View Larger Image Techniques in our "Tip of the Week" series come from all levels of experience: studio artists, production potters, students, teachers and industry experts.

December 7, 2007

Tip of the Week: Use Grinding Compound for Better Fitting Jar Lids

by Donn Rowe | Read Comments (4)

You've worked hours and days creating a cute little jar, only to notice after firing that the lid doesn't seem to fit quite right--maybe it's warped a little bigger at one edge and, though it somewhat fits inside, it doesn't seat well. Well, here's a tip for you! Visit your local auto parts store and get a small tube of "valve grinding compound." Put a small dab of it on several places around the rim and spin the lid around and around. After several several minutes of spinning, you should find that the high spot on your lid has been ground down, allowing the lid to properly seat and saving your jar from the bone pile. Thanks Donn!

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Other great tips
1. Aside from saving time in cooking, the microwave can be used to save time in drying pots. After trimming a teapot, place the spout on a wooden bat, and microwave it on high for a minute or less. The spout should now be leatherhard and ready to attach. Just make sure to place upright the small pots (or parts) to allow steam to escape.

2. Some glazes are worse about crawling and pinholing than others. Often, though, crawling can be avoided by simply removing dust from bisqueware. Before glazing, use a soft, clean paintbrush to dust the inside of pots, around handle attachment points and around the rim and sides. Vary the size of the brush according to the size of the pot. When glazing, be sure the first application is dry to the touch but not completely dry before overlapping. Otherwise, the wetter glaze could pull the dry glaze underneath off the pot. The glaze consistency (thickness) should be similar. Some glazes pinhole because of content (e.g., recipes high in rutile), but rubbing out bubbles in the dry glaze coat with a dry finger can reduce the number and intensity of pinholes. Some glazes respond well to a slightly hotter spot in the kiln as well.

3. When taking photos or slides, you can use a roll-up window shade as a backdrop. It won't reflect too much light, has a non-wrinkled surface and is wide enough to accommodate most large forms. You can even roll it up for storage.

4. A great, inexpensive way to store brushes and safeguard their bristles is to punch slits in the plastic lid of an old coffee can, then insert the brush handles with the bristles up.

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