I am new to pottery and I just wanted to thank you for showing how things in the pottery world do not always turn out and to be prepared for that! I am really sorry for all the time, effort and cost you had to experience but wanted you to know that this video was very, very helpful to me!
First fix your kiln, then re-glaze over the top, then refire. Use cones to make sure you are hitting the right temperature. Put these on the top and bottom shelves. You need three one lower and one higher than the actual temp you want. To make the glaze stick you can spray with hairspray or heat the mug so the glaze dries quickly. I know its disappointing but that's all part of pottery and of the learning process. Stay strong, you got this. 😃
This is terrible, and this is wonderful. You make me feel not so alone when I have terrible failures, which I do. As the other potter in town says, "Everything that can happen is going to happen." And so it is. The Dao of pottery. Thank you so much for making this video. Many warm wishes to you. Onward!
Dude, you should be so proud of what you achieved. I know it’s been at least a year since your big fiasco. But it was so personal and educational for the rest of us who also meet our ceramic challenges. I watched the second, and I’m very glad that you made it through. Congratulations Hope the business is going great.
My first thought on seeing the mugs was that the kiln had not reached the desired temperature. They still looked like bisqueware. Once you've fixed the kiln, use cones with your next firing to check that it reaches the correct temperature. And there's no reason why you shouldn't just re-fire these mugs. They're really nice and it'd be a shame if you didn't try. Also, I've re-glazed and re-fired many things so it doesn't matter if you fired them too high during the bisque firing. The overall problem was the glaze firing was too low. Try again and good luck.
Hi! Have questions about underfired glaze fire. Our community kiln just didn't go well through the recent heat wave and they underfired. Some of them has crawled and was wondering if I should put more glaze where the bare clay is showing up or should just refire without adding anything?
I was recently hired as a lab tech at a college out of my ceramics undergrad, your videos have really helped me feel more equipped to problem solve issues and advice from your channel has helped me out more than once. Thank you so much! Hope you keep posting content
I watched this before I properly got into ceramics. And watching this a year later, after my own disaster firing where nearly all my functionalware from the year got destroyed from a bad glaze application, this video really hits. The pain is real. Pottery is a bit soul destroying at times, but i also like it too much (and have spent too much money). Hope pottery is going better for you now :)
Little pots for plants. Ages ago, we received test pots from a family friend. My brother tried drilling holes and quickly changed to using a punch to knock out a hole in the bottom. Some were a little rough, but they worked great for little plants. Your kids could plant lettuce seeds or herbs. They would love to see the how their little seeds grow. The rest are for throwing against a cement wall to release some frustration 😁
It happens! I remember I had my last year degree exhibition in London in July and within the process I failed 40 mugs for my exhibition. I cried yes! Coz it was the biggest event in my life. So I feel your pain. But I didn't give up. I had 2 weeks left to make and it was still a risk as I didn't know if things would go well the 2nd time (though this time I used a different kiln). Finally, my exhibition happened and it was successful! Once you overcome it and see succeeful things coming out your kiln, it will make you feel so much better! Keep going! 😊
Don’t give up. Refire the mugs after you fix your element. You are very good at this and well organized with lots of really neat and useful ideas. I learned a lot of good things from you. I look forward to your next video as you move forward on your venture.
This is a great video as it shows how things can go wrong. Love how you turned it around, explained the issue and created truly beautiful ones later on. Your combos are amazing
Definitely keep one of the best and one of the worst. That way you can see how far you have come. This is a learning experience and a setback. A real bummer but a bump in the road. Keep going. I know you can do this and do it very well
I am new to pottery and your videos have helped me more than the studio lessons I paid for. Your explanations are simple and amusing. You have great technique and I absolutely love that you post things that go wrong. This helps everyone (and we all feel a little better about our own disasters 😂) thank you 🙏
Thank you for sharing.When you put your heart and soul into something it's an awful feeling of disapointment to have something happen like that. I know you kept on going and that's good on you!!!! Thank you for sharing your experience...it is helpful to all
Thank you for being so raw here. I’ve sunken all my personal funds into my pottery venture & the disasters sometimes make me wanna throw in the towel. Or throw a pot against the wall. But I persevere because I too, love it too much. it was cool to hear someone else (and everyone in the comments it seems) facing similar challenges to mine. Thanks for forming this community within your channel, it’s necessary!
Thank you for sharing. Bold of you to share this and it’s immensely helpful for the learners. While we only see videos where everything’s goes well, good on you to share it. Sorry for your disappointment. Wish you the best.
I've been having the same problem with my ancient old manual cress kiln... I've been searching to find someone who has had the same problem, so this video was really helpful for me! It does look like it's simply not getting up to temp, so hopefully you'll be able to fix the problem and be back at it soon.
1.)Make coffee mug bird feeders! 2.)Use the mugs to store cotton balls, q-tips and toothbrushes in the restroom! 3.)Store desk supplies like pens, pencils and paper clips! 4.)Use them for storing small craft supply items like hot glue sticks and other craft embellishments! 5.)Mugs make great planter pots and succulents would be cute in those! 6.)Use them for tealight candles or simply use it as a candle jar. Place a wick and fill with wax of choice. Citronella candles for outdoor living/sitting space would be nice! 7.)Fill it with stir sticks or small spoons next to your coffee pot or beverage bar! 8.)Break into small pieces and make garden stepping stones. Just a few 💡 ideas for you. Sorry to see that this batch didn't work out! Keep your head up. Your investments will work out.
