Martin Howard on wed 5 dec 01
This question comes up quite often.
We worry about the smoothness of our shelves.
We add batwash, which often peels unevenly.
Then we put pots on them which have already been partly dried, unevenly.
The bottom, less dry part, goes on the shelf.
There is crack! Surprise?
One way round is to turn footrings so that all the ware is the same
thickness.
Then make three channels through the footring so the underneath is in
contact with the outside air.
That way the heat of the kiln permeates right around the ware, instead of
the bottom staying cool, because it is in contact with the cooler shelf,
while the rest of the ware is heated by radiation from the elements.
The thinner footring support also then means that any shrinkage can be
easily accommodated, especially if the bottom of the footring is smoothed
with the 'potter's thumb'. It's a question of seeing in your mind how the
whole kiln works while the pots are 'cooking'.
Martin Howard
Webbs Cottage Pottery
Woolpits Road, Great Saling
BRAINTREE, Essex CM7 5DZ
01371 850 423
martin@webbscottage.co.uk
http://www.webbscottage.co.uk
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