over reduction disaster

Hi All,
Can you wise potters out there give me some much needed advise about what to
do with a bunch of pieces that were over reduced?

On the good side, in my last glaze firing, the unglazed portions of
stoneware were all toasty and gorgeous. The bad thing is, areas in my old
updraft kiln that got extra heavy reduction, well...the pots and plates in
those parts of the kiln came out covered in blisters and pinholes and almost
a volcanic rock type texture in some spots. These defects were on glazes I
have been using for years so I am 99% positive it was caused by over
reducing, starting with a 1 hour body reduction at cone 06, ending at a
heavy reduction for 30 minutes at cone 9-10. I even got red in copper glazes
that are always green, so I know I reduced more than I ever have before and
wont be doing that again. Nothing about this firing was different other than
reducing more than my usual from 06 up till cone 9. The reduction i did at
the end was the same as always.

My question is...
Can I salvage these pots? I have been grinding down and smoothing the bad
areas with my Dremmel and am hoping to put some more glaze on top of the
ground down areas and refiring with my next kiln load tomorrow and
everything will heal. Will refiring with a bit of glaze on top heal the bad
areas? Is reglazing really necessary or will the remaining glaze just
re-melt and smooth out? Not being a chemist, I assume the defects were from
some sort of gas escaping or bubbling and the glaze for some reason did not
smooth out, but i really dont know.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed I can save these blasted things.

Thanks in advance for any advise you can give me

Laura

If they were not over fired then you should be able to just fire them again.
"Laura" wrote in message
...
Hi All,
Can you wise potters out there give me some much needed advise about what
to
do with a bunch of pieces that were over reduced?

On the good side, in my last glaze firing, the unglazed portions of
stoneware were all toasty and gorgeous. The bad thing is, areas in my old
updraft kiln that got extra heavy reduction, well...the pots and plates in
those parts of the kiln came out covered in blisters and pinholes and
almost
a volcanic rock type texture in some spots. These defects were on glazes
I
have been using for years so I am 99% positive it was caused by over
reducing, starting with a 1 hour body reduction at cone 06, ending at a
heavy reduction for 30 minutes at cone 9-10. I even got red in copper
glazes
that are always green, so I know I reduced more than I ever have before
and
wont be doing that again. Nothing about this firing was different other
than
reducing more than my usual from 06 up till cone 9. The reduction i did at
the end was the same as always.

My question is...
Can I salvage these pots? I have been grinding down and smoothing the bad
areas with my Dremmel and am hoping to put some more glaze on top of the
ground down areas and refiring with my next kiln load tomorrow and
everything will heal. Will refiring with a bit of glaze on top heal the
bad
areas? Is reglazing really necessary or will the remaining glaze just
re-melt and smooth out? Not being a chemist, I assume the defects were
from
some sort of gas escaping or bubbling and the glaze for some reason did
not
smooth out, but i really dont know.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed I can save these blasted things.

Thanks in advance for any advise you can give me

Laura

Just make new pots. You'd probably spend more time trying to fix those pots
than you'd spend making new ones.

Regards,
June
http://www.angelfire.com/art2/shambhalapottery/

Thanks Donna, I'll give it a try.

Laura

"D Kat" wrote in message
...
: If they were not over fired then you should be able to just fire them
again.
: "Laura" wrote in message
: ...
: Hi All,
: Can you wise potters out there give me some much needed advise about
what
: to
: do with a bunch of pieces that were over reduced?
:
: On the good side, in my last glaze firing, the unglazed portions of
: stoneware were all toasty and gorgeous. The bad thing is, areas in my
old
: updraft kiln that got extra heavy reduction, well...the pots and plates
in
: those parts of the kiln came out covered in blisters and pinholes and
: almost
: a volcanic rock type texture in some spots. These defects were on
glazes
: I
: have been using for years so I am 99% positive it was caused by over
: reducing, starting with a 1 hour body reduction at cone 06, ending at a
: heavy reduction for 30 minutes at cone 9-10. I even got red in copper
: glazes
: that are always green, so I know I reduced more than I ever have before
: and
: wont be doing that again. Nothing about this firing was different other
: than
: reducing more than my usual from 06 up till cone 9. The reduction i did
at
: the end was the same as always.
:
: My question is...
: Can I salvage these pots? I have been grinding down and smoothing the
bad
: areas with my Dremmel and am hoping to put some more glaze on top of the
: ground down areas and refiring with my next kiln load tomorrow and
: everything will heal. Will refiring with a bit of glaze on top heal the
: bad
: areas? Is reglazing really necessary or will the remaining glaze just
: re-melt and smooth out? Not being a chemist, I assume the defects were
: from
: some sort of gas escaping or bubbling and the glaze for some reason did
: not
: smooth out, but i really dont know.
:
: I'm keeping my fingers crossed I can save these blasted things.
:
: Thanks in advance for any advise you can give me
:
: Laura
:
:
:
:

