Featured Discussions - Electric Mid&Hi Fired Ceramics2024-03-19T02:56:19Zhttps://cone6pots.ning.com/forum/topic/list?feed=yes&xn_auth=no&featured=1Replacing Materials that Are No Longer Produced or Have Changed Greatlytag:cone6pots.ning.com,2014-02-19:2103784:Topic:975472014-02-19T16:43:48.869ZGeorge Lewterhttps://cone6pots.ning.com/profile/GeorgeLewter
<p>In the last couple of decades we have seen a number of materials that were in widespread use by potters suddenly go out of production. One of the earliest in my recollection was Albany Slip which provided the brown glaze on porcelain electrical power line insulators across North America for more than a century. It seems that the rate at which standard materials are disappearing has been accelerating in the last few years. Gerstley borate is a material that was discontinued, caused massive…</p>
<p>In the last couple of decades we have seen a number of materials that were in widespread use by potters suddenly go out of production. One of the earliest in my recollection was Albany Slip which provided the brown glaze on porcelain electrical power line insulators across North America for more than a century. It seems that the rate at which standard materials are disappearing has been accelerating in the last few years. Gerstley borate is a material that was discontinued, caused massive distress in the pottery community, and was actually put back into production after raw stockpiles were found and purchased by Laguna Clay Company.</p>
<p>G-200 feldspar ran out and was replaced with a different formulation, G-200HP. Kona F-4 feldpar is gone, as is Cornwall Stone and other materials seem to be going at such a rate that it is getting hard to keep track. </p>
<p><span style="font-size: 13px;">This discussion topic is a place to note <strong>common</strong> materials that are becoming scarce or unavailable, and to post the best available substitutes for them. It is not intended to be exhaustive, because that is already a mission of Tony Hansen and the digitalfire Ceramic Materials Database. It is intended only to be a quick reference for major ceramic materials that may be disappearing. </span></p> Alfred University Fundamentals of Ceramicstag:cone6pots.ning.com,2014-02-15:2103784:Topic:970782014-02-15T19:53:55.153ZNorm Stuarthttps://cone6pots.ning.com/profile/NormStuart
<p><strong>Twelve Lectures explaining the science behind ceramic materials and firing them - everything but glaze making.</strong></p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>> > > <a href="https://www.mediafire.com/folder/qaoaccdlmxv4r/Ceramics" target="_blank">Download Link for Alfred University Files</a> </strong></p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>01 Geology</strong></p>
<p><strong>02 Raw Materials and Minerology</strong></p>
<p><strong>03 Fluxes</strong></p>
<p><strong>04 …</strong></p>
<p><strong>Twelve Lectures explaining the science behind ceramic materials and firing them - everything but glaze making.</strong></p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>> > > <a href="https://www.mediafire.com/folder/qaoaccdlmxv4r/Ceramics" target="_blank">Download Link for Alfred University Files</a> </strong></p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>01 Geology</strong></p>
<p><strong>02 Raw Materials and Minerology</strong></p>
<p><strong>03 Fluxes</strong></p>
<p><strong>04 Fillers<br/></strong></p>
<p><strong>05 Water<br/></strong></p>
<p><strong>06 Particle Orientation</strong></p>
<p><strong>07 Drying</strong></p>
<p><strong>08 Kiln Firing</strong></p>
<p><strong>09 Ceramic Tape</strong></p>
<p><strong>10 Slip Casting</strong></p>
<p><strong>11 Slips and Engobes</strong></p>
<p><strong>12 Clay Bodies</strong></p>
<p></p>
<p>These lectures cover just about every topic other than Glaze making. Reading each of these lectures have greatly improved the quality of the work people do at our studio.</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #808080;">Sample Illustration from Lecture 11 Slips and Engobes</span></strong></p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3036819938?profile=original"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3036819938?profile=original" width="648"/></a></p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #808080;">Sample Illustration from Lecture 2 Raw Materials and Mineralogy</span></strong><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3036820203?profile=original"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3036820203?profile=original" width="648"/></a></p> ^6 Flameware - Clay Body Recipetag:cone6pots.ning.com,2013-08-19:2103784:Topic:877082013-08-19T22:30:42.286ZNorm Stuarthttps://cone6pots.ning.com/profile/NormStuart
