thank you Stonemonkey

Boondock

I read Stonemonkey's tutorial describing "how to make a slab built pot". I bought 25 pound of med-range stoneware clay, (for cone 6 firing) From that first 25 pound block of clay, I made 10 pots, of which I threw the first 9 away (they looked really bad), but the tenth one (which I count as my first pot) turned out good. I purchased a second block of clay and produced 12 pretty good pots. Here's one...


I just wanted to thank Stonemonkey for the lesson.

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stonemonkey

Boondock

You are most welcome. Looks like you have made a great pot there, keep at it and post us some pics when it has been fired and glazed.

Again well done

Kindest regards

Andy

__________________

Dale Cochoy

Thats a nice looking pot Boondock. How big are your pots, and this one. seems roughly 2lbs clay each?
You MIGHT want to wait until glazed and high fired to show pots...as my teacher often said "Sometimes the magic just doesn't work" I never count my chickens until it comes out of that last cool-down
Looking forward to seeing some finished pots.
Good start
Regards,
Dale

__________________
________________________________
If you want to be Different....
You have to DO something Different!
__________________________________________

Some people NEVER take the time to do a job right the first time....
but, they always seem to make the time to do it over again...
____________________________________________
Dale Cochoy
Wild Things Bonsai Studio
Yakimono no Kokoro Bonsai Pottery
Hartville, Ohio

Boondock

hey thanks Dale, the pot is about 7 inches. So it's pretty small. And you are so right about waiting until after the firing process, before "counting my chickens".

I'm just really excited about this whole new, and very enjoyable hobby. I still have never had a pot fired yet. I am waiting till next week until I make my first trip to the kiln. That will give my first pots, about 3-4 weeks of drying time.

I am currently making a much bigger pot. I finally ran out of the light brown stoneware clay (25 pounds made 12 pots, so you're right on the money regarding your estimation of size). Now, I'm using a very dark brown, low grog, stoneware clay, and this new pot is about 14 inches. I'm finding that the bigger the pot, the longer it takes to allow the clay to achieve the correct texture, prior to moving to the next step.

Thank you both for sharing your wise counsel, and for the inspiration.

More pictures after firing...

Dale Cochoy

Boondock]hey thanks Dale, the pot is about 7 inches. So it's pretty small. And you are so right about waiting until after the firing process, before "counting my chickens".

So fired, you will be about 6 1/4" total.

I'm just really excited about this whole new, and very enjoyable hobby. I still have never had a pot fired yet. I am waiting till next week until I make my first trip to the kiln. That will give my first pots, about 3-4 weeks of drying time.

So YOU aren't firing. Be sure to watch loading, unloading and firing. Just handing it to someone to fire for you is not an artistic experience. You need to learn it from start to finish.It means a lot more when "the lid opens"


I am currently making a much bigger pot. I finally ran out of the light brown stoneware clay (25 pounds made 12 pots, so you're right on the money regarding your estimation of size).

I meant 2 pounds weight per pot, but, I guess it could be the same in cost also at 2 pounds sterling

Now, I'm using a very dark brown, low grog, stoneware clay, and this new pot is about 14 inches. I'm finding that the bigger the pot, the longer it takes to allow the clay to achieve the correct texture, prior to moving to the next step.

As you get bigger you might find MORE grog beneficial. BTW, as they get bigger...expect more drying/firing problems. sorry...

Goodluck,
Dale

__________________
________________________________
If you want to be Different....
You have to DO something Different!
__________________________________________

Some people NEVER take the time to do a job right the first time....
but, they always seem to make the time to do it over again...
____________________________________________
Dale Cochoy
Wild Things Bonsai Studio
Yakimono no Kokoro Bonsai Pottery
Hartville, Ohio

Boondock

Now you got me worried about the whole firing process.

I hope I didn't give the impression that I have a background in pottery or ceramics. Before making these pots, I never touched clay before.

I guess I'm lucky that I live so close to a large, pottery supply store. (Tacoma Clay Art Center) I went there after reading the tutorial, and explained what I wanted to do. I accepted their recomendation about clay selection, and they gave me a list of businesses in my area that have kilns, and fire to cone 6. Which is the highest I am able to find currently.

I suppose being a rookie potter comes with a certain "learning curve". No doubt I will make mistakes.

I am also VERY aware that you (Dale) and Stonemonkey, make pots for a living (or at least profit). And my guess is; that Stonemonkey did not write the sequence of steps describing the construction of slab-built bonsai pots, as a tutorial for the "do-it-yourselfers" I don't think that the thread will generate an army of DIY bonsai pot makers. It dog-gone difficult and time comsuming. I recently retired from the military, and got interested in bonsai. I've always enjoyed working with my hands, home and auto-repair has always been a part of my life. I have the time, and I get a kick out of it. Do you need an addition to the workers in your business? LOL

Knowing that, it is truly a blessing that there are so many people in the bonsai community who are willing to share their "hard-earned" experience and wisdom.

Thanks for the tips.