Hi June,
I have a show opening in 12 days and this defective stuff would hopefully
bring in quite a bit of money so I'd really like to rescue them if possible.
There isnt enough time to get replacements made unfortuneately.
I'd follow your advice if it wasnt physically impossible. Thanks for the
reply :-)

Laura

"ShantiP1" wrote in message
...
: Just make new pots. You'd probably spend more time trying to fix those
pots
: than you'd spend making new ones.
:
: Regards,
: June
: http://www.angelfire.com/art2/shambhalapottery/

I doubt if you could save those pots if they are all blistered and pinholed.
In 12 days you could make and fire enough pots for a small kiln load. I don't
know how big a kiln you have to fill or what kind of work you do; but for
regular production work, it is not an impossibility.
If those pots have been as overly reduced as you say, there is a good chance
the body has been weakened due to carbon coring.
Better to do a show with less than to show inferior or damaged pots which can
damage your reputation.

Regards,
June
http://www.angelfire.com/art2/shambhalapottery/

Laura, from past experience I have to agree with June; go for (fewer)
new pieces and keep your reputation.

Steve
Bath
UK


In article , ShantiP1
writes
I doubt if you could save those pots if they are all blistered and pinholed.
In 12 days you could make and fire enough pots for a small kiln load. I don't
know how big a kiln you have to fill or what kind of work you do; but for
regular production work, it is not an impossibility.
If those pots have been as overly reduced as you say, there is a good chance
the body has been weakened due to carbon coring.
Better to do a show with less than to show inferior or damaged pots which can
damage your reputation.

Regards,
June
http://www.angelfire.com/art2/shambhalapottery/

--
Steve Mills
Bath
UK

Thanks Steve,
I wont be showing any inferior or damaged pots in my show, so unless I have
too much wine at the reception and decide to dance on top of a pedestal, I
think my reputation will remain intact. I have the stuff refiring now. If
the refires look good when they come out I will break one and check for
carbon core. If that's not present I will consider showing them. This
exhibit is not heavy on functional ware, in fact its 95% is "artsy stuff"
with gold and silver leaf, lots of wire and adornments, I'm not worried
terribly about "weakened ware" and my reputation being sullied.

June, thanks again for your input. I am not a production potter, what I do
doesn't go real fast, sorry I didn't mention that. There sadly aren't enough
hours in 12 days to make a small kiln load of stuff to replace the work in
question. The work has to be "made", then photographed and included in the
catalog. I am a slow moving old woman.

I have the cruddy pots in the kiln with my last minute show stuff. I'll know
in about 36 hours if the pinholes and bubbles smoothed over. If not, I wont
waste time with refiring if it should happen again.

Laura






"Steve Mills" wrote in message
...
: Laura, from past experience I have to agree with June; go for (fewer)
: new pieces and keep your reputation.
:
: Steve
: Bath
: UK
:
:
: In article , ShantiP1
: writes
: I doubt if you could save those pots if they are all blistered and
pinholed.
: In 12 days you could make and fire enough pots for a small kiln load. I
don't
: know how big a kiln you have to fill or what kind of work you do; but for
: regular production work, it is not an impossibility.
: If those pots have been as overly reduced as you say, there is a good
chance
: the body has been weakened due to carbon coring.
: Better to do a show with less than to show inferior or damaged pots which
can
: damage your reputation.
:
: Regards,
: June
: http://www.angelfire.com/art2/shambhalapottery/
:
: --
: Steve Mills
: Bath
: UK

Good luck!