<p>I have not found a ^6 Flameware Clay Recipe so I'm trying to adjust ^9 flameware recipes. Ron Propst's flameware clay body recipe (below) has a thermal expansion of 5.25<br></br> <br></br> <strong>My initial thoughts are:</strong><br></br> <br></br> <strong>1.)</strong> replace the 10% Custer Feldspar with 10% Talc, resulting in an expansion of 4.82 according to Insight.</p>
<p><strong>2.)</strong> add 5%? Lithium Carbonate or Lithium Fluoride with a thermal expansion of 5.28 - closer to the original. Or…</p>
<p>I have not found a ^6 Flameware Clay Recipe so I'm trying to adjust ^9 flameware recipes. Ron Propst's flameware clay body recipe (below) has a thermal expansion of 5.25<br/> <br/> <strong>My initial thoughts are:</strong><br/> <br/> <strong>1.)</strong> replace the 10% Custer Feldspar with 10% Talc, resulting in an expansion of 4.82 according to Insight.</p>
<p><strong>2.)</strong> add 5%? Lithium Carbonate or Lithium Fluoride with a thermal expansion of 5.28 - closer to the original. Or does this increase Lithium enough to present a leeching problem?</p>
<p><strong>3.)</strong> would I end up with a stronger fired body if I replace some or all of the AP Green Fire Clay with Kyanite? With Kyanite the expansion is 4.88 for option 1, and 5.33 for option 2, but those Kyanite needles should make the ware stronger.</p>
<p><strong>4.)</strong> I've also noticed that the original flameware clay body is very spongey like a marshmallow, yet not very plastic. Is this just typical of a body with a high percentage of spodumene? I used 3% VeeGum Bentonite rather than 2% Bentonite and 1% Macaloid, but I'd be surprised if that made a large difference.</p>
<p><strong>5.)</strong> Of course the ^6 glaze recipe will have to have a thermal expansion just a little higher than the clay, but I'm more comfortable with glaze chemistry.</p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://www.studiopotter.org/articles/art0017.htm" class="bbc_url" title="External link" rel="nofollow external">http://www.studiopot...les/art0017.htm</a></p>
<p><a href="http://ceramicartsdaily.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/flamewaremay2011cmtechnofile.pdf" class="bbc_url" title="">http://ceramicartsda...mtechnofile.pdf</a></p>
<p><a href="http://digitalfire.com/4sight/glossary/glossary_flameware.html" class="bbc_url" title="External link" rel="nofollow external">http://digitalfire.c..._flameware.html</a></p>
<p><strong>Flameware Clay Body - Ron Propst</strong><br/> Low 5.25 Thermal-Expansion clay body for stove-top cooking pots<br/> <br/> Materials Amt <br/> Spodumene 30.000 29.13%<br/> APG Fireclay 30.000 29.13%<br/> Ball Clay 20.000 19.42%<br/> Pyrophyllite 10.000 9.71%<br/> Custer Feldspar 10.000 9.71%<br/> Bentonite 2.000 1.94%<br/> Macaloid 1.000 0.97%<br/> <br/> Total:103<br/> <br/> Unity Formula<br/> CaO 0.02<br/> Li2O 0.30<br/> MgO 0.04<br/> K2O 0.05<br/> Na2O 0.04<br/> (KNaO) 0.09<br/> TiO2 0.04<br/> Al2O3 1.00<br/> SiO2 3.84<br/> Fe2O3 0.02<br/> <br/> LOI<br/> 6.3<br/> <br/> Si:Al Ratio<br/> 3.8:1<br/> <br/> Calculated Expansion 5.25</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Robbie Lobel</strong> Flameware Casserole Dish<br/> <img id="irc_mi" src="http://clayspaceonline.com/images/334_robbie_lobell_-_flameware_casserole-2.jpg" height="250" width="334"/></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p> Pyrophyllite - Pyraxtag:cone6pots.ning.com,2013-08-18:2103784:Topic:876162013-08-18T07:11:30.345ZNorm Stuarthttps://cone6pots.ning.com/profile/NormStuart
<p>Does anyone have experience using <strong>pyrophyllite</strong>?</p>
<p><a href="http://digitalfire.com/4sight/material/pyrophyllite_1167.html">http://digitalfire.com/4sight/material/pyrophyllite_1167.html</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>It's an aluminum silicate used to make clay bodies with an extremely low thermal expansion, so it's great for tiles or "flameware" stove-top pots.</p>
<p></p>
<p>I'm starting out with Ron Propst's "flameware" clay body and glazes. The glazes also need to have the same…</p>
<p>Does anyone have experience using <strong>pyrophyllite</strong>?</p>
<p><a href="http://digitalfire.com/4sight/material/pyrophyllite_1167.html">http://digitalfire.com/4sight/material/pyrophyllite_1167.html</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>It's an aluminum silicate used to make clay bodies with an extremely low thermal expansion, so it's great for tiles or "flameware" stove-top pots.</p>
<p></p>
<p>I'm starting out with Ron Propst's "flameware" clay body and glazes. The glazes also need to have the same low thermal expansion in order to remain bonded to the clay.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.studiopotter.org/articles/art0017.htm">http://www.studiopotter.org/articles/art0017.htm</a></p>
