11 days past the earthquake in Japan. My family and friends are safe. I was very hard for me to watching TV, and talking to my family. They are in Tokyo, so they had no direct damage, but got a large earthquake and following lots of aftershocks, which they have never experienced before. Now, the radiation scare starts to set-in. My parent lives near many foreign embassies, and are customs to see many foreign people. They told me most of foreign people are gone home, and the supermarket specializing the foreign goods are vacant. I hope quick recovery.
I had very good firing over the weekend. A bowl in one of the saggar with a tight cover got too much reduction. I will put a gap at the lid at the next firing.
Teapot 5-7 are fired.
Teapot 5 fired
Teapot 6 fired
Teapot 7 fired
First firing in 2011 is done. It was ok firing. Fired the flat pieces, pitcher, and soy pourer. I like them. The shape gives more dimensions, and the softness to the curve. I glued the cork to the cap, and looks good, I think. Now moved to the teapot.
I fixed the LCD of my netbook, the first replacement LCD I bought at the EBay did not work well, but second one I picked up the website recommended in this blog worked perfectly. I changed the wifi network adapter to Intel Wifi Link 5100 as well. Reception in the basement went up significantly. It was from 802.11b/g to 802.11n with the same g router. I am pleasantly surprised. On the very bad note, my ford winstar is in shop, will cost $1600 to repair the engine malfunction light. It was running all right, though. Well, lots of mugs. Mug is so cheap compared to these repairs. I am in wrong business….
Leaves are burning right now. It is definitely one of beautiful season in Rochester.
Flesh out of the kiln. I test the mugs with boiling water once a while to see any problem with the thermal shock.
They passed.
Thermal shock. If you pour water in ice cube, it cracks. It is similar to that. Sudden change of temperature makes the clay and the glaze to expand, if their rates are not the same, it cracks.
If you throw the pot unevenly, it may causes the thermal shock. If the clay and glaze do not fit, the properties of the clay, list goes on. It is good idea to put a spoon (metal) in a cup when pour the hot boiling water, and start with the cold oven. I usually put a dish in 355F oven as long it is room temperature (not from fridge), though. I read somewhere that 400F is too hot. I stop making the pie dish long time ago, as everyone bakes differently, and sometimes it broke beyond my control, but I replaced them anyway.
I am testing a white glaze recently. I used to use the Vivika’s white glaze until I start using the white stoneware and it started to crazing. I am not sure how I am going to apply it. This glaze does not show any crazing on the current clay.
Comments (0) 
Themocracy