I currently bisque to ^04 but would like to try ^05 to see if the glazes absorb better. Is there any risk in me doing this on a real batch or should I try it with some test stuff first?

Hi, Here is a link to the updated website of Janice James, the raku ceramic artist. http://www.janicejamesceramics.com Any suggestions/comments would be very much appreciated. Regards

Now I finally have enough to fill a kiln for a bisq firing as soon as everything is dry. It will be my second attempt. The first time (sad to have to admit) I thought cone 06 was the kiln controller's way of displaying cone 6, and I didn't understand I was supposed to bisq fire before the actual...

Hi Everyone, I want to throw a 2 piece bird bath. I have no trouble with the tall pedestal but the wide low bowl part is giving me a problem. The sides start to sag when I pull it out so far. There must be a secret trick to it. If anyone knows how to throw a wide (maybe 15 inches) low (maybe 3...

My local brickyard has bags of something called "Fire clay" which they instruct me to mix with portland cement to make a fire brick. I suspect that this is wrong (or useful only for fireplaces). My intuition tells me that I should form it into my shape (I have a special shape in mind) and then...

Can someone tell me what these jars used for. Who made them, or any info etc.. The large one is 4" tall. They have screw tops with a hole in the top for hanging. http://home.hvc.rr.com/ronsylallard/p1.JPG http://home.hvc.rr.com/ronsylallard/p2.JPG http://home.hvc.rr.com/ronsylallard/p3.JPG

Hi Everyone, Often I use a speckled clay (Standard 112) which I fire to cone 6. Recently another potter said it was not microwavable due to the manganese content which makes the speckles. I was wondering if anyone else knows this to be true. Thank you for your help, Sandi

Please, I'm a real novice with a newly purchased wheel. I now can make a whole in the center of a 2lb. lump of clay.:) I cannot get a level lip(rim) on my mugs and bowls. What am I doing wrong? I'm going for a 3 week course in June and I don't want to be such a complete novice when I get there.

I remember a discussion on what to use in place of WD40 (as a lubricant for motor and mechanical parts not for mold release) and I can't fine it in a search. Does anyone remember this? Donna

Hi again! My niece is being Christened soon, and I will be one of her godmothers. Thus, I would like to give her a very special gift, but am at a bit of a quandry as to what to make. I thought an angel that could hang on the wall over her bed (or at least in her room) would be nice. I have some...

For a while it has been difficult to find any good place on the web to talk about statuary, ceramics, kilns, clay polymer, paints, brushes, and supplies. This forum started just a few months ago, is rising in popularity as a great place to discuss these...

So I had just about decided to set aside a little bit more money than I really should spend, and buy a slightly larger kiln. But I found that I probably won't have the electrical outlet I need unless I either hire an electrician or supplant my dryer. So alternatives are the cheaper kiln and an...

Where is the "webmaster" when all of this non-pottery garbage is posted? I see this has turned into a porno site, and the potters are gone. It makes me sad.

I have a Gress Electric kiln (B 34 H I think is the model number). My mother passed away and I don't know much about the thing and I dont do crafts. I wanted to know what it was worth because its just taking up space in my garage and non of my family members are interested. My apologies if this...

Try going to www.digitalfire.com They have an excellent substitution listing. Personally, I would stay as far away from that glaze as I could. You don't mention what cone you are firing to, but considering the toxicity of the two items (barium and lithium) perhaps you would be better off using a...

Am researching kilns for purchase and was wondering if anyone has a simple summary of the advantages/disadvantages between a digital controller vs. kiln setter. Any advice would be appreciated. Heidi

Can someone give me a few advices. I am planning to buy some equipment. I don't have to much experience, well I will pick it by the way... And I can't decide what equipment to buy. For example should I buy vacuuming pug mill, or simple one will do? And with kiln - should I buy biggest...

I would like to get a custom metal stamp made for embossing my mark into my pieces. I have a design. How do I go about finding sources for this kind of thing? Any advice appreciated. Nathan

Seems that when I log on and look at the news group there are as many non-potter things here as not. I know this is not a "moderated" group, which I like in principle, but maybe it would be nice if there were a moderated group. You know, one in which only pottery stuff made it to the table. Does...

Hello everyone, I have small question about glazing and glazes. The problem is as follows: I've bought recently an excellent glaze (Botz from Germany), it's really good, it made some thin crust on the surface and the glaze stick really hard and not peel off during touching and moving to the...