Lesley
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Firing Greenware to Bisque – 11 Tips on Bisque Firing
When I first got my kiln, I had no idea how to use it. The first hurdle was to learn about firing greenware to bisque. It was a bit of a learning curve for me and some of it I learned through trial and error. So, I thought it would be helpful to put together…
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Pottery Plaster Vs Plaster of Paris – Which to Use?
Plaster has lots of uses for potters. For example, it can be used, for mold making, casting, and making damp boxes. But there are a lot of different types of plaster. And if you are trying to figure out which one to use, it can be confusing. In particular, you might be wondering about the…
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4 Potter’s Choice Glaze Problems – And How I Solved Them
I really like the look of flowing glazes, so when I first saw the Potter’s Choice range, I loved them. When I began to use them, I had a few difficulties and I wasn’t getting the results I wanted. With a bit of research, and with trial and error, I have worked through these. Here…
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Can you Refire Underfired Glaze? – Rescuing Your Pots
A lot of heart and soul can go into making your pottery. So, it can be gutting when your glaze doesn’t turn out how you wanted it to. If your glaze is underfired, you might be wondering if you can do anything to salvage your work. The question is, can you refire underfired glaze to…
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Pottery for Beginners – How to Start Making Pottery at Home
Pottery for beginners can be very exciting. It can also feel a bit overwhelming. It can seem like there is a lot to learn. And like most hobbies, the more you learn, the more you realize you don’t know. But pottery is really just about making things out of mud! All you really need to…
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What is a Kiln Sitter? – And How do Kiln Sitters Work?
When you are firing pottery in a kiln, you need to control the temperature that the kiln reaches. You also need to control how long it takes for the kiln to reach that temperature. So, what is a kiln sitter? There are three main types of kiln controller. They are the fully manual controller, the…
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Can you Stack Greenware in a Bisque Fire? Stacking Greenware
When I first started firing my own pottery, I was very cautious about how I loaded the kiln. I’d heard that greenware pottery could touch when it was being fired, but I didn’t quite trust this was true. After a while, I wanted to know if I could bisque fire more pottery in one load. …
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Kiln Maintenance – 19 Tips on How to Look After Your Kiln
When I bought my kiln, I was so excited to use it, I didn’t think too much about kiln maintenance. But kilns are like cars, they have parts that wear out and need replacing. And the more you use them the more quickly they will need replacing. Also, like a car, if you look after…
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Buying a Used Kiln – 12 Top Tips on Second Hand Kilns
Buying your first kiln is exciting, but it can also be confusing. A lot of times when you look at listings for used kilns, the information in the advert can be patchy. However, even buying a used kiln can be a big investment. So, it’s good to have an idea of what to look for. …
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How to Glaze Pottery at Home – With or Without a Kiln
If you are starting your pottery journey, you may be wondering just how to glaze pottery at home. Is it possible? What are your options? You will be pleased to know that it is completely possible to glaze pottery at home. This article is all about the different ways to glaze pottery both with and…
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How Long Should Glaze Dry Before Firing? Drying Glaze
When I first started glazing my own pottery, I wondered how long should glaze dry before firing? I was well aware that greenware can explode in the kiln if it is fired when damp. But what about glazed bisque ware? Glaze contains water, so does that water need to be given time to evaporate before…
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How to Seal Raku Pottery – Can Raku Be Waterproof?
Raku pottery can look lovely. However, it is porous and fragile. The question of whether raku is waterproof has been debated for a long time. There has been much debate around whether can raku be food-safe. This article looks at these issues and considers whether there are effective ways to seal raku pottery. There are…