Good News!

After discussions with a local cermaic supply house and the Skutt technicians, it appears as if I can replace the printed circuit board in my kiln for a little under $300 and will not have to replace the $700 control unit.  I am waiting for the board and hope that after installation all is working again!  Cross your fingers!  I have...

Kiln Not Working...

It happened in December...  I filled my kiln turned it on the standard program and a few hours latter checked on it only to see an E-0 error on the display.  After some research, found it was either a power spike or a complete display failure.

I was pretty depressed and the studio was cold so I put it out of my mind for the holidays and my road trip.  Now, I am back to it.  Unfortunately, I think I will have to call on some service person; worst case it will cost me $600 plus labor for a new display!!!  That is a hard pill to swallow!  I am very discouraged...

My goal this month is to find someone to troubleshoot the kiln and get my MIG welder set-up!

Organizing the Studio Again!

I bought a brand new patio set, which hopefully will not blow away in the winds, so I am retiring my wooden table and chairs.  Most of the chairs were broken because they would blow over in the spring winds!  I planned to donate the table, but my friends convinced me to use it in my studio.  I did not think I had the room, but alas, I made it work and I do believe it will be useful and not just a place to store more stuff!

I also ordered a desktop computer for the studio.  I plan to mount the monitor on the wall and use a wireless keyboard and mouse.  I am hoping to create a spreadsheet to document my work especially glazes.  The computer will also be useful for searching internet images to inspire my creativity.  Oh and to watch a movie or two while doing the more mundane tasks in the studio...

Studio pictures coming soon!

New Studio Glaze Station

After about a year, I have replaced my small glaze cart, which did not move very well when filled with the weight of the glazes, to a large glaze cart which has much better wheels and can hold a maximum of 250lbs!  I will be able to easily roll in and out of the studio.  This will be very convenient once I start to spray on glazes.

small cart

I will re-purpose the small cart...

Almost ready to go...

I picked up my 80 cuft argon/CO2 gas tank today from Praix Air.  Ralph from the shop put it in my car and I was able to unload it and put it on the welding cart myself. Yeah!  I am waiting on the welding table which is expected to arrive tomorrow.  My friend Kathy Anne White said she would come over and help me set-up the regulator and gas tank.  I helped her before Christmas...  It's not difficult, just intimidating!

 

The cost of welder is not cheap and then to add the table, tank, cart, and wire, boy it adds up!  Luckily I already have a self darkening helmet!  Since I will be using it outside, I think I have to buy a 240V extension cord!

Christmas Gift...

For Christmas, my youngest sister Bobbie gave me some cash to buy art supplies.  And in an effort to get organized in the studio, I found a set of metal shelves on wheels that I could use as a "glazing station".  This equipment will get the glazes off my fixed shelves leaving more space for my work pieces.

The unit arrived yesterday.  Luckily it was all one piece; no assembly required, even the wheels were on!   I quickly unpacked it, and populated it with my glazes.  What I did not anticipate is that the wire shelves are not strong enough to hold the weight of several glaze bottles.  Actually it holds them, but the wire sheves flex under the weight.  Over time, I think they might fail.  I will have to come up with some sort of support system or rigid bottom.  In addition it does not roll as well as I had hoped.  But all in all I like it! It is a great organizer and it will be a great convenience!  Soon the weather will warm I will be able to easily move it in and out of the studio to glaze outdoors!