<p></p>
<table>
<tbody><tr><td><strong>Ron Propst's Flameware Formula</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr><td>Spodumene (200 mesh)</td>
<td>30</td>
</tr>
<tr><td>Pyrophyllite (200 mesh)</td>
<td>10</td>
</tr>
<tr><td>Feldspar (200 mesh)</td>
<td>10</td>
</tr>
<tr><td>Ball clay (OM#4)</td>
<td>20</td>
</tr>
<tr><td>A.P. Green Fireclay</td>
<td>30</td>
</tr>
<tr><td>Western Bentonite</td>
<td>2</td>
</tr>
<tr><td>Macaloid</td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p>
<p>I used white firing Vee Gum T bentonite in place of the Western Bentonite and Macaloid. I have the moisture content about right and will start wedging the clay tomorrow. So far the clay body is very spongey like a marshmallow.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Unlike Ball Clay or Kaolin which shrinks as it fires, Pyrophyllite expands as it fires like Spodumene, Mullite, Kyanite, and Talc.</p>
<p></p> Stocking Your Studio with Glaze Materialstag:cone6pots.ning.com,2013-05-27:2103784:Topic:831052013-05-27T04:34:34.855ZGeorge Lewterhttps://cone6pots.ning.com/profile/GeorgeLewter
<p></p>
<p>How much to stock is a question that has to be considered and balanced by variables such as: your production output, studio space available, glazing techniques (smaller batches for spraying, larger batches for dipping), mixing a few stock glazes, or continuously testing and using a wide variety of glazes, price break points and percentages. </p>
<p>My glaze material space is limited to about 10 feet along one wall of my basement.…</p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p>How much to stock is a question that has to be considered and balanced by variables such as: your production output, studio space available, glazing techniques (smaller batches for spraying, larger batches for dipping), mixing a few stock glazes, or continuously testing and using a wide variety of glazes, price break points and percentages. </p>
<p>My glaze material space is limited to about 10 feet along one wall of my basement.</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3036833050?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="650" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3036833050?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="650" class="align-center"/></a>I buy 50# bags of clays, feldspars, silica, and my most often used frits. Other materials I purchase in quantities that I think will last me for a year, or the largest amount I can comfortably afford. Some things I only stock in 1 or 5 lb amounts to use in test batches or the powerful, expensive colorants and stains. </p>
<p>This was my glaze materials inventory at the beginning of the year. At the quantities I purchased, the inventory had a value of just under $900. I find that it is sufficient to mix a majority of the glaze recipes I'm interested in testing, and with reasonable substitutions I can test even more. I can usually mix a 1,000 gram batch of a new glaze with materials on hand and reorder to cover diminishing stock.</p>
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" width="361">
<colgroup><col width="133"></col><col width="133"></col><col width="70"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr><td height="48" class="xl27" width="133">Item</td>
<td class="xl27" width="133">Gram Amount</td>
<td class="xl28" width="70">Pound or Unit Amount</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="17" class="xl22" width="133">Alberta Slip</td>
<td class="xl22" align="right" width="133">454</td>
<td class="xl23" align="right" width="70">1.00</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="17" class="xl22" width="133">Aluminium Hydrate</td>
<td class="xl22" align="right" width="133">2300</td>
<td class="xl23" align="right" width="70">5.00</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="32" class="xl22" width="133">Aluminium Oxide (calcined)</td>
<td class="xl22" align="right" width="133">2390</td>
<td class="xl23" align="right" width="70">5.00</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="32" class="xl22" width="133">Ball Clay, Kentucky OM4</td>
<td class="xl22" width="133"> </td>
<td class="xl23" align="right" width="70">31.60</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="17" class="xl22" width="133">Barium Carbonate</td>
<td class="xl22" align="right" width="133">2730</td>
<td class="xl23" align="right" width="70">6.01</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="17" class="xl22" width="133">Bentonite</td>
<td class="xl22" width="133"> </td>
<td class="xl23" align="right" width="70">9.00</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="17" class="xl22" width="133">Bone Ash</td>
<td class="xl22" align="right" width="133">2000</td>
