Pottery/Ceramics

The Pottery has recently moved to the Trailer out in the back. Fa Shimbo is a Master Crystalliere and author of several books on glazes and glaze chemistry.

Pottery Basics:

    Clean up after yourself!  Do your best to leave the place in better condition than you found it. If we can tell that someone has been here by a dirty wheel or a dusty floor, you aren't done!  Please see notes on clean-up procedures below.

    While we encourage children in the pottery, please be aware that the pottery is not a baby-sitting service.  All potteries contain chemicals which can be harmful if mishandled.  Parents/guardians must accompany and supervise minors at all times.

    When mixing glazes, always wear a dust mask (or, if you own one, a respirator) and rubber gloves.

    It will be a while before we get water plumbed in to the trailer.  In the meantime, please attach the red hose (on the map rack outside the trailer) to the spigot on the front of the building and collect water from there.  The hose is long enough to reach almost to the trailer.

    Yes, there is wifi in the trailer.

    WRITE YOUR NAME ON YOUR WORK!

Tools and Supplies:

Clay bodies:

    TYPES: We generally keep white earthenware (CT-3 and other kinds) in stock.  We also usually have some white, cone 5 stoneware, though not always. Porcelains of varying types are brought in for class use only at this time.  We don't keep red clays on hand as kids in the pottery make a mess with them and they stain clothing, which annoys their parents.  You are free to bring in your own clays.

    PROCEDURES: We are currently devising a clay storage space, but until then, clays may be stored on the shelving behind the wheels.  Although the inside of the trailer is not as dry as the rest of TinkerMill, please make sure that you seal all bags immediately after removing clay from them.  It's still Colorado and we don't believe in humidity here.

    DISPOSAL: Clay is infinitely recyclable until it's been fired.  When you have dry clay trimmings or clay which has become too dry to use, there are 5-gallon buckets under the table by the window, marked with what type of clay goes in them.  This clay can be recycled later.  Please, whatever you do, do not mix up clays; always put clay into the proper container.

    When you are finished building or throwing and are left with a bucket of clay water, please take the bucket outside and empty it on the gravel. Never, never empty clay, clay water, or any pottery water, on the concrete or in Lake TinkerMill.

    COSTS: Community clay is sold for $1/pound (all types). If TinkerMill members would like to use clay bodies that we don't keep in stock, please feel free to contact the shop captain.  We'll include it in our next order from our supplier and you can then buy it from TinkerMill at our cost.  You can pay for clay

    CASTING SLIP:  We currently have a small quantity of ^06 white earthenware slip (which turns out not to be microwave safe, curiously), and a small quantity of ^6 porcelain slip.

Glazes:

    TinkerMill is very fortunate indeed to have had donated to us many commercial glazes suitable for earthenware.  We also have a limitted amount of ^5 glazes and a few raku glazes.  Use of these glazes is included in the price of the clay you buy.

    At this time, our collection of glaze ingredients (frits, oxides, powdered clays, etc) is limitted to those used in specific classes.