[First Glaze Firing Manual Kiln No Timer]

This is so incredibly helpful. I cannot thank you enough. I wasn't able to see the cones during the firing. I bought a pair of glasses afterward for infrared light and hope that helps. Your tips on going to 04 for dark clays, cone placement, and glaze firing timing are very helpful. Should I keep the peeps in or out during low, medium and high?

[First Glaze Firing Manual Kiln No Timer]

I think it was underfired because I used witness cones and was firing to 06. The 06 witness cone did not go all the way down. The 06 cone in the kiln sitter did go down and turned off the kiln.

 

[First Glaze Firing Manual Kiln No Timer]

I bisque fired an old manual Paragon kiln for the first time, and it underfired slightly. Now I want to glaze fire these pieces at Cone 6 and could use some help in understanding what to do about the fact the bisc was slightly underfired, and I don't know what kind of firing schedule to use for Amoco Cone 6 glazes. The kiln has a cone sitter, 2 peepholes, and 3 dials (no timer or pyrometer). The dials can be set to low, medium, and high. Can anyone describe how low long I should keep each of the 3 dials at particular settings, and when I should remove each of the two peeps. This novice would be very, very grateful!

[Clear glaze that does not craze on MB]

We will do some tests. Thank you so very much! This helps 

[Clear glaze that does not craze on MB]

I have the cone 6 clear formula our studio is using with MN Clay MB. It is for Shiney Clear:

wallastonite 2250 grams

frit 3195. 2250 grams

epk 1500 grams

flint 1500 grams

if you are able to help us revise the recipe or find a new recipe that works with this clay I would be extremely grateful!

 

[Clear glaze that does not craze on MB]

On 9/18/2023 at 10:11 AM, Min said:

Not sure what MN clay MB is. Is it this? https://www.mnclay.com/AddToCart.aspx?ProductCode=CLMMB6W 

Are you using the same clay for both cone 6 and cone 10?

What are they?

I use both MB6 and MB10 and have the crazing problem with the two different clear glazes I use over underglazes. You can see a photo below of the crazing at cone 6.  Other users of these glazes have the same problem on other clay bodies. I do not have the recipe because I am at a studio where glazes are mixed by the head of the studio. I would like to suggest another clear that will work with our clays from Minnesota Clay. B Mix doesn’t serm to have this problem but it is not sold locally. 

[Clear glaze that does not craze on MB]

I hope you can see the crazing here. I do not have the recipe because I use the glaze called shiny clear in a studio, and I do not make the glaze.. I use it with a clay called MB from Minnesota Clay at cone 6. The same thing happens at cone 10 with MB, although I then use another clear glaze suitable for cone 10. 

[Clear glaze that does not craze on MB]

I am looking for a recipe for a clear dipping glaze (Matt or shiney) that plays well with MN clay MB.  The recipes we now use craze for everyone who uses them at cone 6 or 10.  The crazing also occurs with multiple brands of underglazes. I would love it if anyone could share a good clear recipe that works with this clay. 

[Underglaze blistered and bubbled]

Unfortunately,  I left the piece at the studio and am in the process of removing all the glaze from the piece using a dremmel tool, so I cannot send a picture right now and any picture I sent would no longer show the problem well.

[Underglaze blistered and bubbled]

I am referring to #3 Minnesota Clay white stoneware, and I was using the clay right out of the bag. My glaze was cone 6. The bubbles appeared to have both the clear and the underglaze color but did not appear to have clay pieces in them.

[Underglaze blistered and bubbled]

I made an underglaze test tile on Minnesota Clay 03 biscware using underglaze with a clear glaze on top and this came out fine. Then, on a sculpture, I applied an underglaze to Minnsota Clay 03 greenware.  This came out fine.  Following bisc, I applied a clear coat of glaze and fired the piece at Cone 6.  The final piece had very large bubbles and blisters on it. My instructor could not explain why this happened. Another instructor thought the problem might be that I overwork my pieces, creating a very smooth outer layer. The piece appeared to be dry for bisc after drying out in the air for several weeks. I wonder if the glaze simply cannot tolerate both the heat from the bisc and from the final, cone 6 firing. Does anyone have a good explanation? This is the second time this has happened to a major piece in the last two years. The first time, I used Amoco Velvet underglazes. This time I used a Bell underglaze.

[Is there a place to buy a used slab roller & wall-mounted extruder?]

Thank you for the help everyone. I'll check into the cost of a Bailey roller, and lean on my sweet husband for the table. The roller is the main piece of equipment I want for my studio. I  will probably just wait on the extruder. Thanks Denice for that helpful suggestion.

[Is there a place to buy a used slab roller & wall-mounted extruder?]

I have been searching for months for used equipment for a home studio on sites like Facebook (Marketplace, Potter's Attic, Used Equipment), Craig's List, Govdeals, eBay, Ceramic Arts Network, etc. I've had no success. Is there a site or strategy I've missed? I would like to get a wall-mounted extruder and a shimless slab roller. I would eagerly welcome any suggestions. Thank you!