<td class="xl23" align="right" width="70">4.41</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="17" class="xl22" width="133">Borax</td>
<td class="xl22" width="133"> </td>
<td class="xl23" align="right" width="70">2.00</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="17" class="xl22" width="133">Chrome Oxide</td>
<td class="xl22" align="right" width="133">454</td>
<td class="xl23" align="right" width="70">1.00</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="17" class="xl22" width="133">CMC</td>
<td class="xl22" width="133"> </td>
<td class="xl23" align="right" width="70">1.00</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="17" class="xl22" width="133">Cobalt Carbonate</td>
<td class="xl22" align="right" width="133">536</td>
<td class="xl23" align="right" width="70">1.18</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="17" class="xl24" width="133">Cobalt Oxide</td>
<td class="xl22" width="133"> </td>
<td class="xl25" align="right" width="70">0.00</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="17" class="xl22" width="133">Copper Carbonate</td>
<td class="xl22" align="right" width="133">276</td>
<td class="xl23" align="right" width="70">0.61</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="17" class="xl22" width="133">Copper Oxide</td>
<td class="xl22" align="right" width="133">514</td>
<td class="xl23" align="right" width="70">1.13</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="17" class="xl22" width="133">Dolomite</td>
<td class="xl22" width="133"> </td>
<td class="xl23" align="right" width="70">14.80</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="17" class="xl22" width="133">Feldspar, Custer</td>
<td class="xl22" width="133"> </td>
<td class="xl23" align="right" width="70">15.40</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="32" class="xl22" width="133">Feldspar, G200 (old formula)</td>
<td class="xl22" width="133"> </td>
<td class="xl23" align="right" width="70">8.00</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="17" class="xl22" width="133">Frit 3110</td>
<td class="xl22" width="133"> </td>
<td class="xl23" align="right" width="70">6.00</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="17" class="xl22" width="133">Frit 3124</td>
<td class="xl22" width="133"> </td>
<td class="xl23" align="right" width="70">20.00</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="17" class="xl22" width="133">Frit 3134</td>
<td class="xl22" width="133"> </td>
<td class="xl23" align="right" width="70">51.00</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="17" class="xl22" width="133">Iron Oxide (Yellow)</td>
<td class="xl22" align="right" width="133">2160</td>
<td class="xl23" align="right" width="70">4.76</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="17" class="xl22" width="133">Gillespie Borate</td>
<td class="xl22" align="right" width="133">2460</td>
<td class="xl23" align="right" width="70">5.42</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="17" class="xl22" width="133">Gerstley Borate</td>
<td class="xl22" width="133"> </td>
<td class="xl23" align="right" width="70">59.00</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="17" class="xl22" width="133">Illmenite</td>
<td class="xl22" align="right" width="133">2356</td>
<td class="xl23" align="right" width="70">5.19</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="17" class="xl22" width="133">Iron Oxide (black)</td>
<td class="xl22" align="right" width="133">616</td>
<td class="xl23" align="right" width="70">1.36</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="17" class="xl22" width="133">Iron Oxide (old red)</td>
<td class="xl22" align="right" width="133">400</td>
<td class="xl23" align="right" width="70">0.88</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="32" class="xl22" width="133">Iron Oxide (special red)</td>
<td class="xl22" align="right" width="133">2303</td>
<td class="xl23" align="right" width="70">5.07</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="32" class="xl22" width="133">Iron Oxide (high purity red from US Pigment)</td>
<td class="xl22" align="right" width="133">2342</td>
<td class="xl23" align="right" width="70">5.16</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="17" class="xl24" width="133">Kaolin, (EPK)</td>
<td class="xl22" width="133"> </td>
<td class="xl25" align="right" width="70">8.80</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="17" class="xl22" width="133">Kaolin, (Grolleg)</td>
<td class="xl22" width="133"> </td>
<td class="xl23" align="right" width="70">10.40</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="17" class="xl24" width="133">Lithium Carbonate</td>
<td class="xl22" align="right" width="133">770</td>
