Hulk

Wikipedia entry has seven paragraphs under "Definition and Usage" subheading in their technology article, hmm. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technology How we/you/I use the term - depends on context, experience, intent ...lots o' things. Per last week's QOW, one may lean heavily on what's new in their own lifetime, or what's new just since they themselves were gettin' hooked on clay, or what's new within the arc of their nuclear family's life (ya, that was me). I'd guess that each person's use o' the term has, and will, change as time marches on and the situation warrants. Ceramics, well, that's a technology, eh? I discarded "ceramicist" for "potter" rather early on, for I'm interested in making pots, wheel thrown pots in particular. Casting, jigging, jollying (heh ...nah), industrial stuff/application, deep chemistry and physics, numeric control (excepting simple kiln controller ...someday) - mostly "uhm, not right now" for me. Is "pottery" a technology? Yes, says I. Soo, I'm not helping with the definition. Hulk try: in "... aid of a new tool or piece of equipment." the word new, I'm hesitating on that, and omission of "process" after "...aid of..." (although process is used twice). "...practical advancement that will allow a cost effective, easier or quicker way of doing with the aid of tools, equipment, material, process." Without and, nor or, suggests and/or, eh? The discussion, and the thought provoke-ness, aye, that's more than agreeable, thanks!

Automated fire control likely predates Liamb's arrival (electromechanical logic, or relay logic goes back to about my Pa's grade school days), however, low cost cute lil' logic boards makes it available to hobby potters, much later ...thanks to development o' transistors, then integrated circuits. The topic (thanks Pres!) sure generated some thinkin' for me - what is technology? bein' one o' the questions for sure.

As for controllers, I'll argue that the pyrometer is the bit o' tech that counts; the controller automates notetaking - time and temps, and switch throwing.

Wow. As for (my reading of) the question, lots of tech in my Studio already, which is absolutely dependent on electricity to power lighting, wheel, kiln, audio system (yeh, it's important!), pyrometer, and mixing tools. I'm not interested in: working by natural light only (nor by candle light); kicking or otherwise powering the wheel myself, nor using a wheel less sensitive, consistent, precise, and powerful; isolating myself from media whilst working (although shutting off the system, and rolling up the door to the sounds o' birds, wind, neighbors, ocean can be a nice change); firing ware by burning stuff (not even the available natural gas, as there's just nowhere to put a gas kiln at our house, 'cept the courtyard, which ain' happenin'); working without a pyrometer; mixing slurry - glaze, slip, reclaim - by hand. Without "the internet" my journey into clay would have been much more ...stark; books and magazines are great, sure, as is meeting, working and sharing with others interested in clay, however, the depth and breadth of info, instantly available, as well as the lifetime of vids (some of which are worthwhile!) - amazing resource. These advantages are all within the arc of my life, if one includes their parents' experience... My list of tech to add includes: new kiln, as current kiln is well worn, and when the time comes, with controller, to cut down on the back and forth to/from the kiln whilst firing. That's all that comes to mind just now, although I am interested in mixing clay, seeing how rewarding mixing glazes has been, and how "wrong" so many clay bodies seem to be... As for other machines, tech, tools, etc. exploring wheel thrown forms was (still is) the whole point - for me; very little hand building, no extrusions (yet), no molds, no nothin'! Hence, perhaps it's not "...drawing a line..." for me, rather just doing what I want.

Also mostly working small (or very small, depending non compared to whom!), half pound to two pounds, a few things three or four pounds. I use the lil' e scale to weigh out balls o' clay, common sizes 350, 450 and 500 grams for mugs and bowls, also 250 and 300 for cups and small bowls, and a few 200 gram tiny bowls, gotta have some fun. Lids and spouts may start at 200 grams as well. Enough taller pieces to fill a half shelf (stagger that load) - vases, lidded pieces, utensil holders, etc. - may run between 800 to 1500+ grams. Where an increase of weight/mass at the small end makes quite a difference, scaling up, takes a lot more clay to get bigger, eh? At a 1400 grams, to get much bigger, 1600 grams ain' gonna do much. Where an eight foot boat is roomier than a six footer, an eighteen footer is waay bigger than a sixteen, eh? ...it's bigger all way 'round, same as the six to eight, but there's more to get big. Wedging, the largest for me at one time would be reclaim off the slabs before bagging, 'bout ten to fifteen pounds, and final wedge (th' whole bag) before re-bagging clay that was too dry - where wetting was piecemeal, for sure, as a whole bag has to be ideally soft (for this old bod to wedge). As I still believe in continuing with the direction/swirl imparted in wedging, the trouble I was having with the spiral was in the "opposite" way - for clockwise throwing. Whilst clockwise wheel head is natural for me, spiral wedging for that direction - is not. That it's ram's head of part of a mass, picking up some edge as it comes around, and squeezing out some at t'other end - that's what gets me there, as well as taking care to avoid picking up bubbles; any road, for mixing, and especially for preparing an "off the hump" lump, worthwhile, but not essential (imo).

