Cutting tool

I misplaced the cutting tool (Cutting tool, when you are throwing, it level the edge of the clay by cutting the uneven part). How  I made it  in 5 minutes. You need a metal band (I found these in a trash at Home depot), a skewer, a fishing line (metal preferred), drill, hummer and metal cutter. I cut the metal band to 6-inch long, and drilled four holes, two for wire and two for the skewer. Cut the skewer, and insert into the holes, and flat the both ends of the skewer with a hummer so it stays. Cut the wire and tie it.


After I made it, I found it on the floor behind the wheel, of course.

Shelves

Before                                                                  After



Last couple days, I dismounted the old shelves, which was built 20 years ago, and was too deep for this studio. I did not have a time to build the new shelves three years ago when I moved into this space in the middle of the summer festival season. I have been wanting to replace, but took three years. Richard Aerni taught me the design of the shelves. I have built one, and like it very much. The shelves are adjustable, and hold the plywood sheet (16” x 24”) . Now I just move around the wet / lather hard pots on the same sheet from throwing area to the bisque area.

In additional bonus, I might have created an extra space for another wheel. I will move around the stuffs tomorrow to squeeze in the trimming station.

Platter fired

See the difference in the color inside the kiln?  Orange color (top) is about 1450 degree Fahrenheit, and white color (bottom) is about 22oo degree Fahrenheit.  At this stage (2200F),  you need the welder 's glass to protect your eyes.





Opened the kiln today.  This is the finished platter. This is 15.5" x 3" version.  The 22" one is waiting for the bisque firing.



Next project:  Rearranging studio. These shelves are not fully utilized.

Espom salt

Glazing today.

My studio gets very dry, and the glaze bucket does loose its water content in a span of two weeks even with the lid on.  I draw a line on the interior wall of the bucket when finish glazing so I knew when it lost water.
When I glaze, I usually check the thickness of the glaze by using the hydrometer or weighting the glaze (10 cc).  And I still had inconsistent results of the glazed ware.  I suspected the Epsom salt being the cause.  I use the Epsom salt as the flocculant, which slows the settling of the glaze.



Last time, I mixed the new batch of glaze; I did not add the Epsom salt and tested the new batch of glaze in the last firing. (Test, test test!  I do measure carefully, but I still mess up time to time. )   Now I can mix with old batch of the glaze safely.  I checked the thickness by weighing 250 cc of the glaze this time; first the glaze without the Epsom salt, then added the Epsom salt in the glaze.   Both weights came up 275 g. The result showed the Epsom salt does not interfere with the weight of the glaze.  I guess 10 cc was too small of sample.  I did not test today, but I was very sure the hydrometer was inaccurate with the glaze containing the Epsom salt.

Missed oppotunity

Building’s radiator was on yesterday, so I left it on overnight to dry greenwares quickly. Studio was 90°F this morning. My neck stiffened quickly while trimming pottery in the heat.  I opened the windows, but stayed 80’s.  The greenwares were ready for the bisque, so I turned the bisque on.

So, I pick up another McDonald’s ice tea for my neck-ache.  I noticed a small sticker.  Yes, the Monopoly.



This brings back to the memory.  When Kodak Japan was sent me to the Rochester for 9 months assignment, I had no idea of the life in the US.  Within a month, I got a parking ticket for $150, for parking on the handicap.  I did not know the handicap sign even existed. I do not think there is a handicap parking ticket in Japan now.  I was amazed leaving (parking) car in the middle of the intersection was cheaper…  Anyway, the Monopoly game.  I was eating the launch at the McDonald’s and saw the guy next me got the park place, while I had the board walk. You know, 1 million.  I talked about it to the friend (my wife now) later, and she told me why didn’t you talked with the guy, that did not occurred me, and thought illegal. Missed oppotunity.....

I am not dry thrower...

I am not dry thrower...
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Tank car inspired vase

Opened the kiln. Got very good reduction.







My tank car inspired vase. I like it. Was fun.



I decorated the large platter. I added the stamp decorations, and carving. Now let it dry for a week. If you do not dry enough this size of platter, it will crack during the bisque firing, or explodes as the trapped water become water vapor like volcano.