Steve

In article , Laura
writes
Thanks Steve,
I wont be showing any inferior or damaged pots in my show, so unless I have
too much wine at the reception and decide to dance on top of a pedestal, I
think my reputation will remain intact. I have the stuff refiring now. If
the refires look good when they come out I will break one and check for
carbon core. If that's not present I will consider showing them. This
exhibit is not heavy on functional ware, in fact its 95% is "artsy stuff"
with gold and silver leaf, lots of wire and adornments, I'm not worried
terribly about "weakened ware" and my reputation being sullied.

June, thanks again for your input. I am not a production potter, what I do
doesn't go real fast, sorry I didn't mention that. There sadly aren't enough
hours in 12 days to make a small kiln load of stuff to replace the work in
question. The work has to be "made", then photographed and included in the
catalog. I am a slow moving old woman.

I have the cruddy pots in the kiln with my last minute show stuff. I'll know
in about 36 hours if the pinholes and bubbles smoothed over. If not, I wont
waste time with refiring if it should happen again.

Laura






"Steve Mills" wrote in message
...
: Laura, from past experience I have to agree with June; go for (fewer)
: new pieces and keep your reputation.
:
: Steve
: Bath
: UK
:
:
: In article , ShantiP1
: writes
: I doubt if you could save those pots if they are all blistered and
pinholed.
: In 12 days you could make and fire enough pots for a small kiln load. I
don't
: know how big a kiln you have to fill or what kind of work you do; but for
: regular production work, it is not an impossibility.
: If those pots have been as overly reduced as you say, there is a good
chance
: the body has been weakened due to carbon coring.
: Better to do a show with less than to show inferior or damaged pots which
can
: damage your reputation.
:
: Regards,
: June
: http://www.angelfire.com/art2/shambhalapottery/
:
: --
: Steve Mills
: Bath
: UK



--
Steve Mills
Bath
UK

what if you:

assemble a box in the kiln with various kiln shelves stacked up as the walls,
fully kiln washed.

stack the overfired pieces into this box in a hap-hazzard maner.

fire the batch as a group ~ they will all stick to each other in a square large
clump shaped by the kiln shelf walls.

pull them out, buff away the kiln wash.

mount them on a nice board.

title them:

"disaster relief program"

or

"i wasn't watching"

or

"durable shelf ware"


i'd stack the fired batch in the backyard adding to my already growing yard
art...

see ya

steve














Subject: over reduction disaster
From: "Laura"
Date: 8/30/2004 12:22 PM Pacific Daylight Time
Message-id:

Hi All,
Can you wise potters out there give me some much needed advise about what to
do with a bunch of pieces that were over reduced?

On the good side, in my last glaze firing, the unglazed portions of
stoneware were all toasty and gorgeous. The bad thing is, areas in my old
updraft kiln that got extra heavy reduction, well...the pots and plates in
those parts of the kiln came out covered in blisters and pinholes and almost
a volcanic rock type texture in some spots. These defects were on glazes I
have been using for years so I am 99% positive it was caused by over
reducing, starting with a 1 hour body reduction at cone 06, ending at a
heavy reduction for 30 minutes at cone 9-10. I even got red in copper glazes
that are always green, so I know I reduced more than I ever have before and
wont be doing that again. Nothing about this firing was different other than
reducing more than my usual from 06 up till cone 9. The reduction i did at
the end was the same as always.

My question is...
Can I salvage these pots? I have been grinding down and smoothing the bad
areas with my Dremmel and am hoping to put some more glaze on top of the
ground down areas and refiring with my next kiln load tomorrow and
everything will heal. Will refiring with a bit of glaze on top heal the bad
areas? Is reglazing really necessary or will the remaining glaze just
re-melt and smooth out? Not being a chemist, I assume the defects were from
some sort of gas escaping or bubbling and the glaze for some reason did not
smooth out, but i really dont know.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed I can save these blasted things.

Thanks in advance for any advise you can give me

Laura










steve graber