ForrestW
Mame
Yes, I am very jealous of his old kiln-- was that the phoenix fast fire wood?Very nice! bigger is better...
Bigger Kiln, Bigger pots-- New challenges and progress.
- Thread starter ForrestW
- Start date
ForrestW
Mame
Thank you-- hopefully more to come
Thanks, I have 2 methods-- the first is my 16 year old son. Occasionally when he is not around I have been working on a technique with a fast lung onto my head, then I lower down to the table. It may need an amusing video one day...
I am always a student-- except when I am at school... then I am the teacher
. I buy the thick foam at Lowes, (3" I believe) and usually keep sheetrock below as well (Not while flipping) to insure it is staying on a level surface.
With wood kilns we usually make an insulation layer with clay, perlite, wood chips and some concrete, but with electric kilns which usually fire for a shorter time its pretty amazing how well a 3" insulation brick and a piece of sheet metal can hold in the heat.
rockm
Spuds Moyogi
I'm no expert, but I think it was. I don't know what happened to it when Ron retired though.
ForrestW
Mame
My kiln shed-- (I have one more kiln in the studio). Sadly there are dead bonsai in the kiln, I ceremonially burn those in my glaze firings.
Colorado
Masterpiece
Wow, what a sweet set up!!!
Shogun610
Masterpiece
Damn .. when do you take commissions
ForrestW
Mame
Possibly this July-- I need to get my current list worked on in June when I go on summer break, but hopefully I will have time for more
. Message me this summer -- Rob
Shogun610
Masterpiece
Cool I shall be in touchā¦ I like shallow forest slabs.. perhaps I may offer a challenge when the time is appropriate to hit you upPossibly this July-- I need to get my current list worked on in June when I go on summer break, but hopefully I will have time for more
ForrestW
Mame
Not sure if I should start a new thread or if folks will read this and hopefully offer some help. I have been Off B-nut and for the most part social media this summer, just having a good time traveling and getting in the studio. I made a good bit of new work this summer and will have a very full display at the NC arboretum in a few weeks for the Blue Ridge Bonsai Society Club Exhibition.
I tried to continue to explore big pots this summer mainly as a challenge-- it is hard to throw and keep a clean form with a good finish on this size. I am pleased with the progress I am making but now I need to really figure out pricing and shipping. I have shipped a lot of pots (over 1000) over the last 3 years, and as large as 26". But with these new pots, many are exceeding the size of the boxes I can find and probably would need to ship in a crate (I suspect???). I would appreciate any feedback, on my work, but most specifically if you have experience shipping big heavy pots/trees. All of these pots are between 28"-33" and I hope to both make some of my big pots available regionally but also those who are farther away (people who need this size pot are far and few between).
So, if you have any tips or pointers where to learn how to ship this size work, and honest estimates about the time and cost of this process I would be grateful.
Here are some new work from this summer. The top pot is 28" the bottom one is 33"
This is the shallow oval for @johng 31" I think. (thanks for sharing it in use-- hope to see these other pots some day with a great tree in them)
28" oval
28" oval
32" oval
32" oval
Thanks for any tips, and or feedback -- Rob
I tried to continue to explore big pots this summer mainly as a challenge-- it is hard to throw and keep a clean form with a good finish on this size. I am pleased with the progress I am making but now I need to really figure out pricing and shipping. I have shipped a lot of pots (over 1000) over the last 3 years, and as large as 26". But with these new pots, many are exceeding the size of the boxes I can find and probably would need to ship in a crate (I suspect???). I would appreciate any feedback, on my work, but most specifically if you have experience shipping big heavy pots/trees. All of these pots are between 28"-33" and I hope to both make some of my big pots available regionally but also those who are farther away (people who need this size pot are far and few between).
So, if you have any tips or pointers where to learn how to ship this size work, and honest estimates about the time and cost of this process I would be grateful.
Here are some new work from this summer. The top pot is 28" the bottom one is 33"
This is the shallow oval for @johng 31" I think. (thanks for sharing it in use-- hope to see these other pots some day with a great tree in them)
28" oval
28" oval
32" oval
32" oval
Thanks for any tips, and or feedback -- Rob
gooeytek
Shohin
Those look fantastic! At the minimum, expanding foam packing. What do the 32" pots weigh?
Maiden69
Masterpiece
I don't have experience shipping ceramics, but I have shipped quite a few large fragile items overseas. I usually use a piece of plywood at the bottom of the box and use plastic bags and expanding foam. I started using the can "Great Stuff", but the last time I used 2 part closed cell foam. Another method could be to use a very over sized box, wrap the pot in bubble wrap filling the pot void with "peanuts" and filling the box with more peanuts with the pot in the center.
