects had to be planned out, slabs cut to size, assembled, decorated and finished over the course of several weeks, much the same as your situation.
 
best,
Pres

@liambesaw, Know where you're at. Fired a glaze load last night with a green piece that my granddaughter wants to paint. From the heat color I figure at about cone 4 middle switch went off. I quickly shut off the breaker, and checked the fuses, both in good shape. Today the load shows the glaze pots are semi gloss, and the pieces my granddaughter wanted will be perfect for painting with acrylic. I just hope that there is a burned lead somewhere not an infinity switch needing replacement. Elements had recently been replaced last Summer.
 
best,
Pres

Hi folks, 
I have been doing some thinking about the white liner glaze that I have been dipping the hazelnut and the white clays in before spray glazing. So I decided to try a piece without glazing the whole piece in the white glaze, just the inside and neck. I think you can see the difference. Seems like to me, the white is bleaching out the cream rust glaze here, pieces I had sprayed with the cream rust, the variegated blue and the rutile green would always be more blue and green. Interestingly enough, the hazelnut pieces would have more browns in them. 

 
best,
Pres

Busy glazing once again, Honey Jars this time to be out on Thursday for trip Friday.
best,
Pres

The tech I have: electric wheel, giffin grip, pugmill, clay mixer.  No no no no. I mix my own clay and glazes and i fire in a large wood fired kiln. That offsets the tech I have.