Pres Posted February 21, 2021 Report Share Posted February 21, 2021 Hi folks, as I have not noticed a new question in the QotW pool, I will pose one. I have been thinking of the question last week involving studio habits that folks adhere to, and wonder about those studio habits that have been warned against. What you say?? The idea started the other day when I carried in a box of clay to the house. Clearly printed on the box of clay is "Don not freeze" This admonition is from the manufacturer and I assume that it means that frozen clay will be no good to use. Clearly as I store all of my clay outside under my kayaks all of it freezes. I just make certain the boxes are off of the concrete on wooden risers, and that the entire kayak rack with two sea kayaks is covered with a tarp and bungeed down. I realize that clay that has frozen needs a little TLC when it comes Spring, but I have always wedged my clay, and will continue to do so. Over the years, I have also found that the clay that has frozen and been rewedged by me seems a little more plastic, and throwable than the clay when delivered even a few months ago. Aging counts, and maybe the freezing has something to do with. I do realize that everytime it is frozen the aging has to begin at 0, but it is still better more workable clay a month after the thaws. So my question for the QotW is: What studio habits do you have that others have warned against? best, Pres Meredith Kathleen and Hulk 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sorcery Posted February 22, 2021 Report Share Posted February 22, 2021 Sweep and ....... You ever hear the Bill Burr when he uses that voice and says, "oh, it's pesto"... That's the voice I hear taking about wood ash, "it's caustic, it's caustic". I don't even like that word! Sorce Hulk and Pres 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted February 22, 2021 Report Share Posted February 22, 2021 Loading pots to close so they cannot (breath). In my reduction fires I pack them as tight as one can-always have. Yes in my salt kiln pots need to breath so salt gets on them but in reduction its a myth for me. I can occasionally throw handle and fire pots same day. Its all about timing and knowing the limits of your materials and work. Washing pots that where bisques -This I do with less than .001% of my studio production. Again only if they have months of dust on them which for me never happens. Pots are like mild around here they get processed and out the door. no need for washing . I did wash a mug the other day as I am one handed for spell I dropped on in the glaze bucket and it need washing off and drying them reglazed and fired-that the .001% this year I do not consider these habits but workflow Pres and Hulk 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldlady Posted February 22, 2021 Report Share Posted February 22, 2021 i eat things in the studio. not clay, plaster or any other silly thing, just something i can hold in my hand. cookies are a favorite. and i drink water, too. maybe even a ginger ale! Meredith Kathleen, Hulk and Chilly 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callie Beller Diesel Posted February 22, 2021 Report Share Posted February 22, 2021 The only time I cover ware is if it will be too dry to work on within the timeframe I expect. I use a cheap pop-up tent at my outdoor market. *ducks and covers* (I weight the heck out of it though.) Meredith Kathleen, Roberta12 and Hulk 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Min Posted February 22, 2021 Report Share Posted February 22, 2021 Nobody warned me clay was an addictive habit. Babs, Hulk, Roberta12 and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted February 23, 2021 Report Share Posted February 23, 2021 6 hours ago, Min said: Nobody warned me clay was an addictive habit. I was 18 when I got hooked-lifetime of woes worse than coffee for sure Pres 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pres Posted February 23, 2021 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2021 Don't underrate coffee! best, Pres Hulk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted February 23, 2021 Report Share Posted February 23, 2021 2 hours ago, Pres said: Don't underrate coffee! best, Pres I would not do that-we have burr grinder for fresh beans every day-an expresso maker -a half dozen Italiain expresso pots-drip coffee maker-a few steamers-untold drippers, aeropress for travel-a complete travel coffee making outfit for shows and on the road.A turkish brass bean grinder andbrass pots for turkish coffee (this Turkish coffee is how my brother hooked me with coffee in my 30s)-underrate coffee-never I have told my Doc you can take everthing away except coffee Hulk and rox54 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hulk Posted February 23, 2021 Report Share Posted February 23, 2021 Coffee Food and drink. I'm believing the cautions taken are sufficient. There is some dust generation - however careful I'm bein' - hence food and drink is sometimes covered, and I've a bucket of clean water just for second rinse against clay prints on things, including food. Check the handle/outside of that coffee cup/door handle/light switch - touched things. As for testing/measuring for airborne dust, still watching the horizontal surfaces for accumulation, particularly accumulation rate; interesting how it can vary, likely not all clay related, there's the usual living dust(), plus what wafts in the rollup door. I'm not seeing any difference between aged reclaim and just reclaimed, so not aging. The clay, heh. Having overlooked element <> ware spacing suggestions, I'm leaving more room now, but still less than what's typically recommended; am also cramming ware fairly close together in glaze fire. Interesting how the red sometimes picks up blue, am thinking from the neighbors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chilly Posted February 28, 2021 Report Share Posted February 28, 2021 What is coffee? Fruit tea here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moh Posted March 16, 2021 Report Share Posted March 16, 2021 Eating and drinking. I still sand the occasional couple of pots without proper protection and never fail to put pots in the kiln before they're properly dry... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldlady Posted March 16, 2021 Report Share Posted March 16, 2021 putting them in isn't a problem unless you turn it on. Pres and Babs 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chilly Posted March 17, 2021 Report Share Posted March 17, 2021 Sticking dry clay "chips" back on Eating/drinking in the studio Finessing after I've removed my apron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeU Posted March 18, 2021 Report Share Posted March 18, 2021 I have a long-standing, very entrenched, habit of not making glaze notes (oh-so-sure I'll remember what went over what or under which, or what all 5 glazes I used were, or which was the low fire fired mid fire that completely washed out-who knows? -not me). The deeper habit is that I don't care. I lose opportunities to duplicate something that came out really terrific, because I can't remember what I used, but I just fold that into my "serendipity" mindset and move on. It's not something I want to "fix", but it is a terrible habit and I would warn others not to do it. Meredith Kathleen, Roberta12, Bam2015 and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katie Piro Posted May 25, 2021 Report Share Posted May 25, 2021 I always have a cup of coffee next to my wheel as I'm throwing. Or doing anything really. Hulk and Roberta12 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denice Posted May 25, 2021 Report Share Posted May 25, 2021 I have a glass of water and a small chocolate bar in my studio, I probably should switch to filling a bottle with water. Denice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callie Beller Diesel Posted May 25, 2021 Report Share Posted May 25, 2021 Just put a lid on it. Helps keep it hot longer anyways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
graybeard Posted August 29, 2021 Report Share Posted August 29, 2021 On 2/28/2021 at 12:12 PM, Chilly said: What is coffee? Fruit tea here. Are you joking?!? Coffee is the source of all life on earth. Graybeard Chilly 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.