If you are good at wood working and want to up your game you could do like @Pitoon and make your own box (Tomobako). But I think it will be expensive for the size of the pots your are making.
penumbra
Imperial Masterpiece
Brilliant work as always Rob. See you ate the Winter Silhouette Show. Can't make the show at the arboretum .... I',m running low on steam.
NateDyk47
Shohin
These are all great, but I especially love the middle pot in the first photo.
Hartinez
Masterpiece
Such great pieces Rob.
My thoughts on shipping.
Id be terrified to ship such big pieces across the country, though Iām certain others do it. You may consider rigid foam insulation as a packing material, to build interior frames or wallsInside of boxes. Even stretch wrapping pots to large pieces that are cut the size of the box, then securing that into place could work maybe? Iāve shipped this way with smaller pots and any trees Iāve shipped. The trees and pots donāt move at all and the ridges foam takes any abuse in needs.
We also have a local box supplier that has a vast number of box sizes. Iād imagine you have something similar nearby?
If you are charging a premium for these pots, and I hope you are, and you def should, paying for premium packing materials should be totally worth it.
@NaoTK may have thoughts on shipping big pots
My thoughts on shipping.
Id be terrified to ship such big pieces across the country, though Iām certain others do it. You may consider rigid foam insulation as a packing material, to build interior frames or wallsInside of boxes. Even stretch wrapping pots to large pieces that are cut the size of the box, then securing that into place could work maybe? Iāve shipped this way with smaller pots and any trees Iāve shipped. The trees and pots donāt move at all and the ridges foam takes any abuse in needs.
We also have a local box supplier that has a vast number of box sizes. Iād imagine you have something similar nearby?
If you are charging a premium for these pots, and I hope you are, and you def should, paying for premium packing materials should be totally worth it.
@NaoTK may have thoughts on shipping big pots
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PerryB
Shohin
Such beautiful pots Rob!
The photos make me all the more sad that I missed you when I was visiting in WNC area in May..
The photos make me all the more sad that I missed you when I was visiting in WNC area in May..
mwar15
Omono
Pm sent
Thank you Rob for making the beautiful big ovals on that side of the country Looking great. Are you extruding your initial ring like Ron Lang did or actually starting with centered clay?
My strategy for shipping >28" pots revolves around not doing it. Or any pot really these days. It is not worth my time or people's time and money for me to ship pots piecemeal. That's time I should be spending making pots. So I try to arrange pick up at Nationals or PBE or other shows. That's the strategy folks like Sara Raynor have adopted...just one big ass show once a year. Anyone buying a 32" oval is probably going anyway.
If I do ship, it is like below, and it has always worked, never failed. You have to assume the box will be thrown, because it will be. So the fluffy outer region absorbs that impact. Then the rigid braces prevent crushing because they usually put nice flat big boxes on the bottom of stacks of other boxes.
Looking great. Are you extruding your initial ring like Ron Lang did or actually starting with centered clay? My strategy for shipping >28" pots revolves around not doing it. Or any pot really these days. It is not worth my time or people's time and money for me to ship pots piecemeal. That's time I should be spending making pots. So I try to arrange pick up at Nationals or PBE or other shows. That's the strategy folks like Sara Raynor have adopted...just one big ass show once a year. Anyone buying a 32" oval is probably going anyway.
If I do ship, it is like below, and it has always worked, never failed. You have to assume the box will be thrown, because it will be. So the fluffy outer region absorbs that impact. Then the rigid braces prevent crushing because they usually put nice flat big boxes on the bottom of stacks of other boxes.
Excalipoor
Sapling
I worked for the ups store so I have some experience packing.
To create some boxes you can telescope two boxes of the same width together and cut down to whatever height you wish. There are tools to score the boxes so you can fold the newly created flaps to your desired height.
For fragile items we always double box and make sure it survives a minimum 4 foot drop from a conveyer belt or if something drops on it to bounce it off or absorb the impact. Fragile stickers do not work, no worker really reads them.
Freight is the safest option to send stuff but the most expensive. I would source the company to avoid markups.
Iāve had 2 shipments from Japan that I believe use liquid foam (insulation foam?) Seems like a good way to pack stuff.
I hope that helpsā¦
To create some boxes you can telescope two boxes of the same width together and cut down to whatever height you wish. There are tools to score the boxes so you can fold the newly created flaps to your desired height.
For fragile items we always double box and make sure it survives a minimum 4 foot drop from a conveyer belt or if something drops on it to bounce it off or absorb the impact. Fragile stickers do not work, no worker really reads them.
Freight is the safest option to send stuff but the most expensive. I would source the company to avoid markups.
Iāve had 2 shipments from Japan that I believe use liquid foam (insulation foam?) Seems like a good way to pack stuff.
I hope that helpsā¦
Michael P
Omono
The shallow oval left me overcome with pot lust!
