liambesaw

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!
 

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!
 

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!
 

O.k.... I just got a call from my brother.
He has figured out and solved the problem, and the answer was nothing I would have ever come up with. He kept thinking the problem had to have something to do with the pugmill--- and I kept telling him that didn't make any sense. Well, he adjusted the speed of the augers and the clay is now coming out perfectly again.
I don't know how or why, but there ya have it.
Thanks again to all of you for taking the time to respond.

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.

I think it has more to do with saturation than bacteria or fungi.  As you say, the clay is fine if it's "wet", or aged, both allow time for even wetting.   I don't have a pugmill, but when I recycle clay I don't have to age it to use it.  I just slake it (complete hydration) and then dry it on a slab until it's nearly the moisture level I want.  
I think it may make some sense about the stronger vacuum, placing the freshly mixed clay under a STRONG vacuum will not just remove the air, but it will cause any dry spots to hydrate as well.  That said, I think they probably use a filter press, and in that case they are wet mixing anyway so that point may just be moot, or redundant steps to maintain plasticity.
I have a box of porcelain manufactured a month ago when I bought it, and one that is a year old, I cannot tell the difference when throwing.  I always heard of aging my clay but noticed that when I buy clay it's usually manufactured within the last 30 days, and a lot of times in that same week.  But I know my clay is filter pressed, I have seen the giant filter press machine, and apparently that is not standard procedure anymore?

I often do this, no problems.

I need to look into making french presses,  my son will only make his coffee with a french press.   He is somewhat a fanatic when it comes to coffee,  he orders green coffee beans and roast them himself.   If he asks you if want a cup of coffee just say no,  it will be a couple of hours before he is finished making it.   He had me make him two part shaving mugs that held hot water in the bottom and the shaving cream was made in the next layer.   The hot water kept the shaving cream warm and  this made it easier to shave a heavy beard.   I made him musical pots when we was in high school and a urn for his dog a few years ago,  the things we do for our children.

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.

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.

@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

Sorce

Paint scraper?  

Could you erect removable frames that use restaurant patio-quality (weatherproof, crystal clear, relatively inexpensive) super heavy duty vinyl sheeting? My formerly screened in porch now has the vinyl for the sides and the stuff is fantastic--the porch is now my kiln room.  Thanks to the vinyl, the 3 feet of snow we got today did not blow all over the inside of the porch and there will be no snow melt under the kiln!  

Yes that's too fast for bisquing.  Does your kiln not have high/med/low switches?
As far as biscuit firing, you only would do that for low fire earthenware.  They are bisqued as 04 and glazed at 06.  The body is still absorbent at both temperatures so glazing is not an issue.  If you bisqued to cone 5 it would be impossible to glaze because the clay is no longer absorbent.

Ok, here's my custom swingtop lid on the growler.  Wasn't too bad!  I'm using a silicone gasket, it's a little stiff, but it holds water, is very nice and tight with a good solid click when its locked.  Basically a miniature jam jar setup.
I didn't want the typical grolsch style cap, it comes with too many design restrictions.  So I'm glad this came out well.  

Glad to see real potters have to set up sheets of plywood in the yard to make room for glazing too lol!
Looks like a chore man, nice load

Been doing noodle bowls this week but took a break to make this jar.  Had to mix it up.  Over the weekend I did a bisque and a glaze firing of some mugs for Christmas gifts, they turned out OK, had some bowls in there too which turned out better.  Will focus on bowls the rest of the week, want to make enough for a kiln load by the weekend and see if I cant get them bisqued and glazed.  Looking for a used kiln this holiday season for bisquing since that part of my firing takes the longest and I have to babysit the kiln the entire 12 hours.  It would free me up to do other things.

That might be interesting.
Today my back hurts.  That is sad.

Changing elements in the big girl today.  Last cone 6 firing took 13 hours, but it was pretty packed.  No more Err1 for me for a while.
 

Changing elements in the big girl today.  Last cone 6 firing took 13 hours, but it was pretty packed.  No more Err1 for me for a while.
 

Changing elements in the big girl today.  Last cone 6 firing took 13 hours, but it was pretty packed.  No more Err1 for me for a while.
 

It’s photo editing day!

This thread hasn't gotten much love recently.
Right now on my workbench is a small load of "sailing mugs", old school travelers. 

Also been doing some water etching on porcelain with shellac.

  Just finished some Christmas orders, still have more to do unfortunately, and I need to replace my elements of course, something always happens when it's crunch time.