<td class="xl25" align="right" width="70">1.70</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="32" class="xl22" width="133">Magnesium Carbonate</td>
<td class="xl22" align="right" width="133">472</td>
<td class="xl23" align="right" width="70">1.04</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="17" class="xl22" width="133">Manganese Dioxide</td>
<td class="xl22" align="right" width="133">492</td>
<td class="xl23" align="right" width="70">1.08</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="17" class="xl22" width="133">Nepheline Syenite</td>
<td class="xl22" width="133"> </td>
<td class="xl23" align="right" width="70">26.40</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="17" class="xl22" width="133">Nickel Oxide</td>
<td class="xl22" align="right" width="133">454</td>
<td class="xl23" align="right" width="70">1.00</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="17" class="xl22" width="133">Ravenscrag Slip</td>
<td class="xl22" width="133"> </td>
<td class="xl23" align="right" width="70">9.20</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="17" class="xl22" width="133">Redart Clay</td>
<td class="xl22" width="133"> </td>
<td class="xl23" align="right" width="70">26.00</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="17" class="xl22" width="133">Rutile</td>
<td class="xl22" align="right" width="133">2750</td>
<td class="xl23" align="right" width="70">6.06</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="17" class="xl22" width="133">Silica</td>
<td class="xl22" width="133"> </td>
<td class="xl23" align="right" width="70">22.40</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="17" class="xl22" width="133">Silicon Carbide</td>
<td class="xl22" align="right" width="133">454</td>
<td class="xl23" align="right" width="70">1.00</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="17" class="xl22" width="133">Spodumene (Austral.)</td>
<td class="xl22" width="133"> </td>
<td class="xl23" align="right" width="70">15.20</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="17" class="xl22" width="133">Stain, Mason 6004 red</td>
<td class="xl22" align="right" width="133">473</td>
<td class="xl23" align="right" width="70">1.04</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="32" class="xl22" width="133">Stain, Cerdic red 279497</td>
<td class="xl22" align="right" width="133">192</td>
<td class="xl23" align="right" width="70">0.42</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="32" class="xl22" width="133">Stain, Spectrum red 2084</td>
<td class="xl22" align="right" width="133">114</td>
<td class="xl23" align="right" width="70">0.25</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="32" class="xl22" width="133">Stain, Mason Pras. Yelo 6450</td>
<td class="xl22" align="right" width="133">114</td>
<td class="xl23" align="right" width="70">0.25</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="32" class="xl22" width="133">Stain, Mason black 6600</td>
<td class="xl22" align="right" width="133">454</td>
<td class="xl23" align="right" width="70">1.00</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="32" class="xl22" width="133">Stain, Mason Yelo 6406</td>
<td class="xl22" align="right" width="133">454</td>
<td class="xl23" align="right" width="70">1.00</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="32" class="xl22" width="133">Stain, Mason Yelo 6485</td>
<td class="xl22" align="right" width="133">454</td>
<td class="xl23" align="right" width="70">1.00</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="17" class="xl22" width="133">Strontium Carbonate</td>
<td class="xl22" align="right" width="133">2530</td>
<td class="xl23" align="right" width="70">5.57</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="17" class="xl22" width="133">Talc</td>
<td class="xl22" width="133"> </td>
<td class="xl23" align="right" width="70">53.60</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="17" class="xl26">Tile Clay (No. 6)</td>
<td class="xl26" align="right">2223</td>
<td class="xl23" align="right" width="70">4.90</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="17" class="xl22" width="133">Tin Oxide</td>
<td class="xl22" align="right" width="133">1450</td>
<td class="xl23" align="right" width="70">3.19</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="17" class="xl22" width="133">Titanium Dioxide</td>
<td class="xl22" align="right" width="133">440</td>
<td class="xl23" align="right" width="70">0.97</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="17" class="xl22" width="133">Whiting</td>
<td class="xl22" width="133"> </td>
<td class="xl23" align="right" width="70">18.80</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="17" class="xl22" width="133">Wollastonite</td>
<td class="xl22" width="133"> </td>
