grackle

my daughter sells her handmade cards at a monthly sale near us, and i give her my seconds to sell at low prices.  she just loves talking to the people who come to the event, and the more stuff she has, the better for her.  it works really well.

has happened to me.  and then realized i forgot to take photos.  take photos of everything!!!  hard to remember sometimes what made something new so special!!

kswan:  Thank you!  That is good to know, because i already know that my kiln fires a bit hot.  I will see how this last bisque fire did with 05, as soon as I have time to do some glazing!!
grackle

i am tuned into measuring specific gravity--fascinating in itself.  I do notice that different glaze recipes recommend different SG's.
Have not dived into the stuff with Darvan yet tho.  When I was first learning about ceramics way back in the late 90's, we used our hand and arm to mix glaze buckets, and the professor just sort of knew when the thickness was good.  I do not put my hand and arm in the glaze anymore, and I wear a mask when I mix glazes.  I do notice when the glaze seems a bit thick on a dipped piece, and does not run off smoothly, and I usually add some water.
I guess in many ways I am more of a seat of the pants potter, in my 70's now and not as precise.  And this is fun, I don't have to make money, but do sell a few pieces.

Thank you!  I just did a bisque fire to cone 05, so will see how the various clays and glazes perform.  I tend to keep my best notes about which glazes do and do not work together, and also which glazes fit the various  clays the best.  I also note where in the kiln is best for certain glazes (I have my favorites).  Had not thought too much about how the bisque temp affected it all, so that will be a fun new element to add to the mix.
Bisque 04 will be coming soon.

Thank you!  I just did a bisque fire to cone 05, so will see how the various clays and glazes perform.  I tend to keep my best notes about which glazes do and do not work together, and also which glazes fit the various  clays the best.  I also note where in the kiln is best for certain glazes (I have my favorites).  Had not thought too much about how the bisque temp affected it all, so that will be a fun new element to add to the mix.
Bisque 04 will be coming soon.

Still trying to work out how to add images!!

I do like dipping--do have to have a good sized bucket of glaze for anything big. .  Have experimented of late with pouring on a glaze partially on something and then dipping for the rest of the piece.  Made some leaf shaped  incense holders for a friend, and that worked well.
Some glazes definitely combine well on the piece and some do not.  Keep really good notes about what works and what does not.  Learning learning learning as I refresh my ceramic memory after 15 years away.  A good glaze kiln opening will make you happy.

I do like dipping--do have to have a good sized bucket of glaze for anything big. .  Have experimented of late with pouring on a glaze partially on something and then dipping for the rest of the piece.  Made some leaf shaped  incense holders for a friend, and that worked well.
Some glazes definitely combine well on the piece and some do not.  Keep really good notes about what works and what does not.  Learning learning learning as I refresh my ceramic memory after 15 years away.  A good glaze kiln opening will make you happy.

I do like dipping--do have to have a good sized bucket of glaze for anything big. .  Have experimented of late with pouring on a glaze partially on something and then dipping for the rest of the piece.  Made some leaf shaped  incense holders for a friend, and that worked well.
Some glazes definitely combine well on the piece and some do not.  Keep really good notes about what works and what does not.  Learning learning learning as I refresh my ceramic memory after 15 years away.  A good glaze kiln opening will make you happy.

I have used melted wax, but I move too fast and drips can happen.  Using Armadillo wax resist has proved better.  I make some cups I call "cloud cups"--brush on some white glaze in circular shapes and then wax resist, and dip in a nice blue.  The Armadillo wax resist has worked well.

I do like dipping--do have to have a good sized bucket of glaze for anything big. .  Have experimented of late with pouring on a glaze partially on something and then dipping for the rest of the piece.  Made some leaf shaped  incense holders for a friend, and that worked well.
Some glazes definitely combine well on the piece and some do not.  Keep really good notes about what works and what does not.  Learning learning learning as I refresh my ceramic memory after 15 years away.  A good glaze kiln opening will make you happy.

oh my.  have wanted one of these for some time, and finally got it all together to make one.  16" by 16" by 2".  cannot really believe how fast the water is absorbed and the clay is ready for wedging.  I cover the batch with a cardboard box, and flip the clay when one side gets a little stiff.
hesitated to make one because I could not find the absolute recipe for plaster to water--i mean there were instructions on the bag of plaster, but one needs to be a mathematician or something!!!  had 16 pounds of plaster and finally came up with 5 quarts of water, and it is perfecto.  thought I had better do something before the clay that needed recycling got out of control.
starting to think I will throw with the Nara porcelain going forward, and handbuild with the red and black clay just to keep things simpler going forward.  may need another plaster bat for the white clay.  getting used to the L and L kiln, firing to cone 5 instead of 6, as it seems a bit hot based on the witness cones and the end work.  thank you for all the advice and kind words~~

