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nancylee, on 22 May 2013 - 03:53 PM, said:

When throwing plates, you can become more consistent size wise by weighing out the amounts, 4-5 lbs. use calipers if it is important to get same size. Use wetter clay to throw plates than you normally use. Watch rim thickness, and make certain after opened up to compress the bottom well-I use a large wooden rim that is curved slightly for mine laying it on its side partway. Throw on bats to aid in removal. If you are doing these things, I don't know what the problem is, but maybe this will help. Considering the time frame you are talking about here, you may find rolling out a thick slab, placing it on a bat, trimming to size compressing the bottom, and then lifting a rim easier. I don't know. Plates do take some practice. Hope I could help you.

Benzine, on 22 May 2013 - 03:37 PM, said:

I used the Walker at school for 25 years, we bought it new. I would pug clay that had been slaked down and left sit for a month, mixing this with pots that had been slopped for some reason or other but kept wet. I went through major pugging at the end of the year, filling 55 gal. buckets with new clay. These I would cover with old wet towels and put the tight lids on over top. In the Fall when we returned, I would start from boxed clay that was new for the Ceramics 1's. The Ceramics 2 students had to use the old clay-poor things! The old clay had become so plastic over the summer much better than the new boxed stuff. Their gripe was that they had to dig it out of the bucket. I always found that a mix of slaked clay and pots that had been leather hard or less worked to together to have a pretty reasonable clay.

Nowadays I recycle by throwing my splash pan slop and trimmings into a bag, spray some water inside, twist it closed, and turn the bag upside down. Usually two weeks later I wedge it up to reuse. At this point I don't have problems wedging 15-20 lb at a time, and usually do so at least 400 turns when it is that size. Most times my bag fulls are smaller. If need be I use cut and smash with finger pokes in each bread piece spraying with water, slamming, turning and cutting until consistent then return to cone wedging.Then I usually leave this set for two weeks before use.

Chris Campbell, on 20 May 2013 - 10:25 AM, said:

I might match it by using a template on the outside, then sandblast the greenware piece with a fine sandblaster like what is used on glass dishes. Then glaze. Either way you look at it, it is aaammmazing! Puzzling too!

GEP, on 21 May 2013 - 11:37 AM, said:

Right on! A comfortable handle, good weight, comfortable not too thin rim with lip curve, smooth bottom, and pleasing decoration: all of these point to a professional piece of pottery well worth the purchase price.

celia12345678910, on 21 May 2013 - 01:12 PM, said:

Just watched your video, big changes country to city and back again. As stated before it is great that you live in a community that supports the arts so well. Happy Potting!