<td class="xl23" align="right" width="70">10.50</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="17" class="xl22" width="133">Yellow Ocher</td>
<td class="xl22" align="right" width="133">283</td>
<td class="xl23" align="right" width="70">0.62</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="17" class="xl22" width="133">Zinc Oxide</td>
<td class="xl22" width="133"> </td>
<td class="xl23" align="right" width="70">9.20</td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="17" class="xl22" width="133">Zircopax Plus</td>
<td class="xl22" align="right" width="133">4110</td>
<td class="xl23" align="right" width="70">9.05</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p>
<p>It is wise to buy the largest quantities you can afford and have storage space for. This reduces changing batch characteristics, and the possible labeling and contamination mistakes arising from your ceramic supplier breaking down full bags into smaller quantities. </p> What Would You Change to Make the Cone6pots Network a Stronger Community?tag:cone6pots.ning.com,2013-05-02:2103784:Topic:810232013-05-02T16:15:44.583ZGeorge Lewterhttps://cone6pots.ning.com/profile/GeorgeLewter
<p>If you were in charge, what would you change? Would you like to be the moderator, or administrator for any part of the network? How do we take it to the next level? And what is the next level? Where do we go from here?</p>
<p>If you were in charge, what would you change? Would you like to be the moderator, or administrator for any part of the network? How do we take it to the next level? And what is the next level? Where do we go from here?</p> Getting serious about selling your work.tag:cone6pots.ning.com,2012-07-10:2103784:Topic:664562012-07-10T00:33:32.875ZDave Silwoneshttps://cone6pots.ning.com/profile/DaveSilwones
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">I collect art. That is to say I own more art then I have space to display. I would guess some of you have purchased art as well. I don’t mean the prints or the bird houses, I mean the stuff that requires some serious thought because the price demands it. To those out there who buy art I would ask you if you have ever purchased art on line? Anything from Etsy? If you have you are a rarity. I would never buy art online unless I already knew the artist. Period.…</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">I collect art. That is to say I own more art then I have space to display. I would guess some of you have purchased art as well. I don’t mean the prints or the bird houses, I mean the stuff that requires some serious thought because the price demands it. To those out there who buy art I would ask you if you have ever purchased art on line? Anything from Etsy? If you have you are a rarity. I would never buy art online unless I already knew the artist. Period. Online sales is a way for collectors (of your art) to connect to you when they have no other choice. Most collectors will drive hundreds of miles to buy in person rather then buy on line. Never forget that making art is personal, and buying art is even more so. The emotional bond is what makes it art!</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Get over this obsession of online sales. If you have a gadget, gimmick or do-dad then go ahead, after all, people buy rings on the home shopping network. But if art is what you do, then get good at it. </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">The next big step is figuring out what you are after, do you think of yourself as an artist? Are you trying to pay any bills with your art? Why are you even doing this?. More on that later.</span></p> Insight-Live Glaze Database Trainingtag:cone6pots.ning.com,2012-05-15:2103784:Topic:632542012-05-15T02:01:38.099ZGeorge Lewterhttps://cone6pots.ning.com/profile/GeorgeLewter
<p>Judging by the number of members who have signed up to use Insight-Live, and then not logged-in, or only logged-in once, it appears there is some hesitancy or level of unfamiliarity in using the application. It is actually quite easy to use as databases go, and with a little guidance, users should be pretty comfortable with its basic functions in just a couple of 60 minute sessions of group training, and a bit of practice between the sessions. There is plenty of documentation on the…</p>
<p>Judging by the number of members who have signed up to use Insight-Live, and then not logged-in, or only logged-in once, it appears there is some hesitancy or level of unfamiliarity in using the application. It is actually quite easy to use as databases go, and with a little guidance, users should be pretty comfortable with its basic functions in just a couple of 60 minute sessions of group training, and a bit of practice between the sessions. There is plenty of documentation on the Insight-Live website, but many people learn more easily in an organized group setting with clear direction, than by doing independent research without a roadmap.</p>
