Colorado’s Ceramics

[August44]

Nice stockpile!
Be very careful, I wish you the best of luck.


But I'd like to share a story with you...

So last winter, I did up probably 22 pots... I started adding an extra crude coil of clay around the inner seams to reinforce them.
It SEEMED like a good Idea.... Made sense to me.. all the pieces dried and oven-cured just fine...

But come summer, I had 22 failures...

So did you add this coil while making the pots or at a later time?

 

[HorseloverFat]

Nice stockpile!
Be very careful, I wish you the best of luck.


But I'd like to share a story with you...

So last winter, I did up probably 22 pots... I started adding an extra crude coil of clay around the inner seams to reinforce them.
It SEEMED like a good Idea.... Made sense to me.. all the pieces dried and oven-cured just fine...

But come summer, I had 22 failures...

So did you add this coil while making the pots or at a later time?

While making the pots, and the year before, I had no issues with superficial (or slightly more "ficial" ) cracking round those joints.

The only reason I KNOW that the coils were to blame is the fact that I HAD some boxed up greenware, going to be sent to a friend for firing... I ended up unboxing the pieces, which I had constructed the previous year.. with similar clay bodies as the ones in question. The ONLY difference was those dern coils.

They fired, PERFECTLY.

GRRRRR..

So that was my (as Matteo says) "Homer Simpson D'Oh!"- moment of the year.



(On extremely grogged clay there was far less of this particular issue.... Just so happens I was working with a lot of "smooth")

 

[Colorado]

While making the pots, and the year before, I had no issues with superficial (or slightly more "ficial" ) cracking round those joints.

The only reason I KNOW that the coils were to blame is the fact that I HAD some boxed up greenware, going to be sent to a friend for firing... I ended up unboxing the pieces, which I had constructed the previous year.. with similar clay bodies as the ones in question. The ONLY difference was those dern coils.

They fired, PERFECTLY.

GRRRRR..

So that was my (as Matteo says) "Homer Simpson D'Oh!"- moment of the year.



(On extremely grogged clay there was far less of this particular issue.... Just so happens I was working with a lot of "smooth")

Well, pottery has been a tremendously humbling experience so far. I am not expecting the firing to be any different!

I’m prepared for some failures. Then will adapt and try to figure it out!

 

[Wood]

...The ONLY difference was those dern coils.

They fired, PERFECTLY....

What about the reinforcing coils caused the seams to crack? Complete ceramics newbie, but I thought that was a pretty standard handbuilding technique to increase join strength and want to know what to avoid

 

[HorseloverFat]

What about the reinforcing coils caused the seams to crack? Complete ceramics newbie, but I thought that was a pretty standard handbuilding technique to increase join strength and want to know what to avoid

Even uneven reinforcing coils will work on high-grog, structural chunky clay bodies

On smoother clays, especially those higher in fire-clay, kaolin and bentonite. With shrinkage rates above 10 percent, Your coils will need to be perfect and subtle if not making your seams FROM the walls/floor... Or else there is too much "pull", at least for me.

I was throwing extra joints around the feet, too... And I'm not perfect at rolling coils.. and do not have an extruder...

The method definitely CAN work... It just didn't.. for ME.

 

[HorseloverFat]

Well, pottery has been a tremendously humbling experience so far. I am not expecting the firing to be any different!

I’m prepared for some failures. Then will adapt and try to figure it out!

Ok GOOD..

cause it was a heartbreaking thing to go through!

 

[Colorado]

The eagle has landed!

 

[penumbra]

When is the maiden voyage?

 

[HorseloverFat]

The eagle has landed!
View attachment 473963

Shiny!!!!

 

[Apex37]

Write me in for one of the many that would love to purchase a piece of your work! I really enjoy the unique shapes you’ve been making that we don’t see much of.
I’m taking a pottery class at the local college this semester and have so much to learn, but what I have learned, almost immediately, is how difficult it is to build a nice pot.

 

[Colorado]

When is the maiden voyage?

Haha! Here in the next few days…once I figure out how to drive this thing!

 

[Colorado]

Write me in for one of the many that would love to purchase a piece of your work! I really enjoy the unique shapes you’ve been making that we don’t see much of.
I’m taking a pottery class at the local college this semester and have so much to learn, but what I have learned, almost immediately, is how difficult it is to build a nice pot.

Thanks so much! Just let me know what shape/size/color you would like and I can make it for ya!

 

[Carol 83]

Thanks so much! Just let me know what shape/size/color you would like and I can make it for ya!

Hey now, I believe I showed interest in a hexagon pot awhile back.

 

[Colorado]

Hey now, I believe I showed interest in a hexagon pot awhile back.

Oh I know…I have something for you! I am going to be working on a purple glaze that you might like once I have the glazes figured out I will be sending something your way!

 

[Apex37]

Thanks so much! Just let me know what shape/size/color you would like and I can make it for ya!

Sweeeet! I’ll be sending you a PM when I figure all that out. I have one singular unglazed pot and it’s being used right now, so definitely wanna get one from ya. I have a juniper project I’m about to start working on that I think could work.

 

[Apex37]

Also, this thread has helped me a lot and inspired me to start one of my own once I feel comfortable showing my pieces to you guys. We haven’t learned slab building yet in my class, just pinch pots, coil pots, and got to throw on the wheel for the first time last week. The closest I’ve come to complete peace (outside of hiking in nature) was on the wheel though. Can’t wait to learn more!

Been busy between work and repots, so I haven’t got very far into it yet, but I was recommended John Britt’s Complete Guide to Mid-Range Glazes. Might be a book worth checking out if you’re looking to get into glazing, if you don’t already own it already.

 

[Carol 83]

Oh I know…I have something for you! I am going to be working on a purple glaze that you might like once I have the glazes figured out I will be sending something your way!

 

[Colorado]

Took it for a test drive yesterday per manufacturer specs….Success! (Took the photo at 1799 but it continued climbing after that - rec was to fire to Cone 04 medium speed to break in the elements which is what I did).

Currently first round of pots is bisque firing so this weekend I will be figuring out how to glaze!

 

[August44]

What cone temp are you glaze fireing to?

 

[penumbra]

I am really pleased for you my friend.
You have entered a zone of whereabouts unknown.
There is no return.
Resistance is futile.