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I don't have any suggestions for the rim on this piece but can refer you to Patty Gray's excelent tutorial on circle and rim cutting at http://www.system96.com/Pages/CircleDemo/Circle1.html The only thing I do differently is that I use an 18" long 1/2" diameter hardwood dowel that I have s...

Guess I will have to get some 120 grit Al2O3 to try the double irid technique.

Best wishes,
Tom in Texas

Brock, would you please explain why you need aluminum oxide instead of silicon carbide for double irid technique? Silicon carbide is all I have on hand now.

Best wishes,
Tom in Texas

Becca, SCFM = Standard Cubic Feet of Air per Minute at the pressure listedF. For more information about this than you really want visit http://www.cleandryair.com/scfm_vs__icfm_vs__acfm.htm For deep carving especially with a siphon blaster, which almost any self contained blasting cabinet is, 2scfm ...

My best guess would be at a local art supply store which might have some of the old system left.

Best wishes,
Tom in Texas

Randy, was your talc raw pottery talc (gray in color) or had it been fired (calcined) as hot as you anticipated firing your pot melt? When using mica flake inclusions between layers of glass I got excessive bubbles until I calcined the mica to 1900F in a cone 05 greenware firing with a load of low f...

ROTFLMAO. A real gem, Ellen.

Best wishes,
Tom in Texas

Would it be possible to used the expensive fused base with totally different tack fused elements that cover the problem area to produce either a "one of" piece that is not a part of the original limited edition or perhaps even a start of another limited edition ? When you get lemons make l...

If you want to get rid of the halo as well as the larger bump you will have to open it up in as many places as it has segments to allow the air in them to escape too.

Best wishes,
Tom in Texas

Nancy, Your immediate problem seems to be one of thermal shock. When glass is heated it expands in size, when it is cooled it decreases in size. If it is heated unevenly it expands unevenly. It sounds like you are working in a kiln with elements in the side walls of the kiln, not in the lid. If this...

150 C (300F) per hour is the rate used by Orton in their cone / temperature equivalents charts. Thanks for the information about your wood shape. It sounds like you will have a nice slumping mold. I like the idea of the integral foot ring to keep the plate flat on the table. I would think you need 4...

Cheryl, I have had good success using Hunt Speedball Photo Emulsion instead of film to prepare silk screens. You need only subdued, normal room light to coat and set up stencil on your screen, no safe light or darkroom setup needed. Exposure for me is 7 to 8 min with no.2 photoflood bulb about 12&qu...

It works now from email and board post.

Best wishes,
Tom in Texas

Robin, you did not say where the bump is located but since you propose to drill it from the back I assume it is between the clear back and the pink layer. Would it be possible to drill from the top and cut away enough of the pink (1/8" to 3/16" ) so that the pink could settle back down in ...

Jim, please change your settings on webshots.com to allow others to see this picture.

Best wishes,
Tom in Texas

I wasn't clear about how you produced your original model. Sure enough wood would not work for a slumping mold. As a matter of interest what did you use to seal your wood master when you cast the plaster against it? What species of wood did you use for the original bowl, what diameter and depth was ...

The raku slip should be fine for casting slumping molds because it is made to handle sudden temperature changes in raku firing. Our heating and cooling rates are much slower than the change from the kiln into the reducing material of the raku firing. Firing the mold to 982C is about 1800F, just slig...

Look in your local hobby ceramic or pottery suppliers.

Best wishes,
Tom in Texas

A quick check: empty kiln, close lid, fire afap for 5 min, TURN OFF KILN, carefully open lid and observe element(s). All elements should be glowing. Problems are associated with elements not glowing. Run continuity tests on dark elements with volt/ohm meter. If element is ok check relay in controler...

Mark, I'm not exactly sure about what you mean when you say "get three layers round". Do you mean you are trying to produce a 1/2" round cabechon or jewel shape with smooth, rounded, fully fused edges or what? More informaion about the type and thickness of glass you are using is need...