Contents

Chapter 1: Ceramic materials have needs too, you know!

» Hey, you kids! What’s going on in there?!... A clay’s-eye-view of
what’s going on during the firing cycle
(Busting the myth: Air bubbles DO NOT cause clay to explode…water DOES!)

» Smoke on the water
(The importance of allowing moisture to release out of your clay work nice
      and easy like)

» “How long should an adequate pre-heat take?”

» “Yeah, but I fire manually with a KilnSitter®!”
(Very helpful tip for preheating with a KilnSitter®)

» “But why can’t I get my KilnSitter® to turn on?”

» Somethin’s burnin’…and I don’t think it’s love
(Beginning the release of organic material and “chemical” water)

» The amazing expandable quartz!
(Easy does it when passing through the “Quartz Inversion”. Here’s why…)

» Defining the point of no return for “clay”
(The difference between “clay” and “ceramic”)

» Keeping an eye on the bigger picture
(5 major issues to keep in mind that WILL influence the final outcome
      for clay work)

Chapter 2: When good clay goes bad... A look at clay-
                    oriented defects and how to avoid them

» Built-in stress… a fresh look at hand-building problems and their
solutions
(Beginning a discussion that you will NOT soon forget concerning the effects
      of SHRINKAGE!)

» A refreshing oasis for a parched clay work… 3 simple ways to keep
your work workable over an extended period of time

» OK, now on to the safest way to DRY clay work
(Taking a lesson from the toilet)

» The key is in the monitoring
(Constant control of the environment… that’s the ticket!)

» But don’t forget the bottom!
(The importance of ensuring equal drying opportunities for the bottom
      of clay work)

» How to keep clay work from sticking to its drying support or
work area
(A neat little trick for avoiding clay hang-ups)

» Drying tiles… what’s the best way?
(70% of the reason why clay tiles warp, and how to stop it)

» And now for the other 30%
(The ability of clay to remember)

» “So, how long should the drying process take?”

» Filling in the gaps… how to save cracked clay work
(Get ready, for you are about to become someone’s HERO with these
      great techniques)

» Bring on the “Magic Water”!
(Using this inexpensive little gem will help joints and seams within clay work
      to be more forgiving to hand-building techniques that haven’t quite
      been perfected yet. Here’s not only how to use it, but also how to make
      it yourself!)

» Troubleshooting clay problems in wheel-thrown vessels
(The beginning of a discussion on minimizing stress in thrown pots
      … and potters!)

» Causing and avoiding cracks around the foot area of a vessel
(Paying attention to this single key detail will help you avoid this pesky
      problem altogether)

» The dreaded “S” crack
(How to guard against this uninvited guest that occasionally shows up to
      crash your clay work party)

» Thin-edged casualties
(A new angle on removing the edge for cracks to form)

» Slow down and make the moment last
(4 out of 5 clays surveyed prefer the peaceful lifestyle. Here’s why…)

» Back to the lab
(What you ought to know about cristobalite, another good reason to
      leave a cooling kiln alone!)

» Relief for that gassy, bloated feeling
(“Bloating”… what your clay is trying to tell you!)

» Plaster and clay do NOT play well together
(Here’s why you need to keep these materials separated)

» A great little clay wedging table idea
(Plaster is simply not a good playmate for clay, but it sure makes a great
      wedging table surface! Here’s a neat trick for taking advantage of its
      benefits without contaminating your clay supply)

» The final clay defect round-up
(Putting it all in perspective)

» Mental checklist regarding the “shrinkage factor”
(Keeping this list in the back of your mind will help to avoid a multitude
      of troubles)

» A few tidbits to keep in mind
(The ceramic instructor’s quick rundown of key considerations. An occasional
      review of this list will help to keep the most important aspects of
      clay work always fresh in your mind!)