Rick Wise

Someone more experienced than me should answer this -- but I think the gerstley gives it a nice smooth melt so that the surface texture is not rough.

I would like to make a "reclaim bat", i.e. a tray on which I can lay wet clay/slip so that the water absorbs out of it for eventual re-use. Should I use pottery plaster or plaster of paris? And why?

weight

"In-glaze". That stumped me. Thankful for Wikipedia. Here it is for all of my fellow dummies: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In-glaze_decoration

Good point Oldlady. Effective communication is HARD!

I post this as sort of a "public service" to other pottery semi-newbies like myself. I somehow never got the message that you can easily paint oxide (and mason stain) washes on top of glazes for a lot of added color or design. The videos below brought this to my attention and I am really excited about the results. It has opened up some new avenues for me. I defer to Richard McColl for a full description but it could not be easier: Just add some oxides (or mason stains), a little water, and maybe some gerstley borate as a flux -- and apply ON TOP of your glaze for great color and effects. Goes on great with a brush. Make it the consistency of ink. Hard to screw up. Some examples are at the bottom and here are the videos:

Pres -- could you post a pic of those "plumbing parts"? I LOVE my Giffen Grip! Only problem is trimming the foot on -- for instance -- a tall narrow necked bottle. The head of the piece (pointing downward and touching the wheel) moves off center. I try to resolve this problem by using clay lugs around the head to secure it or by letting the head rest on (and pushed slightly into) a thin layer of clay. But all these methods leave a bit to be desired. Seems to me that what is needed is a GG accessory that mounts in the center, is shaped like a cone, and extends upward to a point so that the mouth of the bottle fits over it and holds it secure.