for a while now, Alice Hoffman rediscovered, David Gerrold

...very handy when formed into a sphere, then fastballed at your scheming brother as he sprints crossways, then expertly ducks such that said fastball slams into brother in law's f head. ahem, carry on.

Wanted to post questions and comments on dhPotter's fan system...

Just noticed "Edit Album" (under Manage Album) includes input selectors: Looks like the selection defaults are negative.

Perhaps not silly - oooh, I got a smirk out o't though! At the local JC ceramic lab (a few years ago), deduction indicated that person was culprit - chipped bowls, locker full of broken pieces, a few other broken pieces - and, having noticed that person didn't care for heights and couldn't reach far (bein' close t'th' ground), ah moved alla my stuff to a high cubby. "Oh, you moved your stuff up..." "Yep (smirk)" <extra crimson flush>

More from Labor Day glaze fire, Clockwise, from top left Covered dish, just over a quart. Same Rutile Green. Five of fifteen small bowls in red clay (SRF). Overall, am happy with this load! Still working on tossing pieces to reclaim that don't look and feel "right" - making progress there. Detailed notes are definitely helping! Looks like a longer bisque and a bit lower glaze fire target temp (plus slower cool to ~1850) has cleared up a few issues. Also looks like lower expansion clear is working on the cafe as well as the two white clays. Not decided yet on continuing to work in the red clay, perhaps just thin layer of slip over the better behavin' buff, and white (and somewhat behavin' cafe) clays. Can definitely see where calculated coe numbers could be deceptive - as a comparison/guide, where making limited adjustment to a glaze, helpful; for comparing glazes that have very different recipes, not as helpful.

More from Labor Day glaze fire, Clockwise, from top left Tortilla warmer in Cassius. I took a closer look (with magnification), see now that the clear glaze that "clears" the bubbles fairly well over the black clay also crazes (my vision ain' great); have finished the one bag, may not buy more... Storage jar, ~7.5 inches tall, same Rutile Green The two mugs are same Selsor Faux Celedon, same white clay - the seven o'clock one is from previous bisque and glaze firing, the five o'clock one appears similar (the colours are actually about the same - camera settings, not), but very little crazing, just a few spots! Hard to believe that firing (more thorough bisque and a bit cooler glaze with slower initial cooldown) could make that much difference!? Same clay, same glaze. ...more testing...

From Labor Day's glaze firing Clockwise, top left, Test tiles for "waste" glaze (retained, settled, sieved and adjusted cleanup, wipe off, etc. - just over 1.5 gallons; it's "free!"), crazes over these clays, may fit buff and red clays better, tbd New lower expansion liner glaze (per recent entry to https://community.ceramicartsdaily.org/topic/19922-clay-composition-and-crazing), goes on well, looking good so far - more testing required. I'm not minding the specks, which may be from petalite, as all the other ingredients have been used in previous low expansion trials... Am still liking the Lakeside Clear Blue, here over white clay; the lower part is BVG Rutile Green, which mutes the carved red slip - will be trying this again. Really liking this tin chrome red, here over Cassius. This firing, no bloating in the black clay pieces, likely due to extended bisque (longer holds at critical temps). Selsor Faux Celedon (with some minor coe adjustment) over buff clay - really like this look.

