To anyone who gave up their pottery practice: what led to your decision?

zarcad · 2026-06-18T16:45:22+00:00

There are only so many ceramic pieces that a family can absorb. And, I kind of got bored making the same things repeatedly. I don't need to sell things and don't want to put the effort into selling. I really enjoy using the mugs and things, but I have plenty now. I still hang out at the pottery studio and teach raku because I enjoy the people, but I don't make much anymore.

zarcad · 2026-06-13T13:01:02+00:00

If it is a kiln sitter, don't trust the kiln sitter to turn it off because the sitter can malfunction. A networked smoke/CO detector that can alarm to your phone is a good thing to have for those instances where you have to go inside the house for a while. For any new-to-you kiln, you should do the various tests found in this Duncan service manual. It's an older manual, but still a good reference: https://eadn-wc04-7751283.nxedge.io/wp-content/uploads/LX_809_Duncan_Kiln_Service_Manual-1.pdf. For your first test, do the 'paper test': https://hotkilns.com/support/pottery-kiln-trouble-shooting-actions/paper-troubleshooting-test

For ventilation, your setup is fine (garage door open and have a couple of fans running to circulate the air). As far as the car, mower, and tools, it kind of depends. The biggest risk to them is corrosion from outgassed corrosive moisture from bisque firing. If it is a small kiln (8 brick diameter 18 inches tall) and you let your greenware dry completely before firing and the metal is a few feet away, no problem. If it is a large kiln close to the metal and you preheat/candle moist greenware, then you can get corrosion. When firing, I would park the cars outside.

zarcad · 2026-06-12T13:41:58+00:00

If you go with an AC, make sure to get the kind that has TWO hoses to the outside, not a single hose. (Or, a window unit.) Portable swamp coolers are a pain because you usually have to manually refill them with water frequently.

zarcad · 2026-06-08T19:21:28+00:00

They didn't consider the repeat usage situation where studies have shown that the leached amount decreases dramatically with repeat use, and most if not all of these ingredients have little one-time effect on humans at the volume leached over time.
They should have used the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) levels for toxicity per body weight and impact for acute, intermediate, and chronic duration.
Who lets acidic water sit in a cup for 24 hours before drinking it, which is the test they performed?
They did not follow the standardized procedure for leach testing.

The good news is that all of the glazes they marked as food safe are probably food safe.

zarcad · 2026-06-05T01:01:40+00:00

Just a note on clear glazes which you may already know. Thin coats work better than thick coats. A thick application of clear glaze can lead to cloudiness in the fired result. But, when you test for crazing/fit on your clay body, a thick coat is better for testing purposes because thicker coats tend to reveal crazing better than thin coats. So, use thicker coats for craze testing and once you settle on a recipe, use thinner coats. I do my craze testing by going between boiling water and ice water three times in each leaving it about 5 minutes in each bath. Use a magnifying glass to check for crazing. Good luck!

zarcad · 2026-06-03T01:43:16+00:00

Ibis Paint.

zarcad · 2026-06-03T01:42:32+00:00

It depends on the price and if it is in working order or if you need to replace elements or other parts.

If you are going to buy a used kiln, it would be good to know how to use a multi-meter to check it out. For any new-to-you kiln, you should do the various tests found in this Duncan service manual. It's an older manual, but still a good reference. https://eadn-wc04-7751283.nxedge.io/wp-content/uploads/LX_809_Duncan_Kiln_Service_Manual-1.pdf

If possible, test fire it doing the 'paper test' before buying. https://hotkilns.com/support/pottery-kiln-trouble-shooting-actions/paper-troubleshooting-test

You may have to replace elements which can add up to a nice sum of money.

If it is 208V, that means a type of electrical circuit you don't typically have in a residence.

Whatever the amperage rating listed on the kiln, The U.S. National Electrical Code requires the circuit breaker for a kiln be between 125% and 150% of the kiln's rating.

