A glaze defect, a cracked piece, a kiln that won't reach temperature? On a forum, nobody can see your piece or your studio. So the quality of the answers depends on the information you give. Here's what experienced members almost always ask for.
What to include
- The clay: brand, product name, firing range stated by the manufacturer.
- The bisque firing: temperature reached and schedule.
- The glaze: commercial (brand and product name) or the full recipe; how it was applied (dipped, brushed, sprayed), how many coats, with or without slip or underglaze.
- The glaze firing: the full schedule (ramp in degrees per hour, hold, cooling).
- The temperature actually reached: if you use cones or temperature rings, say what they show. The controller display isn't always enough.
- The kiln: electric, gas, wood or raku; brand, model, controller; where the piece sat in the kiln.
- The atmosphere: oxidation (the case for most electric kilns) or reduction.
- Sharp photos: an overall shot and a close-up, in daylight.
- When the problem appears: during drying, out of the bisque firing, out of the glaze firing, a few days later, after washing?
- Who fired the piece: you, your studio, your class?
- The intended use: decorative or for food.
- What you've already tried, ideally changing only one thing at a time.
Don't worry if you don't know everything: the technical details section of the form guides you, and “I don't know” is an accepted answer. Better an incomplete question than one that's never asked.
A good title
Sum up the problem in one sentence, the way you'd type it into a search engine: “Clear glaze crazing on stoneware fired to 1,250 °C” rather than “Help!”.
Before you post
Type your title: the forum immediately suggests topics similar to yours. The answer may already be there! For firing and glaze defects, our diagnostic tool also gives you leads in a few clicks.