Sorry for what's happened, but thanks a lot for sharing the true things that happens when you work in ceramics. Your work is beautiful, keep on working and sharing your talent.
My instructor told us it is best to glaze the interior, let it dry 24 hours then the exterior. I am a beginner and have made so many errors... i am sorry the entire batch didnt work out. Looking forward to seeing your progress. It is definitely a fussy medium.
Don't give up! Totally salvageable. The top element needs to be replaced and the kiln is overloaded. Your shelves need to be staggered to allow better airflow throughout. Better to buy 2 half moon shelves than one solid round shelf. Don't put shelves at same level across - it prevents heat from circulating. Keep trying and experimenting. Happy surprises await. Thank you for sharing.
The blessing is in the perseverance, and you are just at the beginning of this adventure. So, keep going! In the meantime I can use a holder for my crochet hooks!
Save them by using a lower temp glaze. Mayco Foundation glaze formulated for cone 05 and O6 over entire inside and top 2/3 outside. Can fix a lot. Believe me it’s saved many of my failures. My Show I had on 8/7 and 8/8 this year I sold every reject but then saved pot, mug. Bowl. But of course fix your kiln element. Do not be discouraged. We pay to learn. Can send you photo proof to your email if interested. Don’t trash them. Fix them. Mayco light flux. Small amount to upper third but not on rim. Gives wonderful melt. We built our own propane kiln. Cone 6 firing. You are not defeated.
When this happens to me, there is two things I do. Some I use to put a small potted plant in or a cactus. Or put them in my big nice braided basket in my little shop where there is a sign, MY MISTAKES 2 Dollar. Thank you for sharing this!
How frustrating, after the kiln has been fixed, maybe some smaller batch testing and I would check and see if reglazing would help. It’s all a learning experience. Don’t quit
I am so sorry. Pls don’t quit. Shit happens. Regardless of what kind of business you do, especially art or something creative, it can happen. I make artisan soaps and sometimes I make a bad batch. I try to save them but sometimes I just can’t. It’s part of the learning process. Toss them and make a new batch. I’ll keep watching your videos. Keep going. Ite life. The next one will be better. God bless.
PLEASE don't give up on those mugs. Re-firing is a great adventure in itself and I was reminded by Vaughan Smith this morning watching his latest video that there are different ways of re-firing . Cheers...Freddie
I’ve been trying to figure out my own issues and this video was incredibly helpful. I had about 40 items in my kiln and most of them worked well, but these 6 didn’t work at all. I don’t know if it didn’t fire hot enough, if the glaze was too thick and couldn’t adhere to the bisque. Anyway, thank you for showing this failure!
I feel your pain, it's so disappointing when you open the kiln and it's all gone wrong. I hope it wasn't too much of a pain getting the element fixed and that your next batch went well.
I can help kinda. So my school being a school hasn't replaced our kiln in 23 years and it came used. That kiln is very well loved and needs to go out to salvage. He had that same part break and the same glazing issue with some mugs and bowls we made. He made us sandpaper any glaze off and to rough up the fired clay a bit and with some help from a lot of people he managed to replace the part. We glazed again and fired about a week later cuz of scheduling. The glaze worked that time and to my knowledge I haven't gotten sick from my mug 2 years later
You are not alone! Don’t give up. The problem is not you it’s your kiln. I had similar problems and replaced my elements. My kiln is working better. Good luck on the next batch!
If you are correct that the bisque fire was too hot and that the mugs are not porous enough to receive the glaze, then it hardly seems likely that re-glazing and re-fire will work. But if you are happily wrong about the bisque fire being too hot, then it would be worth an experiment to re-fire after you fix your kiln. Thanks so much for the video.
You should make them into little planters and sell them like that. You can sell them as a million things that aren’t drinking mugs. Don’t let it get you down! Love watching the sculpting vids, so relaxing. I have always wanted to try this. May have to have the wives get together and we can throw some clay someday (FYI, this is Chase Howe, Stacys husband, from MCA).
This is why you have witness cones. So you know how your kiln is really firing. Hope you didn't throw them out. They were savable. Probably just needed to refire them. I'm a new potter but I'm learning already what the glaze does when they are underfired and this exactly what an underfired kiln looks like. I have a super old kiln and all I've got is the cones. Shiny stuff when underfired looks mat
There is a lot of pinging going on! Wow! I pray you just re fire these and you’re able to fix them. Just yesterday my kiln over fired a lot!! I had months worth of work in there and I have Ben feeling the way you were in this video all day! I have electrical issues, the plug to my kiln and the receptacle have to be replaced! I just changed the relays and ordered the elements last weekend but I thought I could get this last load finished!! I just bought 150 pounds of clay and it is all very short, as in not plastic, at all, and the company I bought it from says that no one else has complained about it so it must be me!! I have no where else to get clay from!! I feel you. I told my husband I feel like just giving up.