<p>Therefore, we will offer our members a two session, peer-led "Introduction to Using Insight-Live" covering:</p>
<ol>
<li>Features of the main user interface page. Navigating the website pages, panels, and Help features. </li>
<li>Searching and retrieving recipes. Outputting recipes and batch mix sheets. Use and meaning of Code Numbers and Type Codes.</li>
<li>Adding pictures to, adding notes to, and adding firing schedules to existing recipes. </li>
<li>Adding new, single recipes manually, and using copy and paste techniques for glaze recipes already on Web or electronic documents.</li>
<li>Adding variations of an existing recipe. </li>
</ol>
<p>The class will be offered on a "On Demand" basis. Whenever 8 or more members sign a wait list, that will trigger the scheduling of a new class. The first presentation of the class will be on a no charge basis as it will be a "Shakedown Cruise", where bugs will undoubtedly be discovered and ironed out. Subsequent classes will have a $15 (US) registration fee. We found, to our disappointment, with the Accounting class in the spring that over half the people who had no investment in the class never bothered to show up. Out of a dozen registrants only 5 made any attempt at participating. This minimal charge will hopefully reduce that kind of bad behavior. </p>
<p>You can put your name on the Wait List by replying to this discussion. </p>
<p>In order to register for the class you must have joined the <a href="http://cone6pots.ning.com/groups/group/show?groupUrl=insight-live-users-group" target="_self">Insight-Live Users Group</a> here on cone6pots, <em>and have received your Insight-Live login credentials</em> for that Website, as it is separate from our network. Allow 1-2 days to be accepted into the users group, and for me to generate your account and to send you your group login credentials for the Insight-Live Website.</p>
<p>George Lewter</p>
<p></p> Supporting Membership Strengthens and Enhances the C6P networktag:cone6pots.ning.com,2012-05-02:2103784:Topic:622642012-05-02T18:43:19.623ZGeorge Lewterhttps://cone6pots.ning.com/profile/GeorgeLewter
<p>Updated July 5, 2012</p>
<p>Supporting membership is conferred on those who contribute to our community, either by contributing quality content to the network website, or by contributing a $9 annual supporting member fee. Both forms of support are vital for the growth and enhancement of this network. Paid supporting membership was initiated June 25, 2012. New members who joined during the month of May of 2012, and existing members who joined in June of previous years were asked by an emailed…</p>
<p>Updated July 5, 2012</p>
<p>Supporting membership is conferred on those who contribute to our community, either by contributing quality content to the network website, or by contributing a $9 annual supporting member fee. Both forms of support are vital for the growth and enhancement of this network. Paid supporting membership was initiated June 25, 2012. New members who joined during the month of May of 2012, and existing members who joined in June of previous years were asked by an emailed paypal request to pay the $9 annual fee. The process will be repeated once each month for the different months that members joined the network. I picked this staggered renewal scheme to create a relatively stable income stream for the network. You don’t have to belong to PayPal to use your credit card through them. Those not wanting to use PayPal can send a check or money order to me. My mailing address is listed on the <b><u><a href="http://cone6pots.ning.com/page/paymentpage" target="_self">Supporting Members Payment Page</a>.</u></b></p>
<p>Those choosing not to pay for supporting membership will still retain their basic membership, and will be able to interact on the network. The network will remain open for people to join in the same way, as in the past, for general access and use. Nearly all of our pages will continue to be viewable by the general public, and to be indexable by search engines, which will allow potential members to find us and to explore the network. </p>
<p>Supporting members get a star in the corner of their of their profile picture. <strong>Supporting membership status will become required to access our group account on the Insight-Live glaze recipe database, several advanced discussions and groups, any classes we may hold, any votes on network business, holding committee positions, or participation in other special projects that may arise.</strong></p>
<p>The survey last January revealed a strong level of support for making the cone6pots a paid membership organization. This <strong>voluntary</strong> supporting member scheme is a compromise between totally free and paid access only. It largely follows the models from organizations such as npr and pbs, except that we don't receive any governmental funding. </p>
<p>I keep asking myself, does the network, as it stands today, provide enough content, community, and value that it is worth paying for. For a significant number of members the answer is clearly, “Yes”. For others, “Not so much”.</p>
<p>The next question I ask myself is, “What would I do with the revenue, if I could generate income from the network?” I was able to think of a number of innovations that would make the network much more valuable to our membership. Last winter I started taking steps toward bringing some of them forward toward realization.</p>
<ul>
<li>I work extensively with Tony Hansen and the Insight-Live users group on our network, testing and supporting improvements to his interactive glaze recipe database. It is a great new product for anyone wanting to find and/or expand the knowledge-base about glaze recipes with supporting information and pictures. Tony is totally committed to continuous upgrading of the system. We need to start paying Tony for the database and his tireless work on it. We need to start populating it with new recipes, notes and pictures from our own work with existing recipes. Most importantly, we need to use the database as our standard, centralized location to post glaze recipes. This will give us the most useful glaze reference tool on the planet, and it will allow us to clean up the helter-skelter posting of recipes in random locations all over our network. If someone wants a recipe, you will just give them the link.</li>
<li>There is a strong thirst for knowledge among our members, and schooling has become ridiculously expensive. I began researching online training possibilities. We launched a peer group accounting class in March, as a test of our ability to do online training. We have discovered limitations in using chat as our primary means of communications, and explored the use of Skype for conferencing. The commercial product comes at a cost and other tools such as GoToMeeting/Training cost even more, but even with these costs, we can offer training at a fraction of the cost of taking a college class. The members who stuck with the accounting peer group agree that the class provided them with valuable learning. The class has been completed, and <a href="http://cone6pots.ning.com/group/accounting-101-for-ceramic-artists" target="_self">all the class documents are now available to C6P members</a>.</li>
<li> I’ve just begun exploring the option of putting up our own Ceramic Art and Craft marketplace, ala etsy, but limited to our members and their handmade ceramic pieces. That is going to take some up-front money. If there is adequate member buy-in, we have a great opportunity to create a very unique marketplace.</li>
</ul>
<p>My vision for the cone6pots network is that it is a meeting and working space for a serious group of people seeking to improve their mastery of the craft, while enhancing their earning potential, using the best affordable and available technology, and working in concert with others similarly committed. The small $9.00 annual membership fee will help fund worthwhile new capabilities. </p>
<p>In four years I have learned that about 5% of our members contribute about 95% of the content that makes the cone6pots network worth belonging to. For that reason the 50 most active members were awarded complimentary annual memberships at the beginning of June of 2012. It is somewhat of a paradox that the 50 most active members are probably the members who will least object to paying the membership fee. But it was clearly a gesture I could make to show appreciation for the time and effort they put in to contribute to our community.</p> Glaze Teststag:cone6pots.ning.com,2012-05-02:2103784:Topic:620952012-05-02T11:57:02.911ZRandy McCallhttps://cone6pots.ning.com/profile/RandyMcCall
<p>I have set up a web site with glaze tests for any one interested. Tried an true recipes that are some of my favorites.</p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://mccallsc.tripod.com/" target="_blank">mccallsc.tripod.com</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>Site is better with Opera or Chrome</p>
<p></p>
<p>I have set up a web site with glaze tests for any one interested. Tried an true recipes that are some of my favorites.</p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://mccallsc.tripod.com/" target="_blank">mccallsc.tripod.com</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>Site is better with Opera or Chrome</p>
<p></p>