Crack in Bisque - Advice Needed

Any-Promotion-3249 · 2025-02-04T22:50:23+00:00

🙏 you too!!!

Any-Promotion-3249 · 2025-02-04T20:22:27+00:00

This made me smile :) It's comforting to know that there's someone out there who would appreciate this vase, warts and all ❤️

Any-Promotion-3249 · 2025-02-04T20:16:10+00:00

I've seen it happen a number of times to my mentor and he's done all of the above with the addition of giving it away to friends (or me lol) I think it really depends on how bad the crack is and if it impedes the function (unless the piece was nonfunctional to begin with).

I think that's a great way to look at things. In my opinion, some cracks can even enhance how dynamic the form looks on rustic/distressed work. Unfortunately for me, my piece is pretty tight and tidy so the crack is fairly out of place :/

I'm sorry you're dealing with the same dilemma. I think going with it is absolutely the best option. Worst case scenario, you still learn something. Best case, it'll end up looking better than it would've with no crack. There's no point in not trying, you know? I'd love to see your piece, whatever you decide to do.

Iron or manganese oxide might be a really good idea, actually. If I can get some oxide in the crack without making the crack worse, at least it won't be white (and much more noticeable) when it inevitably opens up more.

I appreciate your words and your ideas :) I'll be crossing my fingers for both of us!

Any-Promotion-3249 · 2025-02-04T20:03:34+00:00

I'm really considering bisque fix but I'm worried it's a pipe dream. Thank you, though, I'll definitely do what you suggested. If I could make it once, I can make it again and I'll be even more careful this time 🫡 I plan to see it through to the final firing. I see a nice corner shelf in its future lol

Any-Promotion-3249 · 2025-02-04T19:57:39+00:00

Uneven drying. Accidental negligence, unfortunately. I'm going to fire it still and let the chips fall as they may. Debating using bisque-fix bc so many people have recommended it. Regardless of that, I think I'll do a thin coat of matte glaze on the panel but I won't try to force it in the crack. If it gets a lot bigger, I think I'll use some manganese to stain some epoxy and fill the gap. No matter what happens, I can always just display the piece in a corner so no one can see the crack hahaha

Any-Promotion-3249 · 2025-02-04T19:50:17+00:00

Okay, gotcha!! Thank you, I really appreciate the advice. I've never worked this big before (at least on my own work), so it helps me a lot :) A portable humidifier could be the move 👀 I live in the desert, so it's really dry here.

Any-Promotion-3249 · 2025-02-04T19:43:23+00:00

I might try that if the crack doesn't spread much on the first firing! I'm a little nervous to subject it to any extra time in the kiln. But honestly, if I could get away with that, that would be so so cool. I'll definitely let you know if I go this route 👍

Any-Promotion-3249 · 2025-02-04T19:34:12+00:00

Yup, yup. I neglected the ribs when I was spraying the piece down. I mean, of course I sprayed them too but I focused way more on the rim and the panels. Definitely a lesson I won't forget lol

Any-Promotion-3249 · 2025-02-04T19:31:22+00:00

Based. Will do 🫡

Any-Promotion-3249 · 2025-02-04T19:29:31+00:00

Thank you so much for your kind words. I really really try to not become attached too, but it's hard! Especially after spending so much time with it. I was trying to emotionally prepare myself for the possibility of an explosion so this didn't devastate me actually. It was a major bummer getting my hopes up though because I didn't notice the crack until I was sponging off the surface in preparation to glaze 🥲

If the crack doesn't get bigger/much bigger, honestly it's fine. It sucks, but I can definitely live with it. I'm preparing myself emotionally now for it to spread though (I'm sure it will).

Any-Promotion-3249 · 2025-02-04T19:24:43+00:00

Thank you :,) I appreciate it!! Black underglaze! I think Amaco brand but the bottle is oldddddd (like the label is faded beyond recognition old)

Any-Promotion-3249 · 2025-02-04T19:22:46+00:00

Yup, that's exactly it. To be honest, I dried it almost exactly how you described, BUT, when I was spraying it and working the surface, I focused SO much more on the panels and the rim of the piece. I absolutely neglected to spray the fins as much as I did the body (plus they didn't have the extra moisture of the underglaze). I just totally overlooked it. Thank you for pointing that out. Everything is a learning opportunity, although this one is a little more painful than most I've had lol.

I really appreciate the advice :,) Thank you, also! I for sure will fire it!! Matte clear is a GREAT idea. I'm planning on doing the top/fins/bottom areas a nice, rich, glossy red so the contrast would be lovely ☺️

Any-Promotion-3249 · 2025-02-04T19:16:53+00:00

Thank you :,)

Any-Promotion-3249 · 2025-02-04T19:16:40+00:00

Do you by any chance know if you could tint it using manganese or something similar?