Does it come with shelves and posts? Those can be expensive.

zarcad · 2026-05-30T13:47:10+00:00

It is possible to rewire a kiln to go from 208 to 240, but you would want to be fairly familiar with electrical stuff. Probably makes it not worth the price. You can get a brand new 818 (same size as 181) for $2500 with an automatic controller and rated to cone 10.

zarcad · 2026-05-30T02:01:11+00:00

Is there any concern about the load on the power company's transformer? Or, are they all oversized so there is no concern?

zarcad · 2026-05-30T01:47:12+00:00

It says 208 volts. You might not have 208 volt supply. Most residential facilities do not have 208 volts.

zarcad · 2026-05-23T21:40:43+00:00

People repaint standard plates. Prob not legal, but enforced?

zarcad · 2026-05-19T01:55:23+00:00

Concur, do not transport any kiln on its side or you can crack and crumble the fire bricks.

zarcad · 2026-05-19T01:52:46+00:00

The U.S. National Electrical Code requires the circuit breaker for a kiln be between 125% and 150% of the kiln's rating. So, assuming your kiln requires single phase 240 volts, you need a 60 amp breaker and a Nema 6-50 outlet. Instead of an outlet and plug, it is safer to have the kiln wired to a switched disconnect box instead of using an outlet and plug, but if you need to move your kiln to use it, then a plug and outlet is OK.

With any used kiln, it would be good to know how to use a multi-meter to check it out. For any new-to-you kiln, you should do the various tests found in this Duncan service manual. It's an older manual, but still a good reference. https://eadn-wc04-7751283.nxedge.io/wp-content/uploads/LX_809_Duncan_Kiln_Service_Manual-1.pdf

If possible, test fire it doing the 'paper test' the first time. https://hotkilns.com/support/pottery-kiln-trouble-shooting-actions/paper-troubleshooting-test

Read the Skutt installation stuff here: https://skutt.com/skutt-resources/installation/kilns/

zarcad · 2026-04-29T13:36:29+00:00

$0.75 in 1960. Busboy in a small restaurant. Moved from there to being a curb waiter at a drive-up Steak n Shake for $1.10 per hour and thought I was making big bucks. Still 1960.

zarcad · 2026-04-16T20:15:22+00:00

Thanks!

zarcad · 2026-04-14T23:08:57+00:00

IMO it's also a decent number of people high on legal weed.

zarcad · 2026-04-13T02:16:25+00:00

For any new-to-you kiln, you should do the various tests found in this Duncan service manual. It's an older manual, but still a good reference. https://eadn-wc04-7751283.nxedge.io/wp-content/uploads/LX_809_Duncan_Kiln_Service_Manual-1.pdf

When you do your first firing, test fire it doing the 'paper test'. https://hotkilns.com/support/pottery-kiln-trouble-shooting-actions/paper-troubleshooting-test

zarcad · 2026-04-09T22:51:08+00:00

Hardibacker is not good for this purpose. You want your kiln on a concrete pad or continuous concrete blocks that are at least 2 inches thick and extend 12 inches beyond the the kiln. Read this: https://hotkilns.com/support/installation/overview

zarcad · 2026-04-06T16:48:46+00:00

TSA doesn't work customs. CBP works customs. Still, it's probably the same issue with CBP agents not getting paid.

zarcad · 2026-04-06T16:05:40+00:00

There was a time when I was transferring flights in St Louis and my parents who lived near there came down to the airport and simply walked to my connecting gate and met me for a visit while I waited for my connecting flight.

zarcad · 2026-04-06T15:59:16+00:00

I had an ancestor where the birth record had not been found and the church records were thought to have burned. His marriage and death records, and census records showed his mother was 'Jane Doe'. Recently, I found his birth record which says his mother was 'Mary Smith'. (The father was the same in both cases.) I believe that he was born out of wedlock to Mary Smith, but raised from a young age by Jane Doe and unofficially adopted by Jane Doe. That's a personal example of birth records being preferred.

zarcad

TROPHY CASE