: Mark C. - Viewing Profile

I do not own either of these wheels but my opinion is clay boss is a lesser wheel than a Thomas Stuart in terms of lasting longer without issues. I know people with both wheels as well as being around them in school settings..
Glad you like your clay boss lets hope it is trouble free for years.
Mark

You could also fill it with the special ITC filler and wash over it . This stuff is spendy but works great.
Mark

You can fire as fast as your furniture can take really. The thing that folks have eluded to is that many glazes look better with some time near high points to mature. That is the time they are very near end point in a cone or temperature setting. Most glazes will look better if allowed to have a slower time around maturing temperature-that is slow down near the end so they can mature slowly. This way the crystals can mature and the glaze matrix will look better. The cool down also needs to be slower so the glaze can cool slowly from the top end. This will make your glazes look better..
If you want to really find out how this works you can try what I did in 1972 fired my small gas kiln to cone 10 then unbrick the door as soon as it turns off. This reveals all glaze /body flaws such as shivering and dunting and can lead to kiln shelve loss. You only need to do this once to learn the down side to quick cooling.
Since then I was nicknamed the Cooler King until Steve MaQueen got the name in the great Escape.
I like a two day cool now unless its a time squeeze.
Its good to test the limits in ceramics to know what they truly are as many limits taught in schools are not really where you may think.
Mark

Northstars used to be poorly made but the last one I inspected was way better built than say 15 years ago.
I still feel the best ones are Baileys but thats after using one in production for many years as well as seeing them hold up in school situations for many many years and still keep on going strong.
Like a timex it keeps on ticking.
I know know nothing about slab masters.
Sounds like a late night TV cutting board ad-you get not one but two slab masters and wait there more a bamboo steamer tossed in for free for 3 easy payments of 39.95 plus shipping and handling charge of 29.95
Mark

Ceramics do not drill well-the chances it dies are very high with drilling-if you do use a diamond or masonary bit water and go REALLY slow
I would not drill it as its asking for trouble and thier are many ways to avoid it and have it still work as a drum .
Next drum make the holes first.
Mark