Hulk

I would get the larger kiln. 8 sided kilns are fairly limiting in what you can fit in them.
You can get a wall mounted digital controller from Skutt or others, which basically turns your kiln into a digital kiln. You'll still have to turn on the Sitter, but the firing will be controlled by the digital system. They're not cheap, but you'll still be saving about $1500 vs the cost of a brand new kiln.
With a used kiln, make sure the bricks are in good condition- only small chips, no large breaks. Also check the lid and floor for cracks that go all the way through. Hairline cracks are normal. Also, if the bricks are very yellow in color then that's a sign that they've been fired a lot and are near the end of their life. White/cream colored bricks are what you want.

None that belong to me.
Robins nesting under the worktops on top of the cupboard. 
Found a long-tail til dead on the floor yesterday.  Probably came in through the open window/door and couldn't find it's way out.  Suspect it had flown at the closed (glass) door and knocked itself out.
Lots of bees and butterflies come in through the open window and either get rescued by me or expire in the summer heat..

I have physical projects and virtual projects.
I can have anything between 1 and 10 physical pieces of clay on the go at any time.
Virtual projects live in the privacy of my own head, and I don't know how to count them, but there are lots.  Most are totally unachievable with my skillset, but I love to look at something, and think I could make that with a differnt shape here, or a different colour there or ....

Often Questions of the Week can be confusing, as some will look at the surface of the question and easily answer it like eating a strawberry, others will look at it and see an onion with so many layers to be peeled off before the discussion is over. My play on the QotW is that it invites all sorts of response. I knew this one would be a good one for the onions and strawberries.
 
 
best,
Pres

After Pres and Mark’s responses I realize it’s a little more complex to answer this than I expected. Making work really is a flow, I’m certainly “working on” more than what’s become bone dry. Each kind of piece demands a different kind of attention at different stages. As Mark said, it’s kiln loads, not pieces.
 I make pots after my day job is done. I’ve found somewhere between three and eight wet pots at a time, depending what they are, is manageable.
Controlling how much I produce has a big effect on how well things come out. Two or three at a time is too little, but if I throw twenty mugs and a third of them get too dry to put handles on that’s no good either. Managing to do the right thing at the right time is the best. 

Interesting piece on Slave pottery in the post-I can gift this I hope  to the forum as its behind a paywall. Lets see if it works
https://wapo.st/3nEd56J

Workflow for me is a few kiln loads so its hundreds,many hundreds . Long ago (70s) I stopped counting pieces in kiln loads. Say how many in a glaze fire etc. I think more in cubic feet every glaze fire these past years is a 12 cubic updraft and and a 35cubic downdraft fires at same time.Most loads have over a hundrerd stuffers-from salt cellars to spoonrests to sponge holders.
I really dislike to fire glaze fires without the stuffers as the space is wasted.
This year is a huge transition year  as I'm working less now ,we (my assiasatant) are working two months on then two off or thereabouts
Just delivered a huge wholesale (my largest ever) to a Gallery a few days ago and am working on backstock to supply  local outlets during my break.
On a daly basis I throw in series -My list on the wheel now says salt cellars, garlic roasters and candle trays-I'll make them in dozens -say two dozen candle trays and a dozen garlic roasters and 2 dozen salt cellars. I just dropped off 80 salt cellars and need a small break from them.
When working on larger orders I step up to making larger runs on any given day.
The slow winter time is still here outlet demand wise so now its stocking up backstock so I can play this summer
 

This week there is a new topic suggested in the QotW pool! @Kelly in AK posted. . .   Hey Pres, I got a good one from my wonderful partner: How many pieces do you work on at a time during your normal workflow?
Interesting question concerning workflow. I believe it depends on the pieces made, the skills of the potter, and the techniques used to make the pieces. If I am making chalices, I usually limit the pieces to 10, as there are actually 20 pieces in all, cup and stem. At the same time if doing this in the two piece method, the timing is important as you do not want to join when too dry or too wet. The cups have to be trimmed last, after the stems are trimmed. If reversed the cups usually get to dry before joining, The stems should be slightly pliable in order to join without breaking-cheese hard. I cut a groove in the bowl base for the stem top to set in, then use magic water and the spinning wheel to join the two together and keep them centered top to bottom. Then I finish joining with a rounded wooden spoon rib and trim the bowl a little more at the end to make the piece unified in form.  Plates usually 6-8 for a kiln load. Teapots usually 4-6 for mix and match with spouts and lids. Everything seems to take more time these days, but then it is a labor of love and so seductive!
Once again. . . 
QotW:How many pieces do you work on at a time during your normal workflow?
best,
Pres

Thank you so much! I appreciate you taking the time to post all the links. I will report back for posterity in case anyone else is looking for info. 

