my first BIG pot... (there's trouble in paradise)

Boondock

I brought my biggest pot to the kiln about a month ago, it's about 24 inches in length, then had to leave the my local area for a few weeks. Today, I went to apply the finish (engobe and oxide wash) in preparation for high-fire, and when I saw it, my heart sank. It cracked in the bisqued fire, which I have not experienced before. I used over 40 pounds of heavily grogged, wet clay, and spent many hours making this pot.

so......... it's back to the drawing board.

** edit (btw, I dried it very very slowly over 3 months, and there was no indication of trouble prior to bisque fire)

Attached Images

big_pot_bisqued.jpg (57.5 KB, 153 views)

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nsmar4211

Awwwwww that stinks. Could you finish firing it, and then epoxy it together? I mean, it won't be a show pot but then you wouldn't have wasted all the clay....
Maybe even run glaze along the crack (inside the pot) to help hold it together? Or just crush it up small and use it for top dressing......

stephenr

You must be very sad indeed.
I no nothing about pottery, but surely there must be a way to repair the damage??
It would be a shame to see such time & effort lost...
Stephen

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Boondock

nope nsmar4211, it's a done-deal

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Ashbarns9999

Sorry to see that Boonie, all that effort down the tubes. Must be the bane of life as a potter I guess.

Good to have you back with us.

Ash

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Dale Cochoy

Been there....done that....got the T-shirt!!


Who bisque fired it?
Dale

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Dale Cochoy
Wild Things Bonsai Studio
Yakimono no Kokoro Bonsai Pottery
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farrlinzee

When you walk around thr great bonsai potteries of Yixing and Tokoname firing disasters with large pots are to be found everywhere. Percentages, preferably high are the best outcome. Long Live the potter who never had a kiln mishap.

Cheers
Lindsay

Joanie

You could finish firing it, and then fill the crack with epoxy putty. For a better effect, mix some bronze powder into the epoxy. That might look rather cool.

Unfortunately, the kiln gods are capricious and they demand a sacrifice now and then.

Joanie

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rockm

The big ones are the ones that do this the most, at least from what I've heard from potters. That's one reason why bonsai pots cost so much. Big pots go bad and have to be thrown out. I have a big Bryan Albright drum pot--almost 24 inches long that was custom made. He had to make it three times, as the first two cracked on bisque firing. The pot wound up costing him money to make for me, no profit.