Thank you so much, I am in the exact situation. All my mugs were nice out of the kiln, and they started crazing 2 hours after, which makes them unsafe (for food) and i wont be able to sell them. It's so much time and money that goes to waste, I really understand you when you say that "you don't know what to do" because i feel the same right now :(
Don't despair. I have taken a hammer to countless failures. Each one is a learning experience. Cracking while drying, warping, crawling, crazing, dunting, glazes that run onto shelves, incompatible glazes, and a whole host of other problems will occur, but once you get the process down you can do what works for you. I have found I get crawling issues when I overlap glazes too thickly. you could try and apply a thinner top coat. fixing the kiln will solve many of your issues.
I have REGLAZED already glazed pieces and they have turned out fine. I heated up the mugs in my oven..not too hot. You have to be able to handle them.... and redipped them into glaze or thickened my glaze with CMC and painted the glaze on. You can do it. Don't trash your mugs. I bisque fired at 06 and fired at cone 6 for the second firing. I reglazed and refired the uglies and was happy with the results. It can be done.
I am also new to pottery, and I think it's good to show this process with it. Could you possibly salvage some of the good ones and paint a landscape over them?
Subscribed, thanks for sharing even though it didn’t go well. After seeing this I watched your previous kiln repair video and noticed that the top element was glowing much brighter than the rest, it could have been the wrong one for your kiln, perhaps a 208 volt element and you may have a 240 volt service, Hang in there, and we’ll watch, hoping for better days.
I can’t get over the fact that you opened the kiln when it was that hot! You are obviously trying to teach through your videos and I would hate for anyone to think that that is ok.
Thank you for showing how everything can go wrong in pottery. It reminds me of a video I saw of a Korean village where their prestige rested on creating the perfect celedon. When it wasn't achieved, there was a man who stood outside the massive kiln, and broke each imperfect pot. Then, they went back to creating the perfect celedon. Best of luck, and I am subscribed. Also, lovely kids.
I have a large kiln and it takes a long time to fill it (hint: don’t buy a very large kiln)--my last two firings were completely ruined. Everything was completely destroyed. A years worth of work! I will keep going because this is what happens or what may happen when you are a potter. Don’t look back. Get back on the horse! 😊
Oh how frustrating I am firing my first glaze fire on my new kiln and feeling excited and anxious but I only have 20 pieces Your work looks like it will beautiful once you get the kiln addressed
OMG!!! I FEEL YOU! It's horrible and frustrating. You think you are doing it good - because you do-, but shit happens. Ceramic is hard sometimes. I remembered the very first time I bought powder glazes and I couldn't even tested it because my kiln. Then we repaired it and when we could finally test our glazes, the kiln went so high. It melted some parts 😱😱😱 I almost lost my kiln 😭😭 Hope you could reglazed them and I send you a warm hug from South America 🤍
one batch of pots isn't too bad. pottery is something that needs to be worked on and is always evolving, moving forward and getting better.10 years from now you will look at #1 mug and see how far you have come. personally, it wasn't until my 3rd glaze firing that i got decent results. I have a homemade kiln made from a barrel and i use gas for the heat source we all need to keep at it and learn from our mistakes. often, we can learn more from the things that don't work out than when things happen as we want them too. Also if you have to glaze overfired pots preheat them so that the pores expand in the pots, then use a heat source to dry the glaze fast like a stove or hair dryer etc.
I’m so sorry. This is the first video I’ve seen of yours. I really hope things got better. The forms look beautiful, so at least that went well, but what a lot of work! Well, as for what to do… anytime pottery is not safe… smash and trash it. You don’t wand someone pulling it out of a waste heap somewhere and poisoning themselves. Pottery can last forever, so always smash and trash if it’s not food safe. You could try refiring when the element is fixed, but it sounds like your saves would be few. This is a small tragedy.
I feel your pain. Replace the elements and refire. Use a cone pack to fire with. I have had about every kiln problem there is and have documented it on UA-cam. Waiting for my last kilnload to cool down enough to see if I have at least gotten close. We will persevere
Things will get better! Might feel good to smash them, then turn them into the garden, or make a mosaic style wall somewhere...make something pretty or just smash them up and put that energy into creating your next beautiful and successful batch! Best of luck.
We've all had a bad batch. One of the first times I used a new kiln everything turned black. That was 9 years ago. Learn from it and as others have suggested use them for an alternative purpose. Just don't let this defeat you.
I don’t know what you did with all those mugs, but from my experience all you have to do is reglaze those mugs and refire them. 9 tines out of 10 it fix’s the problem. Give it a try you have nothing to loose. Bertine good luck
No worries, and no reason to stress. Is it annoying they underfired? Sure, but ankther firing to the correct temp will solve the problem, no need to abandon the batch. I'm hoping that you replaced all the elements, not just the kne that failed. I know it's more costly, but the others are likely ready to go as well. You'll be amazed on how fast it fires with a new set of elements!