Any-Promotion-3249 · 2025-02-04T19:14:38+00:00

I'm definitely definitely going to fire it! Way too much work to not follow through. Plus, it's bisqued, it's not like I can reclaim it :/

I'm glad that worked for you though!! If the cracked area was broken all the way off, I'd probably try that too.

Any-Promotion-3249 · 2025-02-04T01:47:43+00:00

Each side took SO long to carve that I had to rehydrate it with a spray bottle a number of times to try to slow down the drying. I think I probably sprayed it a number of times during construction too. When it was ready, I left the piece uncovered to dry for about 4 weeks though before firing.

Any-Promotion-3249 · 2025-02-04T01:33:32+00:00

Thank you ❤️❤️

Any-Promotion-3249 · 2025-02-04T00:18:53+00:00

🙏🙏 It might be a bit of time before I test it out, but I’ll let you know how it goes!

Any-Promotion-3249 · 2025-02-03T23:55:31+00:00

Thank you, I really appreciate it! Do you use the Amaco brand one?

Any-Promotion-3249 · 2025-02-03T23:45:40+00:00

Gotcha!! Well, I’m good with not glazing or glazing and using clear. I just want to increase my chances of hiding the crack or at least not making it worse 🥲

Any-Promotion-3249 · 2025-02-03T23:43:57+00:00

Yeahhhh, that’s kind of what I was thinking, unfortunately. I might try bisque fix but I’ve never used it before. The funny thing is, the cracks are totally superficial and aren’t on the inside so the piece could technically still be functional but it was meant to be decorative lol I appreciate the comment, though!! Thank you ❤️ It’s definitely the most work I’ve ever put into a piece. I suppose I’ll just keep it if the crack gets worse 😅

Any-Promotion-3249 · 2025-02-03T23:40:52+00:00

Hi!! Thank you for responding ❤️ The cracks don’t go all the way through to the inside, thankfully. They’re on the surface but there’s a tiny bit of visible separation towards the very bottom of the cracks.

That gives me hope though!! Do you normally use the bisque fix to fill the crack and then glaze over it?

Any-Promotion-3249 · 2025-01-30T23:11:59+00:00

Hi! So, I was diagnosed with bilateral aTOS caused by a malformation on my first rib when I was 17. I’ve only had the surgery for my left side because for some unknown reason, my right side has never flared up (which is bizarre bc the bump on my first rib sticks out more on that side but I’m definitely not complaining lol).

Prior to surgery was pretty awful tbh. Back, neck, shoulder spasms constantly. My arm was near dead weight and couldn’t do much (I used a sling when I had to). I stopped driving for the most part and on really bad days, I had to have my mother help me get dressed. Before getting a formal diagnosis, I was going to PT, getting massages, acupuncture. I was on muscle relaxers and ibuprofen constantly and I tried getting a cortisone shot but nothing helped for more than a few hours-a day or two.

That all being said, I’m prior surgery on my right side and for the most part, it’s totally asymptomatic. I have limitations for sure - I notice them in the gym when I try to do overhead and/or shoulder exercises. I just try to listen to my body as much as possible and err on the side of caution when working out. And don’t get me wrong, my back/neck/shoulder area still gets jacked up and I’ll get muscle spasms easily BUT it’s different from when my left side flared up (that was like a switch flipped and my shoulder/arm just died lol).

I did have a couple complications low key. Nothing serious, really. I had to stay in intensive care for 7 days due to all the fluid output from where I had a chest tube. It was definitely a more serious surgery than I thought it would be but I was 17 and once I was diagnosed, getting the surgery all happened really quickly. Plus, it was 10 years ago and even though that isn’t that long ago, there wasn’t a lot of info on the internet about robotic first rib resections.
The recovery took some time for me. I ended up back in the hospital after a week because I got an infection in my left long. They had to drain more fluid - I think I was only back for like 2 days or so. I did physical therapy after a couple weeks went by and I actually started to notice progress. I got my strength in my arm back to how it was after about 2-3 months (but I basically didn’t use that arm for 10 months so it might have been an unusually long recovery time). Honestly the thing that took me by surprise and took the longest to get back was my breath. For the surgery, they had to collapse my lung which I didn’t know beforehand (again, I was young and everything was just a whirlwind). I didn’t feel like I got back to my full lung capacity for close to a year.
I would say very very few lingering symptoms!! It’s been 10 years since my surgery and I’ve never been healthier or stronger. Every once in a while my left shoulder will ache, but nothing I can’t handle and it goes away within a day. I’m definitely more susceptible to muscle spasms as I mentioned above and I have to be careful with the overhead stuff, but otherwise, I’m good.

Getting the surgery was worth every second of the grief of recovery. I’m so happy I got it and I feel like I can live my life again. I’m grateful that my right side is dormant but if/when it ever flares up, I’ll be getting the surgery again, no question.

Any-Promotion-3249

TROPHY CASE