oh my.  have wanted one of these for some time, and finally got it all together to make one.  16" by 16" by 2".  cannot really believe how fast the water is absorbed and the clay is ready for wedging.  I cover the batch with a cardboard box, and flip the clay when one side gets a little stiff.
hesitated to make one because I could not find the absolute recipe for plaster to water--i mean there were instructions on the bag of plaster, but one needs to be a mathematician or something!!!  had 16 pounds of plaster and finally came up with 5 quarts of water, and it is perfecto.  thought I had better do something before the clay that needed recycling got out of control.
starting to think I will throw with the Nara porcelain going forward, and handbuild with the red and black clay just to keep things simpler going forward.  may need another plaster bat for the white clay.  getting used to the L and L kiln, firing to cone 5 instead of 6, as it seems a bit hot based on the witness cones and the end work.  thank you for all the advice and kind words~~

oh my.  have wanted one of these for some time, and finally got it all together to make one.  16" by 16" by 2".  cannot really believe how fast the water is absorbed and the clay is ready for wedging.  I cover the batch with a cardboard box, and flip the clay when one side gets a little stiff.
hesitated to make one because I could not find the absolute recipe for plaster to water--i mean there were instructions on the bag of plaster, but one needs to be a mathematician or something!!!  had 16 pounds of plaster and finally came up with 5 quarts of water, and it is perfecto.  thought I had better do something before the clay that needed recycling got out of control.
starting to think I will throw with the Nara porcelain going forward, and handbuild with the red and black clay just to keep things simpler going forward.  may need another plaster bat for the white clay.  getting used to the L and L kiln, firing to cone 5 instead of 6, as it seems a bit hot based on the witness cones and the end work.  thank you for all the advice and kind words~~

oh my.  have wanted one of these for some time, and finally got it all together to make one.  16" by 16" by 2".  cannot really believe how fast the water is absorbed and the clay is ready for wedging.  I cover the batch with a cardboard box, and flip the clay when one side gets a little stiff.
hesitated to make one because I could not find the absolute recipe for plaster to water--i mean there were instructions on the bag of plaster, but one needs to be a mathematician or something!!!  had 16 pounds of plaster and finally came up with 5 quarts of water, and it is perfecto.  thought I had better do something before the clay that needed recycling got out of control.
starting to think I will throw with the Nara porcelain going forward, and handbuild with the red and black clay just to keep things simpler going forward.  may need another plaster bat for the white clay.  getting used to the L and L kiln, firing to cone 5 instead of 6, as it seems a bit hot based on the witness cones and the end work.  thank you for all the advice and kind words~~

oh my.  have wanted one of these for some time, and finally got it all together to make one.  16" by 16" by 2".  cannot really believe how fast the water is absorbed and the clay is ready for wedging.  I cover the batch with a cardboard box, and flip the clay when one side gets a little stiff.
hesitated to make one because I could not find the absolute recipe for plaster to water--i mean there were instructions on the bag of plaster, but one needs to be a mathematician or something!!!  had 16 pounds of plaster and finally came up with 5 quarts of water, and it is perfecto.  thought I had better do something before the clay that needed recycling got out of control.
starting to think I will throw with the Nara porcelain going forward, and handbuild with the red and black clay just to keep things simpler going forward.  may need another plaster bat for the white clay.  getting used to the L and L kiln, firing to cone 5 instead of 6, as it seems a bit hot based on the witness cones and the end work.  thank you for all the advice and kind words~~

oh my.  have wanted one of these for some time, and finally got it all together to make one.  16" by 16" by 2".  cannot really believe how fast the water is absorbed and the clay is ready for wedging.  I cover the batch with a cardboard box, and flip the clay when one side gets a little stiff.
hesitated to make one because I could not find the absolute recipe for plaster to water--i mean there were instructions on the bag of plaster, but one needs to be a mathematician or something!!!  had 16 pounds of plaster and finally came up with 5 quarts of water, and it is perfecto.  thought I had better do something before the clay that needed recycling got out of control.
starting to think I will throw with the Nara porcelain going forward, and handbuild with the red and black clay just to keep things simpler going forward.  may need another plaster bat for the white clay.  getting used to the L and L kiln, firing to cone 5 instead of 6, as it seems a bit hot based on the witness cones and the end work.  thank you for all the advice and kind words~~

so, still wondering why my L and L kiln did not shut off when it reached temp.  have not fired it since then (off traveling).  the work inside was fine, not my best work, but that happens no matter what sometimes.  planning to call the company when i get home.

the last three firings were so perfect that i did not put cones in this time.  lesson learned.  will post tomorrow when cool enough to open.  thank you all for the insights!  
my first kiln, 20 years ago, a Skutt. had a kiln sitter, so i am new to electronic.