I am so sorry you had such a poopy day. Please don't give up. I would have a go at a re fire and see if you can get some good glazed pieces out, then smash them and make mosaic clocks or mirrors with the pieces 😊
just re fire after another coat of safty glaze. I just learned, especially for low fire art pieces, they are often fired 3 times or more. I fire almost all my pieces two times.
You earn my sub. We just got our first kiln and have had the exact same problems. You can re fire some of the mugs. Don’t trash them. The under fired mugs can be reglazed and re-fired. We have had the most success since our first few fails by going low and slow and was able to save a lot of our mugs. Send me a message I am willing to help! Also I think you keep all the mugs and sell them as your special line of non food safe paint brush holders. Sold at an extreme discount.
Can you fix the kiln and then refire hotter to salvage some of them? Ceramics is pretty heartbreaking sometimes, and I’m really sorry this happened. They all look underfired to me, although some of the matte glazes may be incompatible going over your glossier base glaze. My suggestion would be to make some cone packs so you know exactly how hot you’re getting in the kiln, fix the kiln, and refire all of the mugs. Even though it’s really frustrating it will still be good data, as you’ll see which glazes are incompatible with being layered with one another. I’m sorry again! I hope your next firing goes better ❤️
Turn them into candles or planters. The cracked glaze has a nice rustic feel. Or break them up and turn into mosaic. You could pour food safe resin on top and make mosaic plates with them. ☺️ Just please don't throw them away ☺️ This batch of clay clearly wanted to become something else, not mugs ❤️
I've 2 questions. One is can I use paraffin wax instead of wax resist? And I'm trying a low fire glaze(cone 06) on a terracotta bisqueware fired initially at cone 06. If I use the same temperature for both firings,will it result in clay not absorbing the glaze?
They can not be sold for their purpose yo be a mug, but is possible to drill a whole in the bottom and some soil and a coffee seed, sell them as coffee planters? Ikea did it ;)
Only just seeing this. Chances are your kiln did not reach temperature. At least not the temperature required to activate your glazes. They are not ruined, you can put more glaze on or you can simply refire them as they are. I'd recommend every 10 firings to use witness cones. If your kiln is not reaching temperature then your coils could be bad or your thermocouple. I've seen blue mid-range glazes turn out green and crawl when not fired up to required temperature.
i had my first glaze firing for my new kiln. It did not turn out what i expected it to be. Felt disappointed as well. But i wont give up! I enjoy pottery making. Its like a trail and error journey. I saw some online tutorials saying you can re-glaze it. I'm planning to do that. Maybe you can try it and see how it goes. All the Best! And keep on doing what u enjoy! Subscribed your channel:)
Break them up and combine with concrete to make stepping stones? Pencil hders? Just starting to throw and just finished a beginner class. Thank you for showing a mistake. It's encouraging to see that skilled potters screw up too! Hang in there. Rooting for you.
So here is what to do... dump the mugs... move on. Replacing the element is simple but back breaking so take you time and stretch every few while working it in. while ordering the element, also get some u shaped elelment pins. Undo the electric and dissassemble that element, take a break, stretch and begin placing the new element in loosly. once in place you need to stretch it around the area evenly. stop stretch, pin them into place and reassemble with wiring. all of the wiring is very simple so just snap some photos as you take apart in order to remember if youre leary. you can do this and it will work!
Won't it be possible to refire them? Or does that only work when the bisque fire wasn't too hot? One of my planters got ruined once because a fellow class member added clay to the glaze fire that wasn't stoneware clay. It melted against my planter... So, with nothing to lose I refired it with some new glaze and it came out well, but maybe I was lucky? I hope you get the kiln to work properly. I like the shape of the mugs you make and the colour palette you're working with. Don't give up!
I am new to pottery and I just wanted to thank you for showing how things in the pottery world do not always turn out and to be prepared for that! I am really sorry for all the time, effort and cost you had to experience but wanted you to know that this video was very, very helpful to me!
First fix your kiln, then re-glaze over the top, then refire. Use cones to make sure you are hitting the right temperature. Put these on the top and bottom shelves. You need three one lower and one higher than the actual temp you want.
To make the glaze stick you can spray with hairspray or heat the mug so the glaze dries quickly.
I know its disappointing but that's all part of pottery and of the learning process. Stay strong, you got this. 😃
This is terrible, and this is wonderful. You make me feel not so alone when I have terrible failures, which I do. As the other potter in town says, "Everything that can happen is going to happen." And so it is. The Dao of pottery. Thank you so much for making this video. Many warm wishes to you. Onward!
Dude, you should be so proud of what you achieved. I know it’s been at least a year since your big fiasco. But it was so personal and educational for the rest of us who also meet our ceramic challenges. I watched the second, and I’m very glad that you made it through. Congratulations Hope the business is going great.
My first thought on seeing the mugs was that the kiln had not reached the desired temperature. They still looked like bisqueware. Once you've fixed the kiln, use cones with your next firing to check that it reaches the correct temperature. And there's no reason why you shouldn't just re-fire these mugs. They're really nice and it'd be a shame if you didn't try. Also, I've re-glazed and re-fired many things so it doesn't matter if you fired them too high during the bisque firing. The overall problem was the glaze firing was too low. Try again and good luck.