Less inflammatory diet seems to help me significantly, also as much activity - mostly cardio, onna bike and in the pool - as I can fit in, with full range o' intensity, given enough rest to fully recover at least once every ten days or so (at my "age" it can take a few days to recover). For some bits, targeted routines (aka Physical Therapy - in caps, on account o' th' copay$$) really helps. Base o' th' thumb, left hand, is the touchiest bit for me - lucky to still have all ten fingers, so there's options; from there, a couple o' Reynaud's toes, then elbows, shoulders, hip. So far, am able to stay away from aggravating the touchy parts in the studio. Keeping hands and feet (especially them toes) warm, that's important. Daily citrus seems to be (almost) critical. On flat bar bike, molded grips and sram shifters (easier on the thumbs) works for me; on the road bike, sram shifters (fit my hands better), bits of elastomeric padding under the tape, and hand position (weight bearing on the ulnar side) all help. Top left, then clockwise: paddle-y molded grip (not exact same that I use, but close); elastomeric under tape padding (for drop bars) - I cut just the bits I need, about a square inch behind the brifters, and full length of the drop; Tyler can custom make you any kind/shape of cu$tom of bar you want (message me); a swept back bar. There's a "bike kitchen" near us - good option for browsing "gently used" parts - perhaps there's one near you (St. Pete Bike Co-Op) Lady.

I'm trimming most pieces, however, the amount trimmed away has been diminishing - almost to where the there's just enough clay left at bottom to trim a foot (+ a bit of wiggle room) and enough on the lower side to complete a smooth arc to the foot.

First ever commission, spec was for black clay, hence one bag o' Cassius. It's so smooth and plastic, a joy to work with ...and, one can more easily see everywhere that clay can (and will) go... From there, similar road as very red clay, longer and targeted bisques, clearing bubbles, dodging bloat... Lately, am venturing into the joy and heartache of the teapot; good to be trying something new/challenging, eh?

About the same as - surround sound a) set to local public radio station, else KPIG (mostly rooock) b) streaming favourite public radio shows "on demand" from old laptop c) playing music from mah extensive library (stored on same old laptop)

The steeped in safety culture of the Steel Mill (where I worked for several years) changed my life - doesn't mean I don't make mistakes, doesn't mean I don't (stupidly/silly-ly) do dangerous things - just "see" somewhat differently. A safety measure only has to "work" one time. The opposite is, sadly, also true.

Silly, yep; many, many ...and just three years in! Mentioned previously (somewhere in here), my inexpensive scale came with two calibration weights - ooh, I thought that was a mistake, haha! Having calibrated the scale with one of the two weights, the reading, of course, was off by 50%, which I finally caught when I'd learned about adjusting specific gravity (glazing) - my cheap plastic graduated cylinder is wrong! Oh. Up to then, no problem mixing glaze batches, as the proportions were ok, however, wasn't very happy comparing my one, two and three pound pieces with what I was seeing others do online. Haha! Have been a bit happier since recalibration, as a pound of clay goes a bit further than half a pound... No one got hurt. Perhaps not silliest, however, for me, silly includes dangerous and disastrous, e.g. (not ceramic related), cutting tree/shrub branches at an angle, well away from the next join, leaving behind a long sharp stake and obvious potential for injury/death.

"It took hold of me in the middle 90s..." Thought you were in early sixties (ba-bing). Good question! Just wrapping up year two of retirement, hence, it resonates. The importance of social activity/contact is highlighted by our current situation - it's an important part of sanity maintenance; have been missing trips to the gym, meeting new people out and about, and weekly brunch with friends. Swimming and cycling are important sanity maintenance activities for me, also reading and projects.

Hi VS! Grease may be more appropriate? :| Ahem, well, finding the source - could be a bearing, loose pulley, squeaky belt, something rubbing in the motor - might be a good first step. Does the wheel squeak the same when running in the other direction? If not, try looking at the motor brushes. Try crawling about, that is, listening from all possible angles, to pinpoint the source. If you have a few miles on your ears, try enlisting a young person (with undamaged hearing). Lubrication may not be the solution; could be adjustment, replacing a part, etc. is required. "Squeaky wheel gets the grease" Heh.

Nice work Phill! Looks like plans are available (Simon's webpage); might be interesting/worthwhile to inquire regarding naming, particularly if copying the design... Does the layout have to be flipped to turn clock wise? I'd like to go with a bearing over the leather strap, and more metal/composite over wood, and easily reversible ...am liking the (electric) foot pedal more tho'!