If you've seen You Tube 29 - Part one , you will have seen that I was so relieved to find that my husbands commissioned piece for his 60th birthday came out of the kiln, and was pretty ok. Not perfect, but I was so relieved as I only had a few days before the big day.
After a good nights sleep (thinking all was ok) I then checked on the hidden mug the following day. Only to find that the glaze had shivered off all the rim and down the handle. Never had this or seen this before and I was so gutted.
With no idea why this happened I had to get my thinking cap on.
I used Amaco Albany Slip Brown but fired the kiln too hot. It needed to be a cone 5-6. and my witness cone showed a 6.5. So was this too hot?
Or was it an incompatibility with my clay - although it was fine on my test tiles?
My only option was to re-glaze and try again, keeping everything crossed and praying for help from the kiln gods. This time I added my trusted Maycoshino and a touch of flux, also a cooler 5.5 firing. Please don't blister I whispered as I closed the lid!!
My work commitments meant I was away for a few days and this left me minimal time for a refire, but here it is, with such little time before his birthday. You can see how anxious I am, and whilst its only a cider mug, & I can make him another one , I put a lot of thought into the shape, the handle and keeping it a secret from hubby.
Its shrunk considerably, but I can confirm this piece made it to the birthday celebrations, and it was very much appreciated, although I will be making him another one LOL
Always a journey of learning and discovery, but this time a lot more emotions mixed in the pot!
#farforestceramics #birthdaygift #kilnopening #kildnrefire #reglaze #refire #kilnfail #wheelthrownpottery #pottery