Why is My Glaze Crawling? Causes and Fixes
Crawling is one of the most frustrating glaze defects — your glaze pulls back from the clay surface during firing, leaving bare patches and bead-like edges. Understanding why it happens …
How to Read Witness Cones and Set Them Up
Witness cones are one of the most important tools in a potter’s kiln room — yet many potters skip them entirely, trusting their digital controller alone. The problem is that …
Ian Currie’s Grid Method: Map 35 Glazes in One Firing
Ian Currie’s grid method tests 35 related glazes in a single firing by varying silica and alumina across a 5×7 tile. A complete guide to making the grid tile, mixing the glazes by volumetric blending, firing, and reading the results.
Pinch and Coil Combined: Building Organic Handbuilt Forms
Pinching and coiling are the two most ancient handbuilding techniques — and they work beautifully together. A pinched base gives you an organic, intimate starting point, while coiling lets you …
Types of Pulls in Wheel Throwing: How Each One Shapes Your Clay
Pulling is the core motion of wheel throwing — but not all pulls are the same. Different hand positions, pressures, and directions produce different results. Understanding the main types of …
Electric Kiln Maintenance Guide: Before, During, and After Firing
A well-maintained kiln fires more evenly, lasts years longer, and keeps your studio safer. Small issues left unchecked — a dirty thermocouple, glaze on an element, a cracked brick — …
How to Load a Kiln: Bisque Firing, Tumble Stacking, and Glaze Firing
How you load your kiln directly affects how evenly your work fires. A poorly loaded kiln results in cold spots, glaze defects, broken pieces, and damaged shelves. A well-loaded kiln …
How to Load a Kiln: A Complete Guide for Potters
How you load your kiln directly affects how evenly your work fires. A poorly loaded kiln creates cold spots, uneven glaze results, and damaged shelves. A well-loaded kiln uses space …
Kiln Firing Guide: Bisque, Glaze, Schedules, and Cooling
Firing a kiln is more than just turning it on and waiting. Understanding bisque vs glaze firing, how to set a firing schedule, when to use holds, and how cooling …
Understanding Cone Numbers: A Complete Guide for Potters
The cone number on your clay bag and glaze recipe — cone 6, cone 10 — determines whether your clay vitrifies, your glaze melts correctly, and your finished piece comes …