Celebrating Failure

Pretty much everything that could have gone wrong with this last firing has gone wrong.

Clay body cracks
Crazing
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
Crazing reduces the strength of the vessel by up to 80% A short drop to the wooden floor split this right in half.
Blistering AND crazing
Blistering
Blistering
Pinholing AND Blistering
Pinholing like a CHAMP!
Even a bit of reduction in part of the kiln. Although I must say the reduction looks beautiful!

I’m picking up some dry materials to start testing my base glazes. At least I know that my chosen clay body tolerates overfiring very well.

I’m getting some witness cones (5, 6 and 7) to stack on each shelf and see what they do. I don’t understand whats happening yet. Olympic says that the kiln usually underfires if something is wrong rather than overfiring. The company that makes my clay body says that blistering happens from overfiring. The cones should tell the tale though. I need to get that straight before I drive myself crazier than usual.

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