WOW u r exactly right he can re-fire them!!!
Absolutely agree with this assessment!
Too true
it could be dust too if the glaze is separating like that right?
Hi! Have questions about underfired glaze fire. Our community kiln just didn't go well through the recent heat wave and they underfired. Some of them has crawled and was wondering if I should put more glaze where the bare clay is showing up or should just refire without adding anything?
I was recently hired as a lab tech at a college out of my ceramics undergrad, your videos have really helped me feel more equipped to problem solve issues and advice from your channel has helped me out more than once. Thank you so much! Hope you keep posting content
I watched this before I properly got into ceramics. And watching this a year later, after my own disaster firing where nearly all my functionalware from the year got destroyed from a bad glaze application, this video really hits. The pain is real. Pottery is a bit soul destroying at times, but i also like it too much (and have spent too much money). Hope pottery is going better for you now :)
Little pots for plants. Ages ago, we received test pots from a family friend. My brother tried drilling holes and quickly changed to using a punch to knock out a hole in the bottom. Some were a little rough, but they worked great for little plants. Your kids could plant lettuce seeds or herbs. They would love to see the how their little seeds grow. The rest are for throwing against a cement wall to release some frustration 😁
It happens! I remember I had my last year degree exhibition in London in July and within the process I failed 40 mugs for my exhibition. I cried yes! Coz it was the biggest event in my life. So I feel your pain. But I didn't give up. I had 2 weeks left to make and it was still a risk as I didn't know if things would go well the 2nd time (though this time I used a different kiln). Finally, my exhibition happened and it was successful! Once you overcome it and see succeeful things coming out your kiln, it will make you feel so much better! Keep going! 😊
Don’t give up. Refire the mugs after you fix your element. You are very good at this and well organized with lots of really neat and useful ideas. I learned a lot of good things from you. I look forward to your next video as you move forward on your venture.
This is a great video as it shows how things can go wrong. Love how you turned it around, explained the issue and created truly beautiful ones later on. Your combos are amazing
Definitely keep one of the best and one of the worst. That way you can see how far you have come. This is a learning experience and a setback. A real bummer but a bump in the road. Keep going. I know you can do this and do it very well
I agree with this sentiment exactly, don’t give up! You’re a great potter!
I am new to pottery and your videos have helped me more than the studio lessons I paid for. Your explanations are simple and amusing. You have great technique and I absolutely love that you post things that go wrong. This helps everyone (and we all feel a little better about our own disasters 😂) thank you 🙏
Thank you for sharing.When you put your heart and soul into something it's an awful feeling of disapointment to have something happen like that. I know you kept on going and that's good on you!!!! Thank you for sharing your experience...it is helpful to all
Thank you for being so raw here. I’ve sunken all my personal funds into my pottery venture & the disasters sometimes make me wanna throw in the towel. Or throw a pot against the wall. But I persevere because I too, love it too much. it was cool to hear someone else (and everyone in the comments it seems) facing similar challenges to mine. Thanks for forming this community within your channel, it’s necessary!
Thank you for sharing. Bold of you to share this and it’s immensely helpful for the learners. While we only see videos where everything’s goes well, good on you to share it. Sorry for your disappointment. Wish you the best.
Don’t let the kiln get you down!! Make, fail, make and continue on! Perseverance is key and it’s great to watch the journey
I've been having the same problem with my ancient old manual cress kiln... I've been searching to find someone who has had the same problem, so this video was really helpful for me! It does look like it's simply not getting up to temp, so hopefully you'll be able to fix the problem and be back at it soon.
How nice of you to explain glazing that everyone needs to know.
Thank you for sharing this part of your journey. Truly. Thank you.
I've bin making pottery a little over 40 years, I have seen a lot........DO NOT STOP TRYING!!!!!!
Dont give up! Cry your heart out, think about when you one day will laugh about it and learn as I did because of your video! Thank you!😊
1.)Make coffee mug bird feeders!
2.)Use the mugs to store cotton balls, q-tips and toothbrushes in the restroom!
3.)Store desk supplies like pens, pencils and paper clips!
4.)Use them for storing small craft supply items like hot glue sticks and other craft embellishments!
5.)Mugs make great planter pots and succulents would be cute in those!
6.)Use them for tealight candles or simply use it as a candle jar. Place a wick and fill with wax of choice. Citronella candles for outdoor living/sitting space would be nice!
7.)Fill it with stir sticks or small spoons next to your coffee pot or beverage bar!
8.)Break into small pieces and make garden stepping stones.
Just a few 💡 ideas for you.
Sorry to see that this batch didn't work out! Keep your head up. Your investments will work out.
Sorry for what's happened, but thanks a lot for sharing the true things that happens when you work in ceramics. Your work is beautiful, keep on working and sharing your talent.
My instructor told us it is best to glaze the interior, let it dry 24 hours then the exterior. I am a beginner and have made so many errors... i am sorry the entire batch didnt work out. Looking forward to seeing your progress. It is definitely a fussy medium.
Don't give up! Totally salvageable. The top element needs to be replaced and the kiln is overloaded. Your shelves need to be staggered to allow better airflow throughout. Better to buy 2 half moon shelves than one solid round shelf. Don't put shelves at same level across - it prevents heat from circulating. Keep trying and experimenting. Happy surprises await. Thank you for sharing.
The blessing is in the perseverance, and you are just at the beginning of this adventure. So, keep going! In the meantime I can use a holder for my crochet hooks!
Richard McColl is a great instructor, you could learn something from him, it's called humility
Definitely refire after the element is fixed!
Save them by using a lower temp glaze. Mayco Foundation glaze formulated for cone 05 and O6 over entire inside and top 2/3 outside. Can fix a lot. Believe me it’s saved many of my failures. My Show I had on 8/7 and 8/8 this year I sold every reject but then saved pot, mug. Bowl. But of course fix your kiln element. Do not be discouraged. We pay to learn. Can send you photo proof to your email if interested. Don’t trash them. Fix them. Mayco light flux. Small amount to upper third but not on rim. Gives wonderful melt. We built our own propane kiln. Cone 6 firing. You are not defeated.
When this happens to me, there is two things I do. Some I use to put a small potted plant in or a cactus. Or put them in my big nice braided basket in my little shop where there is a sign, MY MISTAKES 2 Dollar. Thank you for sharing this!
How frustrating, after the kiln has been fixed, maybe some smaller batch testing and I would check and see if reglazing would help. It’s all a learning experience. Don’t quit
Oh man. I feel your pain. Just had a kiln run that didn’t work. Thank you for sharing this. I went through all the emotions you had.
I am so sorry. Pls don’t quit. Shit happens. Regardless of what kind of business you do, especially art or something creative, it can happen. I make artisan soaps and sometimes I make a bad batch. I try to save them but sometimes I just can’t. It’s part of the learning process. Toss them and make a new batch. I’ll keep watching your videos. Keep going. Ite life. The next one will be better. God bless.
Thank you for sharing your failure, it supports me in my failure right now and inspire to try again 😭
PLEASE don't give up on those mugs. Re-firing is a great adventure in itself and I was reminded by Vaughan Smith this morning watching his latest video that there are different ways of re-firing .
Cheers...Freddie
Aww 😢😢 I’m glad you are not giving up!
Never give up! I'm loving your videos.
I’ve been trying to figure out my own issues and this video was incredibly helpful. I had about 40 items in my kiln and most of them worked well, but these 6 didn’t work at all. I don’t know if it didn’t fire hot enough, if the glaze was too thick and couldn’t adhere to the bisque. Anyway, thank you for showing this failure!
I feel your pain, it's so disappointing when you open the kiln and it's all gone wrong. I hope it wasn't too much of a pain getting the element fixed and that your next batch went well.
I can help kinda. So my school being a school hasn't replaced our kiln in 23 years and it came used. That kiln is very well loved and needs to go out to salvage. He had that same part break and the same glazing issue with some mugs and bowls we made. He made us sandpaper any glaze off and to rough up the fired clay a bit and with some help from a lot of people he managed to replace the part. We glazed again and fired about a week later cuz of scheduling. The glaze worked that time and to my knowledge I haven't gotten sick from my mug 2 years later
You are not alone! Don’t give up. The problem is not you it’s your kiln. I had similar problems and replaced my elements. My kiln is working better. Good luck on the next batch!
If you are correct that the bisque fire was too hot and that the mugs are not porous enough to receive the glaze, then it hardly seems likely that re-glazing and re-fire will work. But if you are happily wrong about the bisque fire being too hot, then it would be worth an experiment to re-fire after you fix your kiln. Thanks so much for the video.
You should make them into little planters and sell them like that. You can sell them as a million things that aren’t drinking mugs. Don’t let it get you down! Love watching the sculpting vids, so relaxing. I have always wanted to try this. May have to have the wives get together and we can throw some clay someday (FYI, this is Chase Howe, Stacys husband, from MCA).
This is why you have witness cones. So you know how your kiln is really firing. Hope you didn't throw them out. They were savable. Probably just needed to refire them. I'm a new potter but I'm learning already what the glaze does when they are underfired and this exactly what an underfired kiln looks like. I have a super old kiln and all I've got is the cones. Shiny stuff when underfired looks mat
Thanks for sharing this, we learn a lot through our mistakes
Ugh!
I feel for you. All that time.
I hope you were able to salvage them in the end!!
There is a lot of pinging going on! Wow! I pray you just re fire these and you’re able to fix them. Just yesterday my kiln over fired a lot!! I had months worth of work in there and I have Ben feeling the way you were in this video all day! I have electrical issues, the plug to my kiln and the receptacle have to be replaced! I just changed the relays and ordered the elements last weekend but I thought I could get this last load finished!! I just bought 150 pounds of clay and it is all very short, as in not plastic, at all, and the company I bought it from says that no one else has complained about it so it must be me!! I have no where else to get clay from!! I feel you. I told my husband I feel like just giving up.
Thank you so much, I am in the exact situation. All my mugs were nice out of the kiln, and they started crazing 2 hours after, which makes them unsafe (for food) and i wont be able to sell them. It's so much time and money that goes to waste, I really understand you when you say that "you don't know what to do" because i feel the same right now :(
Hey this is a very informative video. Thank you for sharing and I hope you have gotten better results since then.
Don't despair. I have taken a hammer to countless failures. Each one is a learning experience. Cracking while drying, warping, crawling, crazing, dunting, glazes that run onto shelves, incompatible glazes, and a whole host of other problems will occur, but once you get the process down you can do what works for you. I have found I get crawling issues when I overlap glazes too thickly. you could try and apply a thinner top coat. fixing the kiln will solve many of your issues.
I have REGLAZED already glazed pieces and they have turned out fine. I heated up the mugs in my oven..not too hot. You have to be able to handle them.... and redipped them into glaze or thickened my glaze with CMC and painted the glaze on. You can do it. Don't trash your mugs. I bisque fired at 06 and fired at cone 6 for the second firing. I reglazed and refired the uglies and was happy with the results. It can be done.
I am also new to pottery, and I think it's good to show this process with it. Could you possibly salvage some of the good ones and paint a landscape over them?
Subscribed, thanks for sharing even though it didn’t go well. After seeing this I watched your previous kiln repair video and noticed that the top element was glowing much brighter than the rest, it could have been the wrong one for your kiln, perhaps a 208 volt element and you may have a 240 volt service, Hang in there, and we’ll watch, hoping for better days.
Luv the way u showed us ur defeat and u will come back strong
Oh man I feel for you, so much work. Must be devastated
Oh no, that is just so very very sad. How heartbreaking.
I can’t get over the fact that you opened the kiln when it was that hot! You are obviously trying to teach through your videos and I would hate for anyone to think that that is ok.
It almost sounds like I can hear the glaze cracking while they are on the table...Damn I feel your pain!!! 😢
Thank you for showing how everything can go wrong in pottery. It reminds me of a video I saw of a Korean village where their prestige rested on creating the perfect celedon. When it wasn't achieved, there was a man who stood outside the massive kiln, and broke each imperfect pot. Then, they went back to creating the perfect celedon. Best of luck, and I am subscribed. Also, lovely kids.
I have a large kiln and it takes a long time to fill it (hint: don’t buy a very large kiln)--my last two firings were completely ruined. Everything was completely destroyed. A years worth of work! I will keep going because this is what happens or what may happen when you are a potter. Don’t look back. Get back on the horse! 😊
Oh how frustrating
I am firing my first glaze fire on my new kiln and feeling excited and anxious but I only have 20 pieces
Your work looks like it will beautiful once you get the kiln addressed
OMG!!! I FEEL YOU! It's horrible and frustrating. You think you are doing it good - because you do-, but shit happens. Ceramic is hard sometimes. I remembered the very first time I bought powder glazes and I couldn't even tested it because my kiln. Then we repaired it and when we could finally test our glazes, the kiln went so high. It melted some parts 😱😱😱 I almost lost my kiln 😭😭 Hope you could reglazed them and I send you a warm hug from South America 🤍
one batch of pots isn't too bad. pottery is something that needs to be worked on and is always evolving, moving forward and getting better.10 years from now you will look at #1 mug and see how far you have come. personally, it wasn't until my 3rd glaze firing that i got decent results. I have a homemade kiln made from a barrel and i use gas for the heat source we all need to keep at it and learn from our mistakes. often, we can learn more from the things that don't work out than when things happen as we want them too.
Also if you have to glaze overfired pots preheat them so that the pores expand in the pots, then use a heat source to dry the glaze fast like a stove or hair dryer etc.
Mistakes make us more aware that we are not perfect. But, success is achieved by those that keep trying with a positive mental attitude.
I’m so sorry. This is the first video I’ve seen of yours. I really hope things got better. The forms look beautiful, so at least that went well, but what a lot of work! Well, as for what to do… anytime pottery is not safe… smash and trash it. You don’t wand someone pulling it out of a waste heap somewhere and poisoning themselves. Pottery can last forever, so always smash and trash if it’s not food safe. You could try refiring when the element is fixed, but it sounds like your saves would be few. This is a small tragedy.
Maybe you could put some seeds in these mugs! Try to make just a couple of mugs to make sure everything goes right! Don't give up!
I feel your pain. Replace the elements and refire. Use a cone pack to fire with. I have had about every kiln problem there is and have documented it on UA-cam. Waiting for my last kilnload to cool down enough to see if I have at least gotten close. We will persevere
Things will get better! Might feel good to smash them, then turn them into the garden, or make a mosaic style wall somewhere...make something pretty or just smash them up and put that energy into creating your next beautiful and successful batch! Best of luck.
We've all had a bad batch. One of the first times I used a new kiln everything turned black. That was 9 years ago. Learn from it and as others have suggested use them for an alternative purpose. Just don't let this defeat you.
I don’t know what you did with all those mugs, but from my experience all you have to do is reglaze those mugs and refire them. 9 tines out of 10 it fix’s the problem. Give it a try you have nothing to loose. Bertine good luck
No worries, and no reason to stress. Is it annoying they underfired? Sure, but ankther firing to the correct temp will solve the problem, no need to abandon the batch. I'm hoping that you replaced all the elements, not just the kne that failed. I know it's more costly, but the others are likely ready to go as well. You'll be amazed on how fast it fires with a new set of elements!
I am so sorry you had such a poopy day. Please don't give up. I would have a go at a re fire and see if you can get some good glazed pieces out, then smash them and make mosaic clocks or mirrors with the pieces 😊
You can refire them after fixing the kiln.
Hey man, things happen. I am the master of creating failed projects haha, don't beat yourself up too much!!
just re fire after another coat of safty glaze. I just learned, especially for low fire art pieces, they are often fired 3 times or more. I fire almost all my pieces two times.
You earn my sub. We just got our first kiln and have had the exact same problems. You can re fire some of the mugs. Don’t trash them. The under fired mugs can be reglazed and re-fired. We have had the most success since our first few fails by going low and slow and was able to save a lot of our mugs. Send me a message I am willing to help! Also I think you keep all the mugs and sell them as your special line of non food safe paint brush holders. Sold at an extreme discount.
Can you fix the kiln and then refire hotter to salvage some of them? Ceramics is pretty heartbreaking sometimes, and I’m really sorry this happened. They all look underfired to me, although some of the matte glazes may be incompatible going over your glossier base glaze. My suggestion would be to make some cone packs so you know exactly how hot you’re getting in the kiln, fix the kiln, and refire all of the mugs. Even though it’s really frustrating it will still be good data, as you’ll see which glazes are incompatible with being layered with one another.
I’m sorry again! I hope your next firing goes better ❤️
Turn them into candles or planters. The cracked glaze has a nice rustic feel. Or break them up and turn into mosaic. You could pour food safe resin on top and make mosaic plates with them. ☺️ Just please don't throw them away ☺️ This batch of clay clearly wanted to become something else, not mugs ❤️
I've 2 questions. One is can I use paraffin wax instead of wax resist? And I'm trying a low fire glaze(cone 06) on a terracotta bisqueware fired initially at cone 06. If I use the same temperature for both firings,will it result in clay not absorbing the glaze?
Dan don't give up keep trying Aunt Susie
They can not be sold for their purpose yo be a mug, but is possible to drill a whole in the bottom and some soil and a coffee seed, sell them as coffee planters? Ikea did it ;)
What did you do with all those mugs? Can’t you reglaze and refire?
Did you try to do any refiring? Might even be worth it to reglaze the ones that crawled, could get some good effects out of it. You do good work.
Only just seeing this. Chances are your kiln did not reach temperature. At least not the temperature required to activate your glazes. They are not ruined, you can put more glaze on or you can simply refire them as they are. I'd recommend every 10 firings to use witness cones. If your kiln is not reaching temperature then your coils could be bad or your thermocouple.
I've seen blue mid-range glazes turn out green and crawl when not fired up to required temperature.
Have fund any solutions and interst to know what caused.
I’m sorry it happened to you, it’s happened to me. It is frustrating.
I am so sorry this happened!!! This has happened to me and I feel ur pain. Did you refire them?
Also I know this was forever ago for you!! But would love to know bc sometimes I have had success with refires
I just had my first over firing 😢 it’s freaking heartbreaking!
Refire some …see what happens some will be ok …you are soo real
I would try to refire, but if that doesn't work just fill up some holes in the driveway!
i had my first glaze firing for my new kiln. It did not turn out what i expected it to be. Felt disappointed as well. But i wont give up! I enjoy pottery making. Its like a trail and error journey. I saw some online tutorials saying you can re-glaze it. I'm planning to do that. Maybe you can try it and see how it goes. All the Best! And keep on doing what u enjoy! Subscribed your channel:)
I am new to pottery. My first firing is mixed results. I am going to reglaze in hopes of fixing things and retire.
Break them up and combine with concrete to make stepping stones? Pencil hders?
Just starting to throw and just finished a beginner class. Thank you for showing a mistake. It's encouraging to see that skilled potters screw up too!
Hang in there. Rooting for you.
So here is what to do... dump the mugs... move on.
Replacing the element is simple but back breaking so take you time and stretch every few while working it in. while ordering the element, also get some u shaped elelment pins. Undo the electric and dissassemble that element, take a break, stretch and begin placing the new element in loosly. once in place you need to stretch it around the area evenly. stop stretch, pin them into place and reassemble with wiring.
all of the wiring is very simple so just snap some photos as you take apart in order to remember if youre leary.
you can do this and it will work!
Great shirt!
Oh how frustrating!!!!! What temp did you bisque fire to?. At least refire. Sometimes people refire after a stoneware fire.Try a few
Won't it be possible to refire them? Or does that only work when the bisque fire wasn't too hot? One of my planters got ruined once because a fellow class member added clay to the glaze fire that wasn't stoneware clay. It melted against my planter... So, with nothing to lose I refired it with some new glaze and it came out well, but maybe I was lucky? I hope you get the kiln to work properly. I like the shape of the mugs you make and the colour palette you're working with. Don't give up!
no because bisque was too hot
can't wait for the next episode! Throw away the mugs
Do not stop trying!