Working back and fourth with customer to agree on project requirements. Once agreed, create a template and repeatability tools to produce the item accurately and consistant
Proposal revision three  |
Face layout - Approved!
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Create template
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Create stamp (bisque)
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Clay needs to be soft for stamping and leather hard for assembling
Stamp for name plate - soft clay
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Cover clay to harden a bit
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Smooth other side
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Plan for template location
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Cut pieces using the templates made earlier
Mark template outline
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Cut slab
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One of four is cut
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Measure and cut sides
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All connection points are required to be mitered at 45 degrees, scored and applied with magic Water (see link for magic Water recipe). Using slip only may not be good enough for large forms and the seam might separate in drying or firing.
Use miter to bevel edges (3 of 4)
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Score mitered edges
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Used magic water (not slip)
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Attached front to side panel
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Thin coil is required to be applied first to all joints so that in can squeeze in all the smallest gaps. Second, thicker coil, is required to create a stronger bond between the pieces and create aesthetically pleasing curves
Make thin coil (soft clay)
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Place coil in seam
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Blend with wooden tool
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Smooth and compress coil
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Repeat with thicker coil
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Blend coil in
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Flip as shown
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Compress corners
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Smooth and round corners
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Place back panel
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Repeat coils process
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Measure and mark bottom slab
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Bevel bottom slab's edges
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Check for fitness
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Connect and paddle bottom
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Place coil on bottom and smooth
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Paddle for foot shape
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Repeat in back side
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Cut strips for rim
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Measure, cut angles and connect
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"beefing up" the rim is required to provide strength to minimize warping and to create a pleasing visual.
Use coil as shown
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Take a "Cat break"
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Completed construction effort
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Underglaze Howdy Doody
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Drying slowly is very important. Cover the whole pot loosely for a week or two before letting it dry exposed. During the drying process, our clay will shrink 6% in length. Meaning, a 12 inch clay length, will shrink one inch (8% in surface area and 12% in volume). If the pot does not dry evenly and slowly, the one inch movement will create a crack some place in the pot most likely in one of the rim's top corner. More about drying and firing pottery.
Underglaze lettering (with helpers)
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Dry covered VERY slowly
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Bisque fired - ready for glazing)
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Pouring black glaze
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Kiln programing for bisque firing was set to 10 hours pre heating (or candling) to 180 degree F and with a very slow ramping to cone 06 (1828 degree F). Glaze firing is set to cone 6 (2,232 degree F), medium firing speed and hold-up time of 15 minutes. Place in the middle of the kiln with some mass over the pot's rim. To avoid quick cooling, make sure the kiln is loaded with other pots or many kiln shelves. If your kiln has the capability, use the active computerized cooling feature. DO NOT open the kiln's lid even for a second until temperature drops to about 120 degree F to avoid uneven cooling cracks. See FIRING ELECTRIC KILN tips
Spray glazing - clear glaze
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Finished and ready for shipping
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