Laguna's Spodumene Substitute Analysis below. Compared to Insight Glaze Calc Materials Data the Li2O is down nearly a full percent. (Slight decrease in Al2O3 and SiO2 although those are probably not significant in most glaze recipes)
I asked Pottery Supply House in Ontario if their Spodumene Blend is the same product and they confirmed it is.
I would suggest the Li2O difference could very well make a difference to glaze fit and/or colour response in some glazes. So not only is the price of spodumene through the roof we now probably need to use a bit more of it compared to the old chemistry.

It wouldn't let me load 2 photos, but I had to share my handsome boy ! 

I miss my 96# German Shepherd. We had to let him go at 13, but it was a wonderful life! I still have my kitty, Zorro, who loves the studio! He is wonderful to have around and  has never ruined anything, which I can't even say for myself! 
 

I have always kept a dog bed in my studio,   I have  only had three dogs in the past  that would hang around.   My  new dog  is still at that chewing stage so I haven't introduced him to the studio yet.   He is a chiwienne  and somewhere around a year old,   it could be another year before I try.  He is laying on the top edge of the couch right now looking through the blinds,  he must be part cat.     Denice

So here’s the new plug, you can see how they shaved off the cord exterior. The original plug was obviously the same color as the cord, not black. Talked to the business I bought the kiln from and they agreed the electricians had no reason to do this and should take responsibility for it. The owner of the electrician business bought me a new skutt kiln power cord and is ordering the correct receptacle and will install both on Monday. Thank you for your insights, very much appreciated!! Still can’t believe they cut my plug off lol!!

There's a clay company in Lincoln (California) ...aha!
 
One goes right by the piles of clay, large building, stacks of clay pipe, etc. when passing through town.
I'm not seeing where Gladding, McBean are in transition/difficulty, also not finding any reports about the clay changing.
Another local (Northern CA) clay producer has a history of noting changes as the mine(s) deepen(s); I buy clay from them, IMCO.
There are somewhat recent shows about Lincoln clay, PBS "Rob on the Road" (season 7, episode 2; Rob Stewart), "California's Gold with Huell Howser" (episode title "Terra Cotta"), John "Bartell's Backroads" (ABC 10 KXTV)...

I just emailed them and asked for a recent analysis. Hopefully it's an isolated lot that is causing the absorption issues, or something else entirely. Just going on what I was told by a west coast clay supplier yesterday.

thanks, Pres. I have one of these forms on the wheel right now, and its at a stage where I can lift the outer base to a rounded rise.  I will give it try. I have made smaller diameter platters with a more rounded rise and had no problems with cracking, so maybe that is the remedy. Appreciate your help ! 

I'm not certain of anything with ^10 reduction, but have some experience with platters, as I throw communion plates for those using whole loaf bread. I have found out a few things over the years about my own pieces.
sharp curves from a large base to a sharp perpendicular are problematic. Often a crack will start in the corner spreading in both directions. . maybe something about the thicker area? Too many foot rings open up more possibilities for cracking, usually only two foot rings are needed, one on outside diameter where form leaves the base, and one 2-3 inches from center.  I would try forms with a slight rise from the base, or a rounded  rise to the perpendicular you have.  cut fewer foot rings, and smooth the bottom between them keeping it level.
All of this IMHO, take it as suggestion, not criticism.
 
best,
Pres

Yep--thanks. My cognition has fits and starts these days-as soon as you described it, I  "got it"-dunno why I didn't see it in the 1st place. Oh well---that's the kind of thing I'm learning to get used to-could be worse! 

I'm not allowed to have pets in my rented mobile home, which contains my studio. Broke the rule once with a pet python named George, who was nice and quiet and kept to himself. George  declined to consume a Dumbo rat I had gotten him (wrong type for sustenance), so I kept the rat and named him Lunch. The landlord finally said it was either me or the snake-one had to go (he was severely phobic). George was re-housed with a friend, but I kept Lunch. He was a wonderful pet, but he croaked a few years ago. Now I have tropical fish, but they do nothing for me in the studio.  I guess I have gone off track regarding pets & studio, but I like to contribute LOL

Update: Fred Olsen came over and reworked the entire gas line setup properly. It was NOT set up right and could have blown up. It works beautifully now and we are having fun firing cone 6. Thank you all so much!

I'm seeing two columns on the Forum/Browse page, where the first column is the subforums, the second column has the Topics and Recent Updates.
That wide subforum column lists each subforum where the entries include the name, a description, the Moderator, post count, and a link to the most recently updated thread.
Is it the links (red arrow) that you are referring to Lee?

 

No amount of lead is safe, so says the WHO, CDC, State agencies, etc.

No amount of lead is safe, so says the WHO, CDC, State agencies, etc.

Sorry about this snapshot format. I tried a copy and paste, but since I work on a black background for emails, the type here came in as white on white. The font size was also quite large. Their prompt response was appreciated: