Electric Mid&Hi Fired Ceramics
Potters & Sculptors - Making Rock from Mud
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Michael Crawford
- Male
- Lutz, FL
- United States
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Michael Crawford's Page
Profile Information
- What is your experience with ceramics in general. (Long answer encouraged)
- I studied pottery at Western Carolina University in the late 1960's and early 1970's. I taught pottery at Southwestern Community College for several years while operating my own pottery making business and studio. I spent several years doing regional Southeast shows and supplying a number of retail outlets from Florida to Maine. I established my pottery, Clay Pigeon Pottery, in early 1970 and opened my studio/storefront in 1972. After moving from North Carolina to Florida I taught briefly at Hillsborough Community College and volunteered as mentor to the pottery program for more than 15 years.
I work on the wheel as well as hand-building and sculpture. I use a variety of commercial clay bodies and dig clay when I visit North Carolina. I mix my own glaze and work with a limited number of commercial glazes and colorants.
- What is your current involvement with electric fired ceramics? (long answer encouraged)
- I fire both electric oxidation and gas reduction kilns in the mid temperature range, mostly cone 5 to 7. I also do pit firing and Raku.
I have worked primarily with electric oxidation using a variety of kiln brands. Most of the teaching that I have done has involved electric firing in a classroom setting, with all of the adventure and drama involved with student work. I feel that I will eventually master the art and science of pottery making.
- All our content is viewable by the public. Why do you want to be a member, when you can already see everything as a non-member?
- I like to participate in discussions and postings. I have been able to learn more through discussion, critique and interaction than through simple reading. Many times I feel that I can add a positive slant on problem solving and group dynamics.
- Where do you work on your ceramics projects?
- home studio
- How did you find this network?
- Link or reference from another site
Videos
Use These Links to Support Us
Low cost flat lapping disc can be used on you potters wheel if you, drill bat pin holes in it, and provide a trickle of water to cool it. At amazon.com, 120 grit for aggressive material removal. Click the image to purchase
Members have had great things to say about John Britt's new book, Mid-Range Glazes. Click the image to buy from Amazon.com
Purchase Glazes Cone 6 by Michael Bailey, The Potters Book of Glaze Recipes by Emmanuel Cooper, or Making Marks by Robin Hopper, all available at amazon.com. Mastering Cone 6 Glazes by John Hesselberth & Ron Roy is now out of print.
Harbor Freight is a great place to find unbeatable prices for better HVLP spray guns with stainless steel parts and serviceable economy models, as well as detail guns, all tested by our members for spraying glazes, as well as compressors to power the guns. As yet no one has tested and commented on the remarkably inexpensive air brushes at harbor freight.
The critter siphon gun is a spray alternative that is well liked by some of our members, and is available at amazon.
Amazon is also a competitive source for photo light tents for shooting professional quality pictures of your work. They also have the EZ Cube brand favored by several of our members. You might also want to purchase the book Photographing Arts, Crafts and Collectibles . . .
If you are up to creating videos of your work or techniques you might want to invest in a flip video camera
Following are a few scales useful for potters. Ohaus Triple Pro Mechanical Triple Beam Balance, 2610g x 0.1g, with Tare $169.00
And finally a low cost clone of the OHaus. The Adam Equipment TBB2610T Triple Beam Mechanical Balance With Tare Beam $99.62
ebay is a great alternative for many tools and the equipment used in the ceramics studio - kilns, wheels, extruders, slab rollers are often listed there both new and used.
Tips for Members
If you just want to spout off, it is best accomplished as a blog posting. If you want to get more guidance and ideas from other members, ask a question as a new discussion topic. In the upper right corner of the lists for both types of posting, you will find an "+Add " button. Clicking it will open an editor where you create your posting. 4/16/2014
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