Can anybody tell me what chemistry is involved in ash glazes? Chemical reactions involved, atoms or molecules involved, etc.? I am a biologist devloping a "Biology Through Art" course and would like to incorporate ceramics in some way, thinking perhaps ash glaze since it involves wood (plant...

I am looking to buy, or make, an inexpensive extruder. Any ideas? Shmuel

My wife has an uncle who is from Ohio who worked in the pottery business his whole life and created his own molds. He is retired and now has a whole garage full of these and I was wondering if anyone would have any advice on selling them. I told his daughter I would ask. He also has two...

Hello, I have seen hollow porcelain objects created from pouring slip into a mold, but I am wondering what the process is for creating a solid object? Thanks, Jon

Getting away from the morons who send unwanted posts - can anyone advise how naked clay effects are achieved. It sounds intriguing and must be a Yank thing, as my Ceramics class pals, in UK have'nt heard of it. I know that it is to allow the beauty of the clay to take precedence, but I haven't a...

A friend has posed me a question on glazing (or at least preserving) a pot that they threw themselves at some place in Poole (UK) several years ago. I'm wondering about what my options are. I'm pretty new to pottery so any advice is welcome. My initial instinct is that in order to glaze the...

I've been searching for ^02 vitreous Engobes and either there isn't much out there or I'm not using the right keyword. Anyone here know much about ^02 engobes and glazes? I'm working with Red Earthenware and I want to fire to ^02 for the warm toasty color but I need glaze for other parts. I make...

We have been having problems with our kilns but our last firing is the most bizarre we have had to date. We fired 2 kilns starting at the same time with the same ramping schedule. It is a modified version of MC6's posted version (Oxidation - cone six - Skutt electric kilns). Segment Rate Temp...

Silly question. I have scratched plates. I have a electrically fired kiln that will go up to 1000C. Is it possible if I put plates in kiln set at correct temperature, and ramped it up and down correctly, that the glaze would reflow?

Ok Bubbles "biggest blunders" was a cool thread to start so interesting reading about some of the awful things that have happened to people. What are peoples biggest thrills with pottery. Mine so far has been to recieve an award that I did not expect. I entered and exhibition, was pleased to be...

hello, I'm thinking of buying a shimpo RK10 with remote pedal. Can anyone fill me in with pro's or cons of this machine? How is it from stationary to very slow speeds? Does the fact that the pedal is remote, change in any way the performance? what is the drive system? it says in the brochure that...

Hi Everyone, I have only worked with stoneware but have been thinking about trying some earthenware. My question is if the clay is rated to cone 04 do you have to bisque it first at a lower temperature then glaze it then fire it to cone 04 or do you just fire it once and if so, when do you glaze...

Um, excuse me - but, I'm having a difficult time understanding how and when this board became a forum for politics, such as the "Puppet Master" threads that have recently appeared instead of clay and pottery related discussions. Could someone kindly explain this to me, please? Thanks, Lori

Hello All: A potter friend and I are looking for plans to make an extruder. Anyone have a plan he/she'd like to share. I have one in my head using pvc pipe and threaded end caps. In one end I'm thinking about inserting a valve and use an air compressor as the method for introducing pressure on...

Hello Everyone, How do most potters sign their pots? First initial then full last name or just first and last initals or some other way? Thanks, Sandi

Hello all, I've read similar postings over the past few years, but I guess I didn't pay attention to the answers well enough. I've got a kiln that I can't get into my house. It's been on my front porch wrapped in plastic, lowering property values for a year now, becasue I'm not sure what to do. ...

I've got lots of used clay mounting up from earlier work and want to reuse it. Heard differing ideas about reclaiming it -- some of course say not to try it at all. Another that feldspar is lost in the initial throwing and working, but all else would be ok. However, since I'm very new at...

Does anyone have a recipe for Cone 6, electric kiln called Butterscotch. Thanks Kate Scotty

Hi all, Lady potter, slightly height disadvantaged...having trouble throwing tall... sounds like a private add? Well..... my problem is getting enough height for a decent sized throw...I have tried standing on stools and works to a degree, but there are a couple of things (that women have), that...

Hi everyone: I did a bisque firing last night in my Olympic Kiln with Bartlett controls. It fired fine and turned off and has been cooling all day. I went to see how hot it still was and found the failed light on. This wasn't on when I checked earlier in the